He's Back! Peek Inside The Mad Fientist’s Post-FI Life & His Struggle to Spend | Brandon Ganch | 185
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Release Date: 12/21/2025
He's Back! Peek Inside The Mad Fientist’s Post-FI Life & His Struggle to Spend | Brandon Ganch | 185
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
The Mad Fientist (Brandon Ganch) is an OG, pioneer, and giant in the Financial Independence (FI) movement! It took us a while to get him on the show, but he finally joins us for this very special holiday catch-up. Brandon is a software developer and strategically put those skills to work in creating the popular Mad Fientist blog & podcast. He's best known for deep dive experiments on tax optimization, early access to retirement funds, and other brilliant FI strategies. Now a family man with a wife and two kids, Brandon rarely does interviews these days. But today you will get a rare...
info_outline
I Love Goooooold?! :) | Frank Vasquez | 184
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Frank Vasquez (aka 'Uncle Frank' to the FI community) returns to the show to talk gold and what this shiny speculation is actually doing in a modern FI portfolio. Frank is the voice behind Risk Parity Radio and has a knack for making even the most tangled concepts in life and investing feel approachable. In this episode he tackles: Gold as speculation, not a gamble Gold's role in accumulation vs. retirement Typical gold allocation Correlation & diversification Physical gold vs. ETFs DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS: 🆕NEW PARTNER: The modern way...
info_outline
Shopping Hacks For The Holidays | Trae Bodge | 183
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Trae Bodge is one of the country’s leading smart-shopping and personal-savings experts. You’ve probably seen her on CNBC and Good Morning America, or in publications like The New York Times, USA Today, and MarketWatch. She joins us on the show for a holiday-season intervention on spending, shopping, and gift-giving. Trae also shares news about her, mom-inspired Threadneedle Alley Foundation, a nonprofit that provides grants and guidance to midlife entrepreneurs facing financial challenges. Through Dec. 31, 2025, entrepreneurs ages 40 and up can apply for a . 🎁 🎁...
info_outline
Broke at 50 ➡️ Retired at 60! | BiggerPockets Crossover | 182
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
We love collaborations and this time we teamed up with Mindy and Scott from BiggerPockets Money to tackle a case study you don't want to miss: "How to go from Broke at 50 to Retired at 60!" This originally aired on BiggerPockets Money in August, and since then it received over 300,000 views and quickly moved up to the second most popular video on their YouTube Channel. Needless to say, this topic, got people talking! We spell out exactly what we would do to go from a zero-dollar net worth to a million dollars in retirement! This is a step-by-step plan that anyone who wants to retire on time...
info_outline
Drowning in Debt at 48, Retired at 58: Here’s How She Did It! | Kim Hunter-Borst | 181
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
At 48, Kim Hunter-Borst was drowning in debt even though she had a solid New York income. Where was the money going? How did she fix it and reach early retirement by 58? We find out in this no-shame late-starter conversation that was recorded live in Bali at the FI Freedom Retreat (please excuse the background noise!) Kim was firmly in the messy middle and retraces the moment she decided to stop winging it. She shares some simple systems that finally stuck, and the handful of brave choices—asking for more at work, saying no to status buys, and saying yes to purpose—that changed her...
info_outline
The Soul of Wealth | Dr. Daniel Crosby | 180
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Dr. Daniel Crosby took a circuitous path to the world of money — starting as a psychologist and ending up as one of the most engaging voices in behavioral finance. He is Chief Behavioral Officer at Orion and author of The Soul of Wealth. Dr. Crosby goes beyond the math to the meaning: identity, autonomy, and why 'you don't really want to be rich, you want to be free.' He joins the show to talk us through: Reframing money as a tool for time freedom, relationships, and purpose—not status Using behavior science to close the gap between 'knowing' and 'doing' Downshifting lifestyle...
info_outline
Contrarian Tax Planning Tips | Cody Garrett & Sean Mullaney | 179
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Sean 'FI Tax Guy' Mullaney and Cody 'Measure Twice' Garrett are two of the smartest financial planning pros who are best known for sharing their deep knowledge in the financial independence community and beyond. They join us today to break down tax planning in a way you may not have ever heard before. They don't agree with some of the conventional advice and make a case for the contrarian views they share in their new book, 'Tax Planning To and Through Early Retirement'. In this conversation, we dive into: Top year-end tax tips for later starters Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits...
info_outline
Live from Bali: Are They Really Retired? (Part 2) | Jackie & Doc G | 178
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Recorded live in Bali, at the FI Freedom Retreat (the 2nd one in 2025), Jackie teams up with Doc G from the Earn & Invest Podcast. They ask the spiciest FI question of all—not 'can I retire yet?' but 'should I?' Three very different journeys take the mic: Fara's 'accidental FIRE' at 47 and her boomerang back to a cause-driven job (then boomerang away again) Gene's post-quit LinkedIn relapse and the search for purpose without a W-2 Rachel Richard's pivot from real estate and a viral brand (Money Honey Rachel) to doing the inner work, ditching external validation,...
info_outline
What To Do When It's Time To Manage Your Mom's Money | Beth Pinsker | 177
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Our guest today is Beth Pinsker, CFP®-- seasoned financial journalist, MarketWatch columnist and author of the new book, My Mother's Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving. She represents the sandwich generation and gives us tips, advice, and cautionary tales about her firsthand experience after finding herself caring for her mother and her finances. She explains that caregiving isn't just forms and bank calls—it's love, logistics, and a dash of stubborn grit. Beth also shares: The "death file" story that changed everything How to survive bank pushbacks on powers of attorney Why a tiny...
info_outline
Live from Bali! Don’t Miss These FI Stories From Around The Globe | Jackie & Captain FI | 176
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
50 people (now friends), 9 countries... all in one room, speaking the same language: Financial Independence! This is a special episode recorded live from in beautiful Bali, Indonesia at the FI Freedom Retreat. Australian blogger and podcaster, 'Captain FI', joins Jackie as guest co-host to share the FI stories of three of the extraordinary individuals we met at the retreat: Claire (Dubai via Ireland)- Restarting and living by the philosophy of 'trust your gut' Michael (Seattle)- Newly nomadic, choosing FI-enough over perfection Val (Hong Kong)- Taking a gap year that feels like several...
info_outlineThe Mad Fientist (Brandon Ganch) is an OG, pioneer, and giant in the Financial Independence (FI) movement! It took us a while to get him on the show, but he finally joins us for this very special holiday catch-up. Brandon is a software developer and strategically put those skills to work in creating the popular Mad Fientist blog & podcast. He's best known for deep dive experiments on tax optimization, early access to retirement funds, and other brilliant FI strategies.
Now a family man with a wife and two kids, Brandon rarely does interviews these days. But today you will get a rare glimpse into the ups and downs of his post-FI life. In this episode he candidly talks about:
- What he thought about money growing up and as a young adult
- His obsession with money and how it led to a period of depression while running the Mad Fientist blog and podcast
- How he traded in his extreme frugality and self-deprivation for joyful spending using his "Wealth Machines" software that has been in development for years
- Building his dream music studio and putting out a Billboard-charting album (Dead Pixel) and new EP (QED)
- Becoming a dad and asking big questions about raising children who've never seen their parents go to work
DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS:
🆕NEW PARTNER: Monarch Money
The modern way to manage money! Monarch will change the way you organize your financial life. Track, budget, plan, and do more with your money – together. Get 50% off the first year using this link and entering code: CATCHINGUP50
The Alloy Market offers a seamless and efficient way to sell your gold, silver, and platinum jewelry, regardless of its condition. They are committed to transparency and fairness, ensuring you get the best possible value for your items. Use this special Link and enter code CUTOFI15 to get a $15 bonus when you sell items over $199 (limited time offer).
For a full list of current deals and discounts from our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners
📩 Sign up for our newsletter (NEW!)
🌐 Visit Catching Up to FI website
☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at "Buy Me a Coffee"
🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question
RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
🎙️The Mad Fientist's Financial Independence Podcast
Wealth Machines Software (in beta)
🎼 Follow Brandon's Music on Spotify (1=2)
🎼 1st Album (Dead Pixel, 2021)
📘 Ramit Sethi – I Will Teach You to Be Rich
📕 Die with Zero by Bill Perkins
📗 The Wealth Ladder by Nick Maggiulli
⏰ ‘Catching Up to FI’ Episodes
If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on your podcast player and leave us a rating or review. If you want to watch, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. This helps others find the show and keeps us creating great content for you!
⚠️Disclaimer: Our content is for general education and information purposes only. We are not providing financial, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making important decisions.