BiggerPockets Money Podcast

In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down the biggest mistakes people make when calculating their FIRE number and planning for financial independence. Many early retirement calculators rely on simplified assumptions like the 4% rule or current spending levels, but real-life retirement planning is far more complicated. This episode covers how healthcare costs, inflation, one-time expenses, and changing lifestyle spending can dramatically impact your true FI number and long-term retirement success.

We also discuss safe withdrawal rates, stress testing your retirement plan flexible income streams, and why many FIRE investors underestimate future spending during early retirement. Whether you’re pursuing FIRE, early retirement, Coast FIRE, or traditional financial independence, this episode will help you build a more realistic retirement strategy and avoid common mistakes that can derail long-term wealth and portfolio sustainability.

To go beyond the podcast:

Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/

Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney 

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We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!
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On this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench sit down with Ben Felix to break down one of the most debated topics in long-term investing: small cap value investing. Ben explains the research behind factor investing, the Fama-French multi-factor model, and why investors continue to look at small cap value ETFs like AVUV and Dimensional funds as potential upgrades to traditional index fund portfolios. 

If you've ever wondered whether AVUV, Dimensional ETFs, or small cap value funds can outperform broad market index funds like VTI over the long run, this episode gives you a deep evidence-based framework for deciding.

Connect with Ben Felix!

Website: https://www.pwlcapital.com/?ki-cf-botcl=1

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenFelixCSI

Podcast: https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast


Resources from today's episode: https://zbib.org/669127c48e994c818f42b4354a84ed21

To go beyond the podcast:

Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/

Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney 

Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney

We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!
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What are high-net-worth investors actually doing with their money in 2026?

In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, we break down the latest asset allocation trends using real portfolio data from Long Angle—a community of high-net-worth investors. From equities and real estate to private credit and alternative investments, this is a behind-the-scenes look at where sophisticated investors are putting capital right now.

Joined by Tad Fallows, Managing Director at Long Angle, we explore how the top 1% are thinking about risk, return, and opportunity—and what it means for your own investing strategy.

Connect with Tad Fallows!

Long Angle Website: https://www.longangle.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fallows/ 

Asset Allocation 2026 Report: https://www.longangle.com/research/high-net-worth-asset-allocation

To go beyond the podcast:

Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/

Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney 

Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney

We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!
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The “messy middle” is the longest—and hardest—phase of the financial independence (FIRE) journey. It’s where progress feels slow, motivation dips, and burnout can creep in.

In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen and Carl Jensen (our guest host for today) break down how to stay consistent, avoid over-optimization, and actually enjoy life while building wealth. From increasing income and investing smarter to designing the life you want before you retire, this is your guide to getting through the messy middle without losing momentum.

If your FIRE journey feels stuck, this episode will help you reset and keep going.

To go beyond the podcast:

Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/

Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney 

Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney

Connect with Carl Jensen: https://www.1500days.com/

We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!
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Kim Hunter Borst didn’t start her financial independence journey in New York City—but it’s where everything changed.

After building a high-income life, she and her husband found themselves $69,000 in debt from lifestyle inflation. Instead of leaving NYC, they got intentional—cutting expenses, leveraging a rent-stabilized apartment, and maxing out retirement accounts.

Now, they’ve achieved financial independence and retired early—proving you don’t have to leave a high-cost city to build real wealth.

To go beyond the podcast:

Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/

Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney 

Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney

Connect with Kim Hunter Borst:

Website: https://khbfinancial.com/

We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices