BiggerPockets Money Podcast

Can you reach financial independence earning a median or below-median income? In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down why making less money can actually be a powerful advantage on the path to wealth. Instead of chasing a higher salary, they explore how lower fixed expenses, smarter tax positioning, and intentional lifestyle choices can accelerate financial freedom.

Mindy and Scott reveal the strategic habits, mindset shifts, and wealth-building tactics that lower-income earners can leverage over time. From Roth strategies and house hacking to side hustles and multiple small bets, this episode shows how consistent, smart decisions can compound into long-term financial independence.

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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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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On this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are joined by Emily Egashira to hear about her financial journey. Emily’s journey to financial independence proves that your starting point doesn’t determine your financial future. Growing up in poverty with a scarcity mindset, she transformed her life and is set to reach financial independence by 40 through disciplined saving, strategic investing, and powerful mindset shifts. 

Emily breaks down the exact strategies that helped her save 45–50% of her income, manage healthcare costs as a self-employed professional, navigate market dips like the COVID-19 crash, and plan a dual early retirement with complex drawdown strategies. We also explore the psychology of money, overcoming limiting beliefs, growing income intentionally, and why having a financial plan changes everything on the path to FIRE and early retirement.

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 Emily Egashira: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyfrienditsem

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Hey-Friend-Its-Em/61575209009919/

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, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are joined by Frank Vasquez to explore small cap value investing, factor research from Eugene Fama and Kenneth French, and how funds like AVUV compare to total market index funds like VTSAX. They discuss historical outperformance, diversification benefits, expense ratios, index construction differences, and whether small cap value deserves a place in your long-term portfolio.

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 Frank Vasquez: 

https://www.riskparityradio.com/about

Fairfax CASA Donation Page https://www.fairfaxcasa.org/give-now/

Father McKenna Center Donation Page: https://fathermckennacenter.org/how-you-can-help/donate/

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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In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are joined by Paul Merriman. Paul shares decades of investing wisdom and explains why simple index investing often outperforms complex strategies.

We explore the power of diversification beyond the S&P 500, the importance of bonds in a portfolio, and how glide paths reduce risk over time. Paul also breaks down the psychological traps that sabotage investors—and how to avoid them.

If you want to:

Build wealth with index funds

Create a smarter asset allocation

Reduce risk while maximizing long-term returns

This episode is your blueprint.

To go beyond the podcast:

Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources

Subscribe on YouTube for even more content

Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners

Connect with Paul Merriman:

Website: https://www.paulmerriman.com/

Paul’s New Book ‘We’re Talking Millions!’: https://irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/Were-Talking-Millions.pdf

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What if financial independence isn’t about retiring early — but about controlling your time right now?

In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench sit down with Brian Herriot — millionaire in his 40s, now managing a $3 million portfolio, and author of Time Freedom — to talk about redefining what financial independence really means.

Brian shares how he built wealth, why he shifted his focus from net worth to time control, and how entrepreneurship, investing, and spending habits all play a role in designing a life you don’t want to escape from.

They dive into:

The mindset shift from “early retirement” to “time freedom”

How Brian grew from $1M to a $3M portfolio

The life events that reshaped his financial goals

Why flexible work can accelerate financial independence

The connection between entrepreneurship and freedom

Investing strategies that align with your life vision

The overlooked importance of relationships in business

Health insurance, risk management, and real-world FIRE challenges

Work-life balance and building a sustainable version of success

If you’re pursuing FIRE, building wealth, or questioning whether early retirement is actually the goal — this conversation will challenge how you think about money.

To go beyond the podcast:

Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources

Subscribe on YouTube for even more content

Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners

Connect with Brian Herriot:

Website: https://timefreedom.life/

Buy Brian’s New Book ‘Time Freedom’: https://timefreedom.life/book/
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