What if you had $1 million invested for financial independence at just 36, but still worried that buying a home could derail your early retirement plans? Cheryl and her family have two young kids, a $1 million FI portfolio, and big goals: reach Coast FI and potentially work part time within five years, while ultimately retiring with $3 million by age 59.5. But after buying a primary residence, Cheryl wants to know whether she’s made a major financial mistake or if she can make homeownership, part-time work, and financial independence all work together. On this Finance Friday episode, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down Cheryl’s numbers and explore what it will take to balance her family’s goals without losing sight of the bigger FI plan.

To go beyond the podcast:

• Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/
• Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzy
• Get 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pockets

Connect with Cheryl:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/millionairecher/

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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How much can you safely withdraw in early retirement, and is the 4% rule still a good guideline? Ben Felix breaks down portfolio risk, asset allocation, bonds vs. stocks, flexible spending, and the psychological side of investing in retirement.

To go beyond the podcast:

• Listen to the Full Episode Here: https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/podcast/ben-felix-100-equities-in-fire/
• Interested in working with a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/
• Get 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pockets

We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is house hacking still a good strategy for reaching financial independence in 2026? Scott Trench and Evan Lawler break down a real house-hacking opportunity, looking at mortgage costs, cash flow, market conditions, sold properties, and how to systematically find real estate deals that can help you build wealth. If you're considering house hacking, real estate investing, or using rental income to accelerate FIRE, this episode offers a practical framework for evaluating the numbers and knowing when to act.

To go beyond the podcast:

• Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/
• Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzy
• Get 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pockets

Connect with Evan Lawler:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_financialfoundation/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_FinancialFoundation

We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.