financial independence Archives - Page 5 of 11

December 20, 2021December 19, 2021

EP 18: Kenzie King: Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail

Today on episode 18 I want to welcome Kenzie King. If you listened to last week’s interview with Michael Langer you will recognize Kenzie as Michael’s girlfriend. Kenzie and Michael walked away from lucrative engineering careers in Houston, Texas and moved into a van. Only months later, seemingly on a whim, they smashed the Pacific Crest Trail, hiking over 2,600 miles across California, Oregon, and Washington.

I promise that this is not a retelling of last week’s story. Kenzie has a very unique perspective on their journey. And regardless of your thoughts on the backpacking or thru-hiking, Kenzie shares a number of insightful opinions on the evolving dynamics of workplace culture, relationships in trying environments, and levels of financial or emotional security necessary to make bold and truly lasting changes in our lives. Hang on all the way to the end for some of the best moments of this conversation.

December 6, 2021December 5, 2021

EP 16: (Part 1) The Boring Guide to Successful Investing

This week on episode 16 I want to revisit a two-part series on the nuts and bolts of our very simple investing strategy. I wrote these posts early in the history of this website, back in late 2018. We felt an investing strategy needed to be simple and lasting, so you might be surprised to learn how boring it all seems. But in this case, boring is good.

And like a simple investing strategy should be, it really hasn’t changed much. However, once we achieved financial independence and left our traditional jobs, we have made some minor changes to our plan. And I’ll share those changes with you today.

November 29, 2021November 28, 2021

EP 15: Craig Faulhaber: Near-Death Experiences and Early Retirement

My guest this week is climber, math professor, and real-deal van lifer, Craig Faulhaber. On September 19, 2021 Craig was involved in a very serious climbing accident. This is the sort of accident that can end a life at worst, and dramatically alter its course at best. But, as you will hear in this conversation, Craig has an amazing sense of optimism in the face of very difficult life events.

To add to my shock at his accident, I was surprised to learn that Craig was on the cusp of retiring early just before his accident. Please enjoy this special conversation where we discuss the delicate nature of life, unconventional living, home ownership, relationships and marriage, and even the ethics of investing. Plus so much more!

November 22, 2021November 28, 2021

2021 Exciting Year-End Financial and Tax Checklist

2021 Year-End Financial and Tax Checklist

Wow, another year almost in the books! As we wind down 2021, now is the time to make sure we are on track with our financial goals. Remember how we started with Your 2021 Guide to Actually Saving Real Money? Let’s examine a few crucial steps with this year-end financial and tax checklist.

October 25, 2021October 25, 2021

Shades of Grey: How to Enjoy Life and Have Money

So many of us in the outdoor world choose a life and career path guided by a seemingly unavoidable fork in the road. Do we choose a safe path, paved with a steady paycheck and a retirement plan? Or do we cobble together whatever it takes to make it work, focusing on experience and patching the inevitable cracks as we go? Today we examine the completely accessible and exciting grey area between these two black and white choices. We can have money and still enjoy life.

October 18, 2021October 18, 2021

EP 10: Mark Anderson: The Seasons of Life

I’m very pleased to welcome back to Clipping Chains Mark Anderson, an elite-level climber, father, husband, training enthusiast, and now-former full-time engineer and manager. Mark and his family have recently achieved financial independence, allowing Mark to step away from his career and focus first on family, and perhaps surprisingly, climbing as a distant second priority.

October 11, 2021October 10, 2021

EP 9: Your Questions Answered: Volume 3

This week I decided to dig through the digital mail bag for some questions.

In this podcast episode, we take a dive on how to spend retirement money early, how to live off investment income, recommended index funds, life on the road, climbing with a significant other who doesn’t partake, taxes, spot-on recession predictions, and so much more!

September 6, 2021September 5, 2021

EP 5: Diana Crabtree Green: Pay Yourself First

Today I bring you a discussion with Diana Crabtree Green, a rock climber and now part-time Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with more than twenty years of experience in personal finance and tax.

Diana is another one of these climbers that I didn’t think existed in large numbers when I started this project three years ago: Diana and her husband could technically be retired in her 40s. But they both continue to work, at least part time. We’ll discuss why they’ve chosen this balanced approach.

Learn how outdoor enthusiasts are primed to get the ball rolling.

August 30, 2021August 30, 2021

How to Have Negative Health Insurance Costs

One of the chief concerns for those considering leaving a job is the prospect of health insurance costs. I’ve met many climbers who choose to not insure, and many other concerned corporate employees who are convinced that insurance in the private marketplace will cost tens of thousands of dollars per year. As of this month, I’m pleased to announce that we are officially getting paid to have health insurance.

No joke! Let’s examine the wild and crazy ride of our health insurance budgeting. Strap in.

August 23, 2021August 22, 2021

EP 3: Chris Mamula: One Bite at a Time

Today I’m excited to bring you an interview with writer and outdoor enthusiast Chris Mamula. Chris is a well-known figure in the personal finance community, particularly the Financial Independence community.

Chris worked as a physical therapist before achieving financial independence and leaving his career in 2017 at age 41. Shortly thereafter, Chris—along with his wife and daughter—moved across the country from Pennsylvania to Ogden, UT, where they now reside.

While Chris and his family yearned for an adventurous life out west, he’s been candid about the challenges of changing too much too soon. We discuss those challenges and how he’s worked through them. We also discuss financial and lifestyle choices that are unique to the outdoor community. Finally, we address the importance of options and flexibility for an unknown future.

Plus much more!