Brad Barrett

I help People Build Wealth, & Unlock Options 1 simple step at a time

After years in public accounting as a CPA, Brad reached financial independence at the age of 35 through diligent savings and investing. Brad Is passionate about everything from saving money, to living a more healthy lifestyle, to ‘boring’ things like tracking your finances and cutting down on your tax bill. But his favorite topic is leveraging credit card rewards to save more money, and take trips you never would have dreamed possible for pennies on the dollar.

Latest PodcastEpisodes

— Apr 14, 2025

Mastering Tax Strategies: How to Optimize Your Path to Financial Independence

Tax strategies are crucial for anyone pursuing financial independence, especially as recent changes in retirement accounts present new opportunities. Learning to optimize Roth and traditional accounts can significantly impact your tax outcomes. Discussions around Roth conversions and 529 plan contributions offer valuable insights into minimizing tax liabilities while enhancing your investment growth.

— Mar 31, 2025

Breaking the Mold: How Lexi Redefined Her Financial Goals with ChooseFI

Lexi's journey into personal finance marks a dramatic transformation as she redefined her financial goals. Initially focused on owning a home, the COVID housing boom shifted her perspective, steering her towards investing in her education and exploring alternative financial paths.

— Mar 24, 2025

Rebelutionaries: Stages of FI | Katie & Alan Donegan

Katie and Alan Donegan's musical endeavor, Money Revolution, offers an innovative approach to discussing financial independence. Through their songs, they share the vital importance of understanding compounding, while inspiring listeners to take control of their finances and live with intention.

— Mar 17, 2025

538 | Coast FI Masterclass | The Fioneers

CoastFI reimagines the path to financial independence by making saving optional. Jess and Corey share their inspiring journey, illustrating the power of flexibility in financial planning. They explain how reaching CoastFI allows individuals to enjoy life more fully without the constant pressure of savings, embracing experiences over rigid financial goals.

— Mar 10, 2025

Navigating the Path to FI: Bill Powell's Blue Collar Journey from Debt to Empowerment

Bill Powell shares his transformative transition from struggling in a blue-collar environment with credit card debt to the clear path to financial independence. By embracing accountability practices like journaling and regular communication, he discovered the immense power of small, consistent actions. Bill advocates for the significance of financial literacy in blue-collar jobs

Latest Articles

— Mar 28, 2024

EconoMe 2024 Lifehack Wall

During the recent EconoMe 2024 conference, attendees were encouraged to write "LifeHacks" onto post-it notes and stick them to the wall. At the end of the conference, I volunteered to clean...

— Feb 06, 2024

The Necessity for Identity Capital

In this episode: Roth IRA conversion ladder, starting with the end in mind, investing for growth or stability, and retirement planning.

Latest Newsletters

— Oct 15, 2024

Reading, Watching, Playing, Ted Lasso Mindset & Friends of the Library + Community Wins

Discover binge-worthy books, heartfelt rom-coms, a clever new game, and life lessons from Ted Lasso. Dive into my latest reads, watches, and wins from the FI community—and get inspired!

— Oct 08, 2024

Favorite AI Tool, 3 Money Metrics, Walk and Talk plus Community Wins

I found a new free AI tool called NotebookLM this week (a Google offering) and I am so impressed with it. Okay, that’s a massive understatement: I am obsessed with it and think the tech is incredible. Why should you care?

— Oct 01, 2024

Simplifying Life, Everything File, Q3 Net Worth plus Community Wins

Stop Donating Cash: Here's a Smarter Way to Give to Charity Most people give cash to charity, but there’s a better strategy—donate appreciated stocks or mutual funds instead! By donating shares with unrealized gains (like stocks worth more now than when you bought them), you can avoid capital gains taxes and give the full value of the asset to your favorite cause.

— Sep 24, 2024

Four Things I Shared with Friends This Week plus Community Wins

This week’s newsletter is packed with exciting discoveries I couldn’t wait to share—from a podcast episode that changed how I think about storytelling to a book that’s already transforming my daily mindset. Curious? Dive in to explore what’s been sparking conversations with my friends lately!

— Sep 17, 2024

New Business Filing Required, Online Shopping Savings, 31 Years of Returns Visualized plus Community Wins

This week’s newsletter covers an important PSA for business owners: a new Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) filing may be required for most legal entities by 12/31/2024, with significant penalties for non-compliance. Also included: Online shopping hacks to help you save effortlessly. A 31-year stock market return chart that highlights the power of long-term investing.