So, today (2026-07-27) Big ERN published a [post detailing his analysis of the Risk Parity approach](https://earlyretirementnow.com/2026/07/27/risk-parity-swr-series-part-64/), the latest in his SWR series. (BTW, it really helps make the experience if you imagine Karsten's voice reading aloud as you read the article.) As is customary for Big ERN, the post is extremely detailed and chock full of data and charts. His conclusion is a bit bearish. As someone who has considered moving in the directio...

I call malarkey - inflation is NOT lower in retirement. Lets debate...

I often hear "you spend less" in retirement. For that, I agree. But that REALLY means you "consume less" in retirement. I think far too many people confuse it with "inflation is lower because my personal expenses don't go up by as much". That is a change/reduction in consumption; it is NOT a reduction in inflation. I suspect prices for the same basket an average RETIREE would buy go up MORE than the basket of goods for a non-retiree. So here is the mix-up and why I think retirees and those plann...

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Lifestyle Design by CoastieFire

Post Work Paradox: Over Achiever vs. Professional Potato … help me find the middle ground!

Alright, hive mind. I’ll hit the escape hatch in 2029 and am officially spiraling over what to do with a terrifying, beautiful, wide-open commodity: **time**. Cue the intense, middle-school-guidance-counselor ‘what do you want to be…’ flashback. I’m trying to engineer a post-work life that's actually fun and satisfying without accidentally building myself a brand new 60-hour-a-week job, OR degenerating into a human potato who stares at the wall. For context: spouse and I will retire at 45 with 2...

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Spending Smarter by MWDunaway

No Health Insurance - And It's A Good Idea!?

I have two children (30 and 27), and engage with them and their friends about personal finance topics regularly. This past weekend, one of their friends shared that they do not carry health insurance. They said they pay as they go for small items. They shared that they recently had a $ 2,000 hospital bill, kept getting emails from the hospital about making payment, ignored the emails, and the emails eventually stopped coming. They considered that a win. They also said they have had conversations...

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Nomads and Expats by shelbygrace

Advice for nomad banking

Hi all, I'm heading to Australia, NZ, and then Asia starting in 2027 for 6+ months. For all my past international travel I've used my travel credit card linked to my home checking account. But I've never moved around this much over the 6 months and would like something with more options. Research is pointing to Schwab Bank Investor Checking but I'd love to hear what others have (or if you recommend Schwab). For reference, I'll be making money through remote freelance work. Not planning to work i...

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Real Estate by vagrant1

Paying a (Rocket) serviced Mortgage through a Bilt.com Credit Card?

I **heard about the possibility of paying a mortgage with a rewards earning credit card** on a (fairly) recent episode of ChooseFI (see link below)! **My home mortgage is serviced through Rocket Mortgage** and in talking to Rocket Mortgage (live agent) they said they "don't accept credit cards" for mortgage payments. HOWEVER, under the hood, it SEEMS like the way Bilt works is that they directly "pay" your mortgage but then your credit card payments (to Bilt) effectively pays them back (do I hav...

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Kids & Family Finance by Csalzman

Talking actual numbers with kids

My 11 year old asked me yesterday how much money we have and how much I make at my job. I ended up not telling her exact numbers, but assured her we had enough and that we were always planning for the future. I'm now second-guessing whether that was the right move. I want her to be financially literate, but I also don't want her to necessarily share those numbers with her friends without context. How have y'all handled these kinds of conversations at different ages?

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Earning More by Kendall Kunelius

Considering Going for CFP

Hi All! I am considering a year-long process of doing the coursework and studying for my CFP (certified financial planner) status. Since I work for a university, there's hope that my tuition benefit might cover the cost as the CFP course is offered through our online learning school. The CFP content strongly relates to my role within the university but also gives me work flexibility in case of layoffs or life changes. I would not be leaving my current role to be a full-time CFP, my job is very m...

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Tax Strategies by COCPAGurl

Tax Aide Volunteer Opportunity

Calling all tax nerds! AARP is now accepting applications for next tax season to help seniors with their returns. Last tax season was my first year volunteering and it was so fun! They provide training in December. If you are interested, please check out the AARP volunteer website: [Volunteer With AARP Foundation Tax-Aide](https://www.aarp.org/aarp-foundation/get-involved/tax-aide/?cmp=FDN-TAXAIDE-PRINT-VOLUNTEER&utm_source=vanityurl&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=taxaidevolunteer)

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College by Brianmain

AOTC/529…help me find any errors/inefficiencies in my thinking…

Let’s assume a recent high school graduate has 2 years of schooling left to complete their night-school degree at a commuter college where tuition is $4000/year. The individual is set to make $40,000 in 2026 with a $2600 federal tax liability and a $1200 state tax liability. The individual resides in a state that gives a 20% tax credit for 529 contributions (up to $1,500) but saved nothing for college thus far. Does it make the most sense for the individual to take out a $4,000 loan this year to...

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Investing by trompettejoe

Index funds, Vanguard or Schwab?

Hi I’m new to FI and just started! Yeah! Question as the title. I do have Schwab account. Any input would be appreciated! Thank you!

Is anyone doing FIRE without being optimal intentionally?

For some reason I always find myself seeking out the optimization discussions about the quickest or most efficient way to FIRE (I suppose the boring middle will do that do a person). It seems like there is a consensus among the smart people here that you max the tax advantaged accounts then put the rest in the brokerage, then you do the low or no tax 72(t) plus the low or no tax Roth Conversions, and you stay in the 0% LTCG area, and you manage income for ACA subsidies and all that good stuff. I...

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Lifestyle Design by adamk

FIRE and Single Life

A lot is said about pursuing FI while having a family, like in the recent episode #609 "How to Talk to Your Partner about FI". I am wondering how does pursuing the path to FI interacts with living a single life? Being a 40+ single myself, I have some thoughts about it. I am also curious how many of you are in the same situation - on the path to FI while having no spouse or children, whether single by choice, involuntarily celibate (incel) person, or divorced? First of all, I think it may be easi...

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Spending Smarter by thinkpad12

I finally ditched YNAB

I was a loyal YNAB customer for years. My first subscription purchase was all the way back in 2018. I was a student at college and just got done using the free year for students. I was, and always have been, a manual user. I have never ever once linked my third party bank accounts for security reasons and I thought that manually entering transactions simulated using real cash. I could justify the price back when it was much cheaper, but now at $109 plus tax I just couldn't bring myself to do it...

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Nomads and Expats by Oliver Collington

23 yr old U.S. Expat Requesting Investing Advice

Hi, my name is Oliver Collington. I’m 23 years old, I grew up in New Jersey and am a U.S. citizen but have moved to Iceland. My goal with this post is to figure out a simple, low cost, effective investing strategy that I can implement while living here in Iceland. Thus far, I haven’t invested into funds such as VTI nor VTSAX because I’m blocked by the European Union's **PRIIPs Regulation** **I have been able to invest into VUAA (through IBKR), which emulates the SMP 500 but is based in the UK, t...

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Kids & Family Finance by profmom

Early Retirement Planning and College

Does anyone have thoughts about your kids' college and retiring early? We were thinking of using our brokerage account to fund the gap between early retirement (like age 51 or so, in 4-6 years) and when we're allowed to take disbursements, but brokerage accounts are heavily looked at on the FAFSA - like it would eat a quarter of our funds and cut us out of the new programs for free state college for low/moderate income earners. We're already maxing out IRAs and 401Ks etc. Maybe it makes the most...

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Earning More by john_brown

The yearning for a better life

Hi, Everyone Life is full of adventures, and we are currently living in a complex reality driven by the ceaseless advancement of AI technology. Having grasped the current trends, I have set higher goals despite my decent current income, and I have explored various ways to achieve them. I have come here to seek opportunities to collaborate with like-minded and courageous individuals among you. How can one even talk about making a living without an income? As a software Engineer, I’m looking for a...

Not trusting the numbers

My husband and I have been working towards Coast FI as long as we've been married. Now that the calculators are all telling us we're there, I'm having a hard time believing it. We're not super young but we're not 'retirement age' either. We've always planned that we'd quit our stressful jobs and keep some sort of less stressful work, for one of us to have benefits, but now that that time sees to be getting closer it seems like there is no way it can be a possibility and I find myself looking for...

Upcoming ChooseFI Podcast Episode: "Why Having Enough Doesn't Feel Like Enough"

Upcoming ChooseFI Podcast Episode: "Why Having Enough Doesn't Feel Like Enough" Brad and I are recording a different kind of "deep dive" next week that explores why financially intelligent, secure people still struggle to make financial decisions. We'll discuss some hidden psychological mechanisms that keep people stuck even after the math says they're okay. Before we press "Record," I'd love to hear from you: If you've reached (or nearly reached) financial independence, what has been the hardes...

Asset Transition Nearing FI (jumping off the moving train)

The FI number is near, about 10% to go and well within the 5-year critical period. But, the portfolio is still riding at max-accumulation, max-risk levels of equity. I'm working out the best way to shift the allocation to acknowledge the nearness of FI but without pushing that timeline back too much – safely stepping off the moving train, as it were. Then I read [Big ERN's article](https://earlyretirementnow.com/2017/09/13/the-ultimate-guide-to-safe-withdrawal-rates-part-19-equity-glidepaths/) t...

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Find Your Local FI Tribe

In-person meetups, study groups, and accountability partners in your area.

Charlotte

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For anyone in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Join us for meetups, shared learning, and community on the path to FI.

Richmond

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For anyone in the greater Richmond, Virginia area interested in financial independence. Connect with like-minded people at local meetups and events.

Michigan

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The easiest way to find local groups across Michigan. This group aggregates 10 local communities and their events statewide — from Detroit and Grand Rapids to Lansing, Kalamazoo, and Traverse City. Most meetups and discussions happen at the local level, so check out the city groups below to find your closest community.

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Covering Portland, Oregon and the surrounding metro area. Connect with fellow FI enthusiasts at our local meetups and events.

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This group is all over the Dallas area! We have meet ups in Frisco, Carrollton, Dallas, Coppell, Irving, and more. Anyone can host an event. We look forward to growing the Dallas community!

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For anyone in the greater Seattle area interested in financial independence. We host regular meetups and welcome newcomers at any stage of their FI journey.

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