Those who have FIREd like Keven Sebesta are choosing to rock life each day. In this final episode on the FIRE movement, we’ll explore what we can learn from them. Join Kevin and me to discover how you can do what FIRE is doing right.

What can you learn from FIRE?

Traditional retirement planning is all about achieving the end goal. Climbing the mountain and reaching the summit. However, FIRE embraces life today. Those in the FIRE movement see life as an endless journey to explore. 

Don’t wait to explore your passions and interests. Do them now. If that isn’t possible, examine how your life is structured and begin to build a life filled with intentionality. Build connections and community based on your interests. 

Listen in to learn how you can create a rich life now without waiting until retirement. 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT

• [3:55] When I retire I will…
• [5:10] Lessons to learn from FIRE movement
• [13:43] What financial lessons to learn from FIREd people
• [16:23] Planning from the inside out

LISTENER QUESTIONS

• [22:18] What is the payoff/penalty of using my IRA to do a Roth conversion?
• [30:25] Moving money from an IRA to an HSA
• [34:07] On refilling the pie cake 
• [38:47] Make sure you have enough taxes withheld when doing Roth conversions
• [41:39] Can Gail open a Roth for her granddaughter?

TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT

• [43:33] Write down one thing that you know well and question it with a mindset of curiosity

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Arthur Brooks

Cal Newport

Designing Your Dream Life with Arthur Brooks

Mark’s Money Mind

Rock Retirement Club

Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That

BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney

Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

Over these past few weeks, we have been discussing the FIRE movement with Kevin Sebesta, a coach in the RRC who achieved FIRE some time ago and has been rocking retirement ever since. 

This week Kevin helps me explore the challenges that retiring early can bring. Listen in to hear if these are similar to the issues you face in retirement. 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT

• [4:58] The challenges of leaving traditional work early
• [10:55] Healthcare is one of the challenges
• [17:28] The non-financial challenges of FIRE

LISTENER QUESTIONS WITH ANDY PANKO

• [27:44] Which Social Security benefit should we take?
• [31:28] Relating to working with a bad financial advisor
• [36:47] What to do with an overfunded whole life insurance policy
• [43:07] How are IRMAA surcharges calculated?

TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT

• [47:55] When you’re in a disagreement with someone, step out and reset yourself to gain perspective

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Retirement Planning Education podcast

Rock Retirement Club

Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That

BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney

Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

Now that we know what FIRE is, let’s learn the benefits. In this episode of Retirement Answer Man, Kevin Sebesta joins me to discuss the benefits of FIRE. 

Afterward, Mark Ross comes aboard to noodle on why creativity is important in retirement. And finally, Taylor Schulte from the Stay Wealthy podcast helps me answer some listener questions. Don’t miss out on this informative episode!

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT

• [1:41] Life as a journey
• [3:00] Benefits of retiring early

BRING IT ON WITH MARK ROSS

• [19:09] Why is creativity important?

LISTENER QUESTIONS WITH TAYLOR SCHULTE

• [25:52] About the Retirement Podcast Network
• [28:43] How to choose between investing in a Roth 401K and a traditional investment account
• [33:55] Timing a reallocation of assets
• [39:45] A good, detailed, free retirement calculator
• [44:55] Why Rosie didn’t hire another financial planner

TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT

• [50:28] Define whether your decisions are hats, haircuts, or tattoos

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

New Retirement Calculator

The Retirement Podcast Network

Stay Wealthy Podcast

Define Financial

BOOK - Coaching Beyond Words by Anna Sheather

BOOK - How to Think Like Leonardo DaVinci by Michael Gelb

BOOK - Atomic Habits by James Clear

PODCAST - Choose FI

PODCAST - Catching Up to FI

BOOK - The 100-Year Life by Andrew Scott and Lynda Gratton

BOOK - The Second Mountain by David Brooks 

Rock Retirement Club

Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That

BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney

Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

Have you heard of the FIRE movement? It’s become increasingly popular in the past few years. Even if you are technically too old to retire early, there is something we can all learn from FIRE seekers. 

In this episode, Kevin Sebesta, a real live FIREer joins me to discuss what FIRE is, how he achieved it, and what people who retire early do with their time. 

Make sure to stick around for the Bring It On segment with Dr. Bobby Dubois to learn whether supplements are worth the time and money we spend on them. Dr. Bobby helps us develop a framework for deciding whether supplements are right for us. 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

WHAT I READ IN JANUARY

• [2:02] Books I read last month

PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT

• [5:55] Meet Kevin
• [9:56] Defining FIRE
• [15:24] Who enjoys FIRE 
• [21:23] Why FIRE has caught on

BRING IT ON WITH DR. BOBBY DUBOIS

• [26:12] Why are supplements important?
• [30:54] How should we go about exploring supplements?
• [39:44] What do the studies show?
• [44:18] What about multivitamin supplements?
• [48:20] What supplements does Dr. Bobby support?
• [52:10] The takeaways

TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT

• [53:58] Read a book!

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

BOOK - Scarcity Brain by Michael Easter

BOOK - Moby Dick by Herman Melville

BOOK - The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

Rock Retirement Club

Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That

BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney

Roger’s Retirement Learning Center