BiggerPockets Money Podcast

In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench sit down with Grace Gudenkauf, a real estate investor who began her journey at just 23 years old with $15,000 in savings during COVID. Grace shares how she built a thriving rental portfolio in Iowa by leveraging local market knowledge, living below her means, and strategically balancing renovations, new construction, and entrepreneurship.

Mindy and Scott unpack Grace’s approach to deal analysis, seller financing, local bank relationships, and pivoting strategies during rising interest rates. From flipping to building triplexes with a “build one, keep one” model, Grace reveals how she’s designing a low-leverage, resilient portfolio on her path to financial independence. If you want practical real estate investing strategies for your 20s—or a blueprint for long-term cash flow—this episode delivers.

To go beyond the podcast:

Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/

Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney 

Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney

Connect with Grace Gudenkauf:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace.investing/

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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Can you reach financial independence earning a median or below-median income? In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down why making less money can actually be a powerful advantage on the path to wealth. Instead of chasing a higher salary, they explore how lower fixed expenses, smarter tax positioning, and intentional lifestyle choices can accelerate financial freedom.

Mindy and Scott reveal the strategic habits, mindset shifts, and wealth-building tactics that lower-income earners can leverage over time. From Roth strategies and house hacking to side hustles and multiple small bets, this episode shows how consistent, smart decisions can compound into long-term financial independence.

To go beyond the podcast:

Kick start your financial independence journey
with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/

Subscribe on YouTube for even more content-
www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney

Connect with us on social media to join the
other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney

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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On this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are joined by Emily Egashira to hear about her financial journey. Emily’s journey to financial independence proves that your starting point doesn’t determine your financial future. Growing up in poverty with a scarcity mindset, she transformed her life and is set to reach financial independence by 40 through disciplined saving, strategic investing, and powerful mindset shifts. 

Emily breaks down the exact strategies that helped her save 45–50% of her income, manage healthcare costs as a self-employed professional, navigate market dips like the COVID-19 crash, and plan a dual early retirement with complex drawdown strategies. We also explore the psychology of money, overcoming limiting beliefs, growing income intentionally, and why having a financial plan changes everything on the path to FIRE and early retirement.

To go beyond the podcast:

Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/

Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney 

Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney

Connect with Emily Egashira: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyfrienditsem

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Hey-Friend-Its-Em/61575209009919/

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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On this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are joined by Frank Vasquez to explore small cap value investing, factor research from Eugene Fama and Kenneth French, and how funds like AVUV compare to total market index funds like VTSAX. They discuss historical outperformance, diversification benefits, expense ratios, index construction differences, and whether small cap value deserves a place in your long-term portfolio.

To go beyond the podcast:

Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/

Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney 

Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney

Connect with Frank Vasquez: 

https://www.riskparityradio.com/about

Fairfax CASA Donation Page https://www.fairfaxcasa.org/give-now/

Father McKenna Center Donation Page: https://fathermckennacenter.org/how-you-can-help/donate/

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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In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are joined by Paul Merriman. Paul shares decades of investing wisdom and explains why simple index investing often outperforms complex strategies.

We explore the power of diversification beyond the S&P 500, the importance of bonds in a portfolio, and how glide paths reduce risk over time. Paul also breaks down the psychological traps that sabotage investors—and how to avoid them.

If you want to:

Build wealth with index funds

Create a smarter asset allocation

Reduce risk while maximizing long-term returns

This episode is your blueprint.

To go beyond the podcast:

Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources

Subscribe on YouTube for even more content

Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners

Connect with Paul Merriman:

Website: https://www.paulmerriman.com/

Paul’s New Book ‘We’re Talking Millions!’: https://irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/Were-Talking-Millions.pdf

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