BiggerPockets Money Podcast

In this episode, Ben Felix joins Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench on the BiggerPockets Money podcast to break down his thoughts on the FIRE movement, portfolio design, safe withdrawal rates, and long-term investing. We discuss how to build a FIRE portfolio that balances risk, flexibility, quality of life, and long-term sustainability — without falling into the trap of over-optimization or extreme frugality.

Whether you're pursuing FIRE, early retirement, Coast FIRE, or simply trying to become a smarter long-term investor, this conversation offers an evidence-based framework for building wealth while still enjoying life along the way.

Connect with Ben Felix!

Website: https://www.pwlcapital.com/?ki-cf-botcl=1

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenFelixCSI

Podcast: https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast

Resources from today’s episode:

https://www.pm-research.com/content/iijretire/10/3/47

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4590406

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4227132

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGzgsSXdPjo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=rHiFIykmOJJs8UKF&v=S9InNdQhFwc&feature=youtu.be

https://research-tools.pwlcapital.com/research/risk-profile

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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In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down the biggest portfolio mistakes people make on the path to financial independence. From holding too much cash and staying stuck in accumulation mode to ignoring tax optimization, estate planning, and withdrawal strategies, we cover the investing mistakes that can quietly derail long-term wealth building and FIRE success.

Whether you’re pursuing FIRE, Coast FIRE, or traditional retirement, this episode will help you avoid common portfolio mistakes and build a more resilient long-term financial plan.

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!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench bring on Kyle Collette to discuss how he achieved financial independence and built a real estate portfolio worth more than $4 million while earning less than $40,000 per year. Through house hacking, rental property investing, frugal living, and strategic relationships, Kyle scaled from small single-family rentals to multi-unit properties across Ohio — proving that building wealth doesn’t require a massive salary.

Whether you're pursuing FI, early retirement, or long-term wealth through real estate investing, this episode offers a practical roadmap for building financial freedom on a modest income.

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 Kyle: 

[email protected] OR [email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-collette-7ba24541

https://www.instagram.com/tennisguyrei/

We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down the biggest mistakes people make when calculating their FIRE number and planning for financial independence. Many early retirement calculators rely on simplified assumptions like the 4% rule or current spending levels, but real-life retirement planning is far more complicated. This episode covers how healthcare costs, inflation, one-time expenses, and changing lifestyle spending can dramatically impact your true FI number and long-term retirement success.

We also discuss safe withdrawal rates, stress testing your retirement plan flexible income streams, and why many FIRE investors underestimate future spending during early retirement. Whether you’re pursuing FIRE, early retirement, Coast FIRE, or traditional financial independence, this episode will help you build a more realistic retirement strategy and avoid common mistakes that can derail long-term wealth and portfolio sustainability.

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!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench sit down with Ben Felix to break down one of the most debated topics in long-term investing: small cap value investing. Ben explains the research behind factor investing, the Fama-French multi-factor model, and why investors continue to look at small cap value ETFs like AVUV and Dimensional funds as potential upgrades to traditional index fund portfolios. 

If you've ever wondered whether AVUV, Dimensional ETFs, or small cap value funds can outperform broad market index funds like VTI over the long run, this episode gives you a deep evidence-based framework for deciding.

Connect with Ben Felix!

Website: https://www.pwlcapital.com/?ki-cf-botcl=1

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenFelixCSI

Podcast: https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast


Resources from today's episode: https://zbib.org/669127c48e994c818f42b4354a84ed21

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!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices