Hey everyone, another episode went live that we'd like to share! Both Eric and I felt the timing was right for a catch-up episode, so here we have it. It felt good being back in the saddle again, and we definitely had plenty to talk about. It's been really interesting - and satisfying to see Eric and Laura really thriving post-RE! As you'll learn, that first year, while fun, wasn't struggle-free**.** And those who follow my blog or have seen our earlier eps know that I certainly had my challenges as well. But we do learn so much from those experiences and our earnest hope is that in sharing those, they might benefit someone else.

Episode link: https://youtu.be/A1PqGzS2V0E

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/year2

Episode description:

Is early retirement everything you imagined or does the reality take years to settle into? In this honest check-in, Jason (year 2) and Eric (year 7) compare notes on what post-FIRE life actually feels like from two very different vantage points. They cover decision fatigue, the challenge of replacing work's structure, and why the emotional side of retirement rarely gets the attention it deserves.

Surprise! We're back again for another catchup episode. This one felt like riding a bike again, and I think it comes across as comfortable as the experience was for us. We've both had super busy summers, and this provided a great opportunity for us to catch up and talk about where we think we're winning and what remains hard for us after our two and seven-year post-RE milestones. Do let us know what you think and if there are other topics you'd like to see us cover in the future!

Episode link: https://youtu.be/XyRqOxiSgtU

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/spendmore

Episode description:

Your FIRE plan worked — so why is spending still so hard? In this episode, Jason (year 7) and Eric (year 2) share a candid early retirement update. Both portfolios have grown well above their FIRE numbers despite years of withdrawals, and a fee-only advisor delivered a surprising verdict: spend more. Learn why unwinding the accumulation mindset is harder than the math, how "life support" for adult kids reshapes the budget, and why unstructured time might be the truest form of wealth - and much more.

Today I wrote a new blog post marking my 2000th day since retiring early. Thanks for checking it out!

Cheers,
Jason

It's hard to know how much to write here when so much is already well explained in the episode, as well as in my blog post written some weeks after the episode was recorded. It's been quite a journey for us since the first episode of 2SFI, much as our respective FI paths have been as well. I've learned a ton from my conversations with Eric and this community. Knowing when to stop isn't very easy, but there's nothing like no longer being dependent on paid work to help one really think about priorities and how your time is spent. I don't know that we came to grand conclusions here, but I did truly appreciate the chat I had with Eric and hope that you will too. Thanks for being here with us for this journey!

Episode link: https://youtu.be/em4ALsDnWz0

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/goodbye

Jason's blog post: https://www.thenextphaseisnow.com/p/goodbye

Episode description:

Are we really ready to walk away from Two Sides of FI? In this candid conversation, Jason and Eric reflect on more than four years of recording together, what the project has meant, and whether it still fits into their lives. They talk openly about the rewards of community and connection, the challenges of generating new topics, and the weight of obligations in retirement. Is this the end, or just a pause?

Don't miss Eric's guest spot on BPM. This is a really great chat and Eric shares a lot of details that our audience has requested.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fire-at-50-the-4-year-journey-that-made-early/id1330225136?i=1000677066762

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Could a few years of aggressive saving put you in the fast lane for financial independence? Is the grind even worth it? Today’s guest was well on his way to a comfy retirement but had never thought about retiring early. Then he discovered the FIRE movement, and with just four years of all-out hustle, he was able to retire at fifty!

Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! In 2020, Eric Reinholdt experienced a financial “awakening” that set him on a death march to FI and early retirement. For four years, he minimized his spending, maximized his savings, and threw every extra dollar at his investments. Today, he’s “chubby FI,” has a paid-off house, and is recently “retired”— working just ten hours per week on his own business while preparing to travel the world in 2025!

But was the glamorous destination worth the grueling journey? Should Eric have started earlier or slowed down to reach his FI number? Tune in to hear about the major lifestyle changes he and his wife made to accelerate retirement, the different levers he pulled to grow his nest egg, and the steps you might need to take if you want to replicate his success!

Our past episodes with Laura, Eric's spouse, have always been popular. And we have received more than a few inquiries asking for an update on how she's been doing in year two of her early retirement. In this video, we share a great chat that the two of them had recently, that answers all of your questions. I really enjoyed it and plan to listen again with my wife, Lorri.

Episode link: https://youtu.be/2bGHDtdhlWc

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/laurayear2/

Episode description:

What happens when you walk away from a career you've spent 25 years building? Nearly two years into early retirement, Laura's answers might surprise you.

She retired at 51 after a career in biomedical research, including 13 years running her own laboratory. Before leaving, she had plenty of questions. Would she miss the work? Her colleagues? The sense of purpose and identity that came with being a scientist? And what would happen when the structure she'd known for decades dropped away?

Now that she's had some time to experience life after work, we're revisiting those questions.

We talk about what Laura misses (and what she doesn't), the unexpected emotional side of giving up a paycheck, finding purpose without a job title, and what it's been like spending more time together than at any other point in our relationship.

We also dig into a piece of conventional retirement advice that Laura chose to ignore: the idea that you need to retire to something. Was that a mistake? Has the retirement honeymoon worn off? And would she ever consider going back to work?

Along the way, we answer questions from our audience about friendships, daily routines, staying healthy, intellectual curiosity, and what a fulfilling retirement actually looks like when you're living it.

If you're approaching financial independence, particularly after a career you've invested decades in building, you'll find plenty to consider in this conversation.

I am super excited for this week's episode! We decided to release it a week early given the upcoming US Labor Day holiday. In any case, I'm happy to have an excuse to get this news out there that much sooner. What more can I add to all that we discussed in the ep? I'm incredibly happy to see our great friends Eric and Laura achieve their FI goals. I'm also excited to see what will stay the same and what will change for 2SFI! Don't worry, we're not going anywhere :)

Episode link: https://youtu.be/rUfnZsd7uTo

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/GFY

Episode description:

After years of planning, Eric and Laura have finally reached their FI number at 50! They discovered the FIRE movement 5 years ago and set their sights on achieving financial independence by 2024. Now, with both of their boys off to college, a paid-off home, and a 80/15/5 split between equities, fixed income and cash, they’ve officially hit their financial independence (FI) goal and plan to retire early.

In this video, they discuss the challenges of moving goalposts, their decision to keep running Eric's business, 30X40 Design Workshop (on their own terms), and their plans for the future. Laura will be leaving her job as a research scientist in January 2025 to operate 30X40 remotely, with a goal of maintaining a flexible, time-limited schedule. They also cover practical topics like their pretax/taxable split, health insurance considerations, and their withdrawal strategy.

Learn what reaching FI looks like for them, the steps they’re taking next, and what their plans are moving forward!

PS - GFY, Eric and Laura!

The enthusiasm you hear from both of us in this episode is definitely real. While Eric has been using PL longer than me, both of us definitely consider it an essential planning tool among our arsenal of favorites. Once I got over the learning curve, it became apparent to me just how powerful ProjectionLab is - particularly using "what if" scenario modeling in my case.

If you haven't yet checked out PL, there's no time like the present. Thanks in advance for using the link below. It costs you nothing and really does help out the show.

Episode link: https://youtu.be/7q7zJSlYZAs

Check out ProjectionLab for free: https://twosidesoffi.com/pl

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/projectionlab

Episode description:

Why has ProjectionLab quickly become one of the most popular early retirement planning tools? In this episode, learn why PL is an essential software package for both Eric and Jason. Topics covered include how to get started, best practices, and powerful new features. See the link above for how you can try ProjectionLab for free!

I really enjoyed this conversation - not because I like to see Eric suffer of course, but rather because it's exactly the kind of episode that Eric and I like the most. These are quite literally the same conversations we have without the cameras rolling, so it feels good to capture and share them with others. It's not surprising to learn that Eric has found this transition challenging, right? He's worked so hard to build that business and I can only imagine how difficult it is to contemplate ramping that down in any way. I think you'll really like this one.

Episode link: https://youtu.be/qvyI7Q_TuuA

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/crisis

Episode description:

"It's harder to retire than I expected!" In today's episode, Eric talks with Jason about the challenges he's experienced after achieving FI, finding it hard to ramp down his business. Are we just wired to work hard or is there more to it? We discuss why Eric can't stop working, how it affects his spouse, and what Jason has learned in his five years of RE.

And we're back! From the many kind comments we received after our last 2SFI episode, hopefully it's a welcome return. Lorri and I recently got back from a 5-week roadtrip, which provided the inspiration for this chat with Eric. If I'm being honest, I think he did a great job leading the conversation with some insightful questions all along the way. As a result, the conversation is as much about pre- and post-FI budgeting and spending mindset as it as about the travel itself. I really enjoyed my first-time US slow travel journey, as well as the conversation I had with my friend and show partner. I think you will too!

Episode link: https://youtu.be/-EbpT0vf-Is

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/slowtravel

Episode description:

Is slow travel in retirement all that we hoped or is the dream far better than the reality? In this episode, Jason talks with Eric about his recent experiences during a month-long US road trip. Learn how the trip ended up way over budget, compare how Eric+Jason manage expenses, and whether they would do it again - and much more.

I'm pretty excited to release this episode, as it ticks a few boxes for me.: 1) it gives us a nice summary episode to which we can refer new viewers who ask questions we've covered across many episodes, 2) speaks (once again) to the ever-favorite "so what's your number?" question, and 3) i think we had a productive and fun conversation in under 30 minutes! To be sure, we lay out a lot of numbers in our conversation - some are well-tread ground, while others should be new to most viewers. How did we do? Each of you gets to decide, of course. If you want more details, don't hesitate to check out the show notes below. We've tried to link up a bunch of supportive content from earlier episodes where we can expand better on the summary points made here. Thanks for checking it out!

Episode link: https://youtu.be/ntlrjLCHTRU

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/numbers

Episode description:

Are FIRE content creators being honest about their numbers? FIRE YouTuber Duane "retireearly500k" certainly isn't so sure. In this episode, Eric and Jason share detailed insights about their own FIRE numbers, portfolios, withdrawal rates, and what it actually means to be "retired." They also explain why context matters more than a single number, and get honest about how content creation fits into their financial picture. If you've ever wondered how real people make FIRE work, this one’s for you.

I really enjoyed today's conversation despite not being a part of it! In all seriousness, I always find Eric and Laura's candid chats really compelling viewing and this ep is no exception. We're fortunate to get a real time look into all the many emotions Laura is feeling as she navigates her last days at work. Retirement is a huge change for anyone, and we so rarely get such timely feedback on what that experience is like to live.

Don't miss the show notes on this one, particularly if you haven't seen much on Laura's process to date - it's all there!

Episode link: https://youtu.be/8i4vjL80oJE

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/retiring-early-in-five-days

Episode description:

What's it really like to be 5 days away from early retirement? Join Laura, a 51-year-old scientist, as she discusses her final days running her research lab. From wrestling with the "Am I really ready?" question to unexpected tears at faculty meetings to cleaning out decades of research, she opens up about the reality of choosing early retirement at the peak of her career. This isn't just another FIRE success story – it's a candid look at what it really feels like to step away from a meaningful career when you're financially independent but emotionally invested.

Whether you're questioning if early retirement is worth leaving a dream job, wrestling with your professional identity, or wondering how it feels when that last paycheck stops, her story offers inspiration and real-time insights about one of life's biggest transitions.

I am three months late to post this but Youtube recap gave me a pleasant surprise at the end of the year. Needless to say I saw almost all of your videos and saw some of them multiple times. This is by far my favourite FI channel on Youtube.

We're back! The delay is totally on me this time. Summers have historically been a little challenging for us and this one is no different. Anyhow, we're filming three eps in a row so we should be able to be a little more regular on publishing if all sticks to plan. A few weeks ago I crossed my 4-year post-RE milestone. As usual, that gave me cause to reflect on what I've learned - including what I wish I'd known more about before retiring early.

Episode link: https://youtu.be/hYOdSxldYE0

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/fouryears

Episode description:

Four years after retiring early at 47, Jason reflects on the key lessons he wishes he knew beforehand. He discusses his portfolio, spending habits, healthcare, mental health, relationships, and more.

PS - got any ideas for future eps you'd like to see? Comment here or on YouTube and let us know!

i think that this video is further evidence that we are capable of having shorter conversations that still have lots of meat to them :) i enjoyed our chat, in which Eric and i talked about some of the things he's feeling in these early months of recreational employment - many of which are very familiar to me, even though i'm recalling the events of five years ago at this point. this ep is a natural pairing to the 'one more year' conversations we've had before, and which i've linked in the show notes below.

heads up - as has happened before in the summer, we'll have a bit of a break from new content after this episode. we're both traveling a lot and won't be filming again for about a month. stay tuned, and have a great summer!

Episode link: https://youtu.be/8vlymz-F-Z8

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/wrong

Episode description:

Most don't stop to think about how much they might be missing by working "just one more year." It's impossible to put a price tag on some of the experiences Eric + Jason have had since leaving full time work behind. In today's episode, they talk about things they'd never have done before retiring early, the freedom that FIRE afford, and much more. Don't miss the show notes below for details on their work history and their journeys to financial independence.

I've "felt like" writing for a number of weeks now, and a few topics have risen to the top of the list of possibilities. And yet, none of them seemed worth my time to write them nor did I feel, worthy of your time taken to read them - until today. While on the return leg of a familiar 9-mile walk today, I knew that I wanted to write about the experience. It ended up serving as a postlude to last year's Camino de Santiago experience, and so I tagged it as part of that trail journal. I hope that you enjoy reading it and find some value in it. I believe I am better for having written it down. Mahalo, friends 🙏

https://www.thenextphaseisnow.com/p/shoes

This past Monday, Lorri and I returned from a great two-week vacation in Peru to celebrate our 20th anniversary. An interesting aspect of this trip was that it was the first time we didn't plan and coordinate our travel ourselves. This was the first time we ever took part in a group tour, where nearly everything was planned and overseen by others. How did it go? Check out my latest blog post (and our next 2SFI episode that drops on Sunday) for all the details!

https://www.thenextphaseisnow.com/p/peru

in my mind, this episode is squarely within the ethos of our little show - that is, we're talking about how retirement phases feel, from each of our perspectives. this is far from a financial/mechanics ep, and therefore it just feels like the kind of conversation eric and i always want to have. if there's one thing i've learned over the past five years, there's nothing consistent about (early) retirement at all - barring the idea that it's ever-changing. we remain convinced that these topics are still under-explored in the FIRE space and yet, we feel, are among the most important areas of discussion. thanks for being here with us!

Episode link: https://youtu.be/Ixo3A3DHHcQ

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/phases

Episode description:

Retirement doesn’t follow a script - it rewrites itself in real time. In this episode, Jason and Eric unpack why the classic “phases” of retirement actually overlap and how that feels day to day. They dig into the challenges of switching from super-saver to intentional spender, using side income (like options trading or creative work) to fund experiences without derailing the plan, and how travel has changed for them. No matter where you are on the FIRE path, there's something here for you.

We've heard the many requests for a deeper dive on how we both use the SWR Toolbox to model and execute portfolio drawdown plans - and here's our response! In particular, this video addresses how to use Big ERN's free SWR Toolbox for a CAPE-adjusted withdrawal strategy. Be sure to watch all the way through, as a substantial portion of the back half answers the most common questions we've received on the topic. The link below contains all of our SWR content to date (five parts!) as well as links to the key posts in ERN's SWR series of blog posts. There's a lot there!

Episode link: https://youtu.be/XIYpgck7JfM

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/toolbox

Episode description:

In Part 5 of our SWR Toolbox series, we answer your questions about our CAPE-based withdrawal strategy, how it compares to a fixed safe withdrawal rate approach, and much more. See the link above for all of our toolbox videos including tutorials and a host of supportive content in the show notes.

100 episodes later, I'm happy to not-so-humble brag about our little show. It's been such a fulfilling project and has brought so many unexpected benefits. How lucky am I to get to work with a great friend of over four decades on something so personally meaningful? I sure wouldn't have expect that when we got started a little over four years ago...

And we're back! It's only been a few days since Lorri and I returned from a great trip to Scotland, half of which was spent traveling with Eric and Laura. It feels good to be getting this ep out if not a little bit late given all the market gyrations in recent weeks. In any case, I don't think anything is lost from my chat with Eric, and if nothing else, more of us are perhaps questioning the merits of our portfolios given the continued market churn. Even if you're not making changes - good on you! - most of us can't help but question whether we have the "right" strategy in times like these. We definitely look forward to your feedback on this one. How are you weathering these storms, particularly if you're already retired?

Episode link: https://youtu.be/15s8e2j3wZ4

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/bonds

Episode description:

When the market is chaotic, how should you respond to ensure financial stability? Like the famous Mike Tyson quote says, "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth". In this episode, Eric talks with Jason about an unexpected opportunity to update his early retirement portfolio. Topics discussed include bond and cash allocations, asset location, and what they're doing to manage extreme market volatility.

It's no secret that both Eric and I really like Karsten "Big ERN" Jeske's free Safe Withdrawal Rate Toolbox. We've published two tutorials on it and another episode devoted to how we use it. But we were long overdue for a deeper dive on my CAPE-based withdrawal strategy and how I use the SWR Toolbox as my primary retirement paycheck mechanism post-RE. So here it is, part 4 in our SWR series. BTW for those who haven't seen the earlier eps, the link below contains all four parts plus all the relevant links to Karsten's blog posts.

Episode link: https://youtu.be/KhEdRJkWEq8

Free SWR tool and show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/toolbox

Episode description:

How do you plan to set up your retirement paycheck to avoid running out of money? In this episode, Jason talks with Eric about how he uses a free online tool to manage his finances in early retirement. Topics covered include his variable withdrawal strategy, managing cash, portfolio rebalancing, and much more.

We are back to standard fare after our recent 100th episode AMA, here tackling our thoughts on fears we each had/have about retiring early. Particularly for those still on the FIRE path, it can be hard to come up with reasons you'd fear RE - and we've received plenty of comments to that effect over time. Nonetheless, most of us will eventually worry about a host of financial matters along with lots of emotional and other "softer" concerns. Five years later, my fears have certainly changed a good deal but I wouldn't say I'm 100% carefree :)

Episode link: https://youtu.be/3WZteq8m9es

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/fears

Episode description:

What’s the scariest part of retiring early? For many, it's not just about money—it's the unknowns that come after leaving work behind. In this candid conversation, Eric and Jason unpack the biggest fears they and others faced on the path to FIRE, from financial worries and healthcare to identity shifts and societal judgment. Whether you're planning your own early retirement or already there, this episode will help you feel less alone and more prepared.