Shows
Exceptionally Good: Leaders for a Better World19. Brad Barrett - No Margin, No Mission - How the Tenets of Financial Independence Can Enable Your Exceptionally Good in the WorldIn this episode - Brad Barrett, CPA and co-founder of the ChooseFI Podcast, one of the most influential platforms in the Financial Independence (FI) movement. While Brad’s career began in accounting, it’s his work making FI accessible to everyone that makes him a leader worth learning from.The FI movement, as Vicki Robin framed it, asks a simple but profound question: your money or your life? At its core, FI isn’t about hoarding wealth... it’s about using intentional financial choices to reclaim your time, create freedom, and build resilience. Or...
2025-09-081h 05
Financial Fortitude: Tax, Wealth & Investment Strategies for High Income EarnersHow the Wealthy Use SBLOCs to Borrow Tax-Free Without Selling - E25Michael and Brady dive into one of the most misunderstood yet increasingly leveraged financial tools for high earners and investors, the Securities-Backed Line of Credit (SBLOC). Is it a smart strategy to unlock liquidity without triggering taxes, or a risky move that could backfire in volatile markets? Whether you’re navigating emergency funding, eyeing a new investment opportunity, or building a financial moat around your wealth, this episode breaks down everything you need to know about SBLOCs — how they work, when to use them, the risks involved, and how to make them a powerful piece of your planning arsenal. Don...
2025-07-0331 min
ChooseFIFI Service Corps | Ryan Brennan | Ep 548In this episode of ChooseFI, Ryan Brennan, founder of the FI Service Corps, dives into his journey within the financial independence (FI) community and how he is merging it with the spirit of volunteering. The discussion explores Ryan's background as a recovering CPA, his transition into this new venture, and the pilot events that successfully combined community service with social bonding. Key Takeaways Financial independence can intertwine with community service to create meaningful experiences. A supportive community is essential for financial independence and personal fulfillment. Organizing local service events can facilitate connections and promote engagement within the FI...
2025-05-2650 min
Retirement Planning Education, with Andy Panko#107 – Retirement planner chat, with Mike Powers from Manuka FinancialAndy chats with fellow retirement planner Mike Powers, CPA, PFS, CFP®, from Manuka Financial. In this episode they talk about a wide array of retirement planning topics such as tax planning, distribution strategies, investing, annuities, long-term care insurance, how to help advise people who are spending more than planned, what consumers often overlook in retirement planning and much more!Links in this episode:Mike's company's website - Manuka FinancialMichael Kitces website - hereMr Money Mustache blog - hereChooseFI financial independent community - hereEarly Retirement N...
2024-07-111h 51
The Arcus ArenaEP2: From CPA to Kolache King: A Story of Entrepreneurship & Community with Randy HinesLeaving a stable career as a CPA and consulting manager to run a bakery isn’t a choice many people would make, but that’s exactly what today’s guest did—and he never looked back. Randy Hines is the owner of the Kolache Shoppe, and it was his nostalgic yearning for traditional kolaches that sparked his transition from consulting to the bakery business. In this episode of The Arcus Arena, hosts Candus Hinderer and Carrie Ferroukhi talk to Randy about his gutsy decision to leave his consulting career behind and follow his passion for the beloved pastry. R...
2024-05-2449 min
Canadian Wealth SecretsThe Accountant Entrepreneurs and Business Owners Have Been Searching For: An Interview with Bob GauvreauEver wonder how one Canadian CPA firm could manage to disrupt the accounting and income tax preparation industry while you’ve been working with what feels like a glorified bookkeeper? Join us as we dive deep into the journey of Bob Gauvreau, CEO of Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory to learn how his firm has quickly evolved into the largest one-owner CPA firm in Canada. Throughout this episode, Bob shares his entrepreneurial journey as he continues to transform the accounting industry and he leaves you with some Canadian Wealth Secrets for incorporated entrepreneurs and business owners to pay...
2024-05-0849 min
All the Hacks: Money, Points & LifeThe Spectrum of Financial Independence and Tools to Track Your Progress with Brad Barrett#141: Financial independence expert Brad Barrett and Chris deep dives into the FI/RE movement. They cover various forms of FI/RE, share effective strategies for investments and retirement planning, and discuss tools to track and manage finances. They also explore the psychological aspects of financial decision making, including the skill of mindful spending.Brad Barrett (@bradchoosefi) is the co-host of ChooseFI, the number one podcast on financial independence with more than a million monthly listeners. After years in public accounting as a CPA, Brad reached financial independence at the age of 35, without ever earning a six-figure salary.
2023-11-081h 02
Ordinary Sherpa: Family Adventure Coaching and Design127 | Adventures in Entrepreneurship with Brad Barrett from Choose FIAfter years in public accounting as a CPA, Brad reached financial independence at the age of 35 through diligent savings and investing. Brad Is passionate about everything from saving money, to living a more healthy lifestyle, to ‘boring’ things like tracking your finances and cutting down on your tax bill. But his favorite topic is leveraging credit card rewards to save more money, and take trips you never would have dreamed possible for pennies on the dollar.Co-Founders and Co-Hosts Brad Barrett and Jonathan Mendonsa, ChooseFI has become home to the largest Financial Independence community in the world. Every podcast epis...
2023-10-0555 min
The Long ViewBrad Barrett: ‘Start With a Small Win’Our guest on the podcast today is Brad Barrett. Brad is the co-founder of ChooseFI, which is a website focused on achieving financial independence. With Jonathan Mendonsa, Brad is co-host of a popular podcast also called ChooseFI. Brad received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Richmond and became a CPA. He practiced public accounting for years and eventually achieved financial independence by age 35. Brad is passionate about all aspects of personal finance, but especially the topic of scoring good deals on travel, which is a topic we discussed in depth on the podcast.Ba...
2023-03-2156 min
Talking Billions with Bogumil BaranowskiBrad Barrett | Financial Independence | The Host of ChooseFI, The Award-Winning Podcast | Importance of Saving & Investing | Control over Your TimeBrad Barrett | Financial Independence | The Host of ChooseFI, The Award-Winning Podcast | Importance of Saving | Control over Your Time
My guest today is Brad Barrett, an instant friend with a shared curiosity about financial freedom. He shares clear and simple advice on how to regain control over your time and circumstance through financial independence, the real superpower.
Brad Barrett – is a CPA by training passionate about saving, and financial freedom. He is a co-host of a hugely successful award-winning podcast with 60 million downloads – ChooseFI – Your Blueprint to Financial Independence, co-author of a book, ChooseFI. He shared his idea...
2022-11-2854 min
Fit Rich LifeBrad Barrett: Financial Independence, Talent-Stacking & Increasing Luck Surface Area | Episode 23What happens if you learn to happily live off half your household income? One potential outcome is that you’re able to “retire” from a boring soul-sucking corporate job as an accountant & spend a heck of a lot more time raising your children, chasing entrepreneurial dreams & truly enjoying your life. In this episode, we cover Brad Barrett’s entrepreneurial journey to Financial Independence in addition to covering a whole host of other life-empowering topics like developing a “talent-stack,” creating a bigger luck surface area, books that will change your life for the better, going from Frugality to Abundance, exercise, fitness & mu...
2022-11-011h 57ChooseFI304 | Mapping Out Your FI Number Jonathan checks back in with Corinne from the Households of FI series to look at her numbers, goals, and map out a FI plan. Financial independence is not about having the most money. In the pursuit of FI, the math is simple, but the math will change depending on your goals. It's important to start with understanding what you want your ideal day to look like. Following Corinne's last coaching session with Jillian, she learned how to build good habits and strategies to get closer to the goals she wants. One of the strategies she's using is her phone to...
2021-03-1551 min
Couple Money PodcastHow to Team Up for Financial IndependenceHow can you structure your finances so you can have more options and flexibility? One path that's helped many families is working towards financial independence. For many families, though, it seems like an unrealistic goal. They assume that if they're not making six-figures or if they have kids, they're unable to achieve it. What you might not be aware of is how practical the principles behind FI can be for you. By applying the mindset, habits, and strategies you can not only improve your finances but give yourselves more opportunities to...
2020-01-2223 min
Make It a Great One with Dr. Dan: #1 Podcast for Inspiring Conversations to Live and Lead On PurposeTeaching Financial Independence to Your Children with Brad Barrett with Brad Barrett
Dr. Dan welcomes entrepreneur Brad Barrett to the podcast today to talk about kids and financial independence. Brad Barrett is the founder of the company and host of the podcast ChooseFI. His journey will inspire and motivate listeners to take charge of their savings, their future retirement and their dream life today. His financial teachings start with intention and awareness and values and will help parents show their children how to live a happy and independent life.
ChooseFi.com is a personal finance podcast and community that helps people accelerate their path to financial independence. Brad Barrett went from being a f...
2019-12-1948 min
How to MoneyUsing Credit Cards for 50k in Free Travel with Brad Barrett #126This week we’re excited to have our friend Brad Barrett join us on the podcast. Brad is co-host of the podcast ChooseFI, but before that he was a CPA who left his job thanks to his pursuit of financial independence so he obviously knows a thing or two about personal finance. However, Brad’s favorite topic is leveraging credit card rewards to save more money, and take trips you never would have dreamed possible! Listen as we kick things off by discussing financial independence, but then we dive into credit card rewards and the best ways to score thos...
2019-09-3059 min
Peak Performers | Tools, Strategies & Psychology to Get Things DoneFinancial Independence Made Easy | Brad Barrett | Episode #637Brad Barrett went from being a full-time CPA to retiring with complete financial independence by the age of 35 through diligent savings and investing. Now, as co-host and co-founder of ChooseFI, he's empowering others to reach for a life of purpose, intention and ultimately happiness through the journey to Financial Independence. Brad led the outwardly "successful" life into his 20s: Succeeded in school, elite university acceptance, job at a top international accounting firm, CPA designation. But he had no plan other than the standard American narrative. His first year at work he saw what "success" looked like for the firm's partners...
2019-07-2226 min
Millionaires Unveiled70: Guest Interview - Brad From ChooseFIBrad, co-host of the popular personal finance podcast, ChooseFI explains how the podcast got started and what it means to be "financially independent." He talks about intent, how much one needs to retire on a certain lifestyle, and how to get started toward financial independence. He also shares insights on his investment portfolio, health insurance advice for those who are retired or self employed, investing mistakes he's made, and tips for financial success.
2019-02-2543 min
ChooseFI115R | How to Get Out of Debt115R | A how-to conversation about strategies for tackling consumer debt, a review of Monday's episode with Bonnie Traux, and a few updates about the ChooseFI community. Brad's wife no longer working as a CPA – although she was technically laid off, she's excited for the extra time in her schedule. Being at FI gave Laura the ability to be happy for her previous employer and move on with a smile. Bonnie Traux, from Monday's episode, is an ultimate side hustler. If you're stuck, you'll have to do something different if you want a different result. Bonnie reached fina...
2019-02-2254 min
ChooseFI086R | Pretirement | Roger Whitney086R | A live-recorded conversation with Roger Whitney, the Retirement Answer Man, from Podcast Movement, questions for a potential accountant, and takeaways from Monday's live case study with Allison Goddard. Brad is departing for a month-long family vacation to the U.K. What is "global entry" and how/why did Brad get it before his trip? Jonathan had a chance to meet up with Allison., from Episode 86. If money was no longer an option, what would change for Brad and Jonathan? Brad and Jonathan are super impressed with Allison's grit and tenacity, to change the trajectory of...
2018-08-031h 05