Shows
Financially Independent TeachersEP 254-Married Michigan Teacher Duo Pursuing Early RetirementSend a textA married Michigan teacher couple uses each summer to scratch their travel itch. Last summer, they spent over 50 days in Europe. Before that, they spent much of summer in Indonesia. This summer, they are headed to Belgium! With a combined teacher income of around 135k, they own a home, have 500k invested in the stock market, and save for their summer vacations. Starting with Dave Ramsey and the Minimalists helped lead frugal lives with intense desire to be debt free, they are now working on accumulation. This teacher duo is FIT approved!
2026-02-1553 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 253-Credit Card Use DID NOT WORK---15 Years of the Envelope System ExplainedSend us a textEarly in their marriage, Dave and Stephanie took part in a local Dave Ramsey FPU class. After "graduating", they started using the cash envelope budgeting system. Fifteen years later, and some financially milestones met, they decided to switch to strictly credit cards, as long as they didn't carry any monthly debt. After 6-8 months of this system, they realized they weren't maximizing their financial lives. Tomorrow, they are back on the envelopes and they share why. Be a guest on the show:https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/contact-8
2026-02-0829 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 250-Dave's Bigger Pockets Money AppearanceSend us a textA little over five years ago, Dave started Financially Independent Teachers...a passion project to inspire other educators to get smart with their money and maximize their finances. Up until the birth of FIT, Dave and his wife Stephanie started getting very serious about finances (mid 30's), shocked at how much time they had wasted in the past. Some might call it extreme, but the couple wanted to get back on track and ahead of the curve, so they lived strictly off of Dave's teacher income and side hustle money, sold c...
2026-01-1857 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 241-How to be a Millionaire Teacher in 40 YearsSend us a textWe've all seen the Ramsey Solutions research, "teacher" was the third most common career in his survey of 10,000 millionaires...Do most teachers think it is possible to join that club...after 20 years as a teacher, I would say the answer is a resounding NO. As the FIT Podcast has shown time and time again, there are PLENTY of net worth millionaire educators. No, this doesn't mean they have a briefcase with 1 million dollars worth of cash. However, it does mean that when you add up the individuals assets and subtract their liabilities, they h...
2025-11-0941 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 235-Dave's Parents Join The Show-Discuss Money and FamilySend us a textDave's parents just celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. How did they navigate raising 2 kids on one income? What tips and advice do they have for managing family, finances, and investing? Listen in as we touch on a variety of personal finance topics. Be a guest on the show:https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/contact-8Check out our website:https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/Sign up for FIT coaching:https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/services-4
2025-09-281h 00Financially Independent TeachersEP 234-10 Financial Things to Consider---New School Year!Send us a textFor many of us, we are 4+ weeks into the new school year (ok, not you NY friends)...now that we have some of the 25-26 school year under our belt, and we can catch our breath, Dave has 10 financial recommendations for the new school year. Listen in follow the list of these 10 money moves to finish the year strong! Hope everyone is having a great start to their year! Be a guest on the show:https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/contact-8Check out our website:
2025-09-2140 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 222-Dave's Door Dash Experiment!Send us a textDave has cut grass, pressure washed, and given private pitching lessons as previous side hustles...last week, he gave Door Dash a shot. In this episode, Dave and his wife (Stephanie) discuss their experiment Dashing in Jacksonville NC for one week. What did they learn? Is it worth it? Hear all of their thoughts and how it could impact your financial future! Teachers, this episode is for you!
2025-06-2940 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 219-Practicing "Mini Retirements" with Jillian JohnsrudSend us a textIn this conversation, Jillian and Dave discuss the concept of mini retirements and how they can lead to a fulfilling lifestyle while pursuing financial independence. They discuss "mini retirements" throughout your career, emphasizing the importance of taking breaks, traveling, and spending quality time family. We explore the challenges and benefits of unconventional choices, the gradual transition to early retirement, and the value of practicing mini retirements to prepare for a fulfilling post-work life.Surprise...teachers are uniquely equipped to give this practice a shot, EVERY SUMMER!Here are...
2025-06-0844 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 194-From High Cost (NY) to Low Cost (OH) to Financial IndependenceSend us a textCharlotte and her husband grew up on Long Island in NY. Floundering with their finances into their mid 30's with a few young kids at home, they decided to flee NY for a most cost effective lifestyle in SW Ohio. Selling their home in a HCOL enabled them to pay off their debt AND pay cash for a house north of Cincinnati. Shortly after their move, they were introduced to Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps and worked through the process in 7 years. Charlotte didn't start teaching in the classroom until 38 but has retired at 50 (al...
2024-12-0858 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 179-Dave and Brandon Discuss Back 2 School!Send us a textTeachers have TWO days of New Years!1. Back to school 2. January 1Dave and Brandon discuss things to think about with your finances, life, and school year as the majority of NC teachers get students back this week!
2024-08-2546 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 177-America's Retirement CrisisSend us a textBrandon and Dave discuss the American retirement crisis. On a recent CBS special, it was revealed that over 50% of Americans who "retire" don't actually have enough money to do so. In addition, 20% of Americans age 65+ have had to reenter the workforce. In this episode, we will highlight a Florida couple who has had to go back to work at ages 66 and 77 years old. What mistakes did they make to put themselves in this position? How do you know you are ready for retirement? Learn from their mistakes and cruise into a bett...
2024-08-1146 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 174-Financial Hacks For The Kiddos!Send us a textDo you have kids? Grandkids? Nieces or Nephews? Will you potentially have kiddos one day? In this episode, Dave and Brandon discuss some qualitative and quantitative tips and tricks to set kids up for success. 529's to RothAuthorized Credit Card UsersFinancial ModelingBrokerage Accounts Talking Money...More! Be a guest on the show:https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/contact-8Check out our website:https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/Sign up for FIT c...
2024-07-211h 01
Opinion Science#98: Deep Canvassing with Dave FleischerDave Fleischer is a political organizer who led the team that pioneered “deep canvassing,” which is a particularly effective form of face-to-face persuasion. It was developed on the ground, but when political scientists put it to a rigorous test, they found that these brief conversations with voters were having a lasting impact (Broockman & Kalla, 2016).On this episode, Dave shares his background in political campaigns and walks us through an actual example of deep canvassing that made a real difference to someone’s attitudes toward transgender people.If you want to know more, check out Dave’s Substa...
2024-06-031h 09Financially Independent TeachersEP 167-Dave Brandon Summer Side HustleSend us a textThroughout our journey on the FIT podcast, we've discovered a theme...many teachers have multiple streams of income. This show highlights some of the side hustles we've heard our teacher guests utilize to get out of debt and supercharge their investments. Be a guest on the show:https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/contact-8Check out our website:https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/Sign up for FIT coaching:https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/services-4
2024-06-0230 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 160-Sean Mullaney-FI TAX Guy Discusses Inheritance and Taxes!Send us a textSean Mullaney is an advice-only financial planner and the President of Mullaney Financial & Tax, Inc. Through Mullaney Financial & Tax, Sean provides advice-only financial planning for a flat fee. Sean writes the Plutus Award winning blog FITaxGuy.com on the intersection of tax and financial independence. He also has a personal finance YouTube channel and wrote Solo 401(k): The Solopreneur’s Retirement Account. Sean has discussed personal finance and tax on numerous podcasts, including ChooseFI, The Stacking Benjamins Show, How to Money, and BiggerPockets Money. He has been quoted in media outlets inc...
2024-04-1458 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 157-Dave and his Wife Discuss the book "Die With Zero"Send us a textDave is a natural saver, Stephanie is a natural spender and BIG giver. Together, they have been trying to make financial headway by living a very frugal and debt free lifestyle. In December of 2019, their world was rocked as Stephanie was diagnosed with an aggressive and fast moving cancer diagnosis. Last summer, Stephanie's dad was in a life changing car accident that left him in the hospital for 5 months and is now having to learn how to walk and eat again. How can you you save, invest AND try to make family memories bef...
2024-03-2443 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 151-NJ Teacher Educates On 403(b) + Investments For TeachersSend us a textIn a throwback to the early days, we have some bonus content for you! This is such good information, we had to keep recording! Chris Nye joins Dave and the Millionaire Math Teacher and he has been featured on the popular 403(b) Wise mini series titled "Learned By Being Burned" and has developed a passion for teaching his fellow teachers about the dangers of high fees and investment education. Not only is Chris a teacher, he is also a financial planner who specializes in helping teachers. Chris is living it in his own li...
2024-02-111h 08Financially Independent TeachersEP 144-Dave and Brandon Interviewed by the 403(b) Wise Guys on Teach and Retire RichSend us a textThis week, Dave and Brandon were interviewed on the Teach and Retire Rich Podcast. With their permission, we are sharing their interview with us at FIT.
2023-12-1056 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 142-The Benefits of Financial CoachingSend us a textDave and Brandon are big believers in financial coaching. For most, a one-time financial coaching session help create a vision for staying on the path to financial independence and the simple path to wealth! Whether you are killing it or whether you feel like your finances are getting killed, something can be learned.
2023-11-2638 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 133-Dave And Brandon Share 5 Things You Need To Do RIGHT NOW!Send us a textDave and Brandon share FIVE things that you need to be thinking about with your money right now. This episode hits on those who have lots of debt and those who have conquered debt and are ready to take their financial game to the next level.
2023-09-2425 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 131-Dave and Brandon Discuss The FIT Investment Order of OperationsSend us a textSo, you have your emergency fund built or building...you are on your way to being debt free or you ARE debt free. Now what? In the book "The FIT Position", Dave and Brandon share what the most recommended order of investing operations should be for teachers and middle-income earners. Based on hours of interviewing successful teachers and millionaires, this episode discusses what we've learned.
2023-09-1040 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 120-Will Required Financial Literacy Grad Requirements Make a Difference?Send us a textBrandon just spent 40 hours training NC teachers on how to be an effective classroom teacher in the area of personal finance and economics. Were the teachers receptive? Does Brandon think it will "work" with students? Dave has been teaching the course for two years and he shares his thoughts as well as a few student success stories. Almost half of the US is now REQUIRING students to take a personal finance course to graduate. Check out our new website!https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/Sign up...
2023-06-2540 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 114-Reintroducing The Hosts- Dave and BrandonSend us a textDave and Brandon started the FIT podcast a little over two years ago. We had no idea if the show would last 10 episodes, let alone 100+ with a book coming out this summer! As the show has grown and we have picked up many listeners, we felt like it was important to share a little about our own money journey and the WHY behind FIT. Thanks for being a part of the FIT Family! Check out our new website!https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/Sign up for FI...
2023-05-1433 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 110-Dave Ramsey's Daughter, Rachel Cruze Is Here!Send us a textRachel Cruze, NYT best selling author and daughter of Dave Ramsey joins FIT to discuss teachers, habits of frugality, fearlessness, and being a lifelong learner. https://www.ramseysolutions.com/rachel-cruzeCheck out our new website!https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/Sign up for FIT coachinghttps://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/services-4
2023-04-1645 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 101-Dave Ramsey Personality George Kamel Is Back!Send us a textRamsey Personality, George Kamel joins the show to talk about teachers, frugality and building wealth! Check out our new web site: https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/Sign up for FIT Coaching https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/services-4
2023-02-1243 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 100-Big Announcements For Episode 100!Send us a textDave and Brandon hit TRIPLE DIGITS as we hit the big 100! Listen in for the three big announcements we have for 2021. Thank you to everyone who has helped make FIT grow and become what it has turned into so far. Now, the march to 200!https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/
2023-02-0546 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 98-Texas Personal Finance Teacher Transforms His Money Situation By Becoming An EducatorSend us a textRyan is an 11th year teacher in Dallas, TX who started his career in the hospitality industry. Long and late nights and weekends inspired Ryan to make the move into education and start his career over. After starting his adult life with over 50k in debt, Ryan and his wife are now on track to be net worth millionaires. Tune in to see how Mr. Cruz's teaching of Dave Ramsey's Foundations course for high school students changed his life as an educator, inspiring him to lead by example and practice what he was pr...
2023-01-2249 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 96-We're Back! Season 3 Starts NOW!Send us a textWe are thrilled to be back for Season #3 in 2023! Dave and Brandon chat about the previous season and how to look at your finances via percentages as a framework to have a better understanding of where your money is going. Check us out on Social Media...https://www.facebook.com/getfiteducator
2023-01-081h 02Financially Independent TeachersEP 95-Final Episode with Justin Garritt! Participate in our Personal Finance Quiz and see how you do!Send us a textMerry Christmas! We have an EXTRA long show for you this week! Episode #95 will be the last episode of 2022. Listen all at once or divide it into two and enjoy! Dave and Brandon welcome back a great friend to the show, Justin Garritt. Justin joined us last season for a fun and inspiring episode on next level credit card rewards hacking. Part I of this episode shares the story of Justin going from Baltimore teacher to being a financial planner who helps teachers get on track with their money. Part II is Dave, Brand...
2022-12-181h 22Financially Independent TeachersEP 93-Dave's Sister Joins the Show! Single and Making It As Lower Middle EarnerSend us a textDave's older sister joins the show to talk about how her frugal and fearless views on personal finance have enabled her to have a net worth of over 300K on a salary of less than 50k per year. Her story takes us from being a first gen college student to quitting and taking on a factory job all the way to going back to college to get her degree in Business. Kathy is a major supporter of her local public schools and is a city councilwoman in her hometown in NE Ohio.
2022-12-041h 06Financially Independent TeachersEP 90-Founder of "White Coat Investor" and Physician Jim Dahle Discusses Docs and TeachersSend us a textIn this episode, Dave and Brandon had the pleasure to chat with the "White Coat Investor", Jim Dahle. Sure, teachers deserve a pay raise and are often underappreciated in society, however, pay raises won't solve an individuals financial issues if we don't have a plan. Jim shares the mistakes of high income earning, discusses investing, pensions, the being an educator and much more! James M. Dahle, MD, FACEP, FAAEM is a practicing emergency physician and the founder of The White Coat Investor. After multiple run-ins with unscrupulous financial professionals early in his...
2022-11-1350 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 85-Decoding The Language of FIT Part II-INVESTINGSend us a textIn this episode, Dave and Brandon discuss some of the key terminology that teachers need to know on their path to financial independence. Investing can be a very scary and intimidating topic, we hope to make it a little more digestible with the content in this episode. Join as as we get back to the basics and define some of the most widely used investment terminology on our show. We want NO teacher to be left behind!
2022-10-091h 04Financially Independent TeachersEP 84-First Year Australian English TeacherSend us a textThe Millionaire Math Teacher joins Dave this week as we interview Mark, an English teacher from Australia. Mark is a first year teacher, the youngest in a family raised by a single mother. Mark shares an extraordinary story as he learned frugality from his birth mother but he added some more complex money skills from his mother in law who talked to Mark about investing and the idea of being financially independent.
2022-10-0255 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 82-Ohio Music Teacher Has 500k InvestedSend us a textDave's cousin, Keith joins us for this episode. Single and on an Ohio teacher income, Keith has amassed over 500k in investments over the course of his veteran teaching career. How did he do it? How is Keith passing on his knowledge to his students, colleagues and his daughter? Listen in to find out!
2022-09-1850 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 81-Florida Speech Therapist Shares Story of Family Moving to US From Eastern EuropeSend us a textThere are so many individuals that make a school successful. In this episode, Dave and Brandon had the pleasure to host Sonia, a school speech therapist in Florida. Sonia’s family literally hit the lottery as they came to the US from Eastern Europe via a visa lotto program. During Covid, Sonia used social media to advance her personal finance skills and set herself up for a bright future!
2022-09-1140 minFinancially Independent TeachersEP 79-Brandon and Dave Chat with Millionaire Math Teacher About EV'sSend us a textThis summer, Dave and his family rented a Tesla Model 3 and drove it to Dave’s IB training in Tampa Fl. The trip was 750 miles each way and we had lots of charging stops along the way. In this episode, Dave discusses his experience driving a Tesla for the first time and the Millionaire Math Teacher joins us to talk about what his experience as a Tesla owner has been like. As more EV’s hit the road, this is an important discussion to have if you are looking at a new to you v...
2022-08-2851 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 77-Back to School Show!Send us a textDave and Brandon talk money and things we need to consider as we head back to school! We hope everyone has a GREAT year!
2022-08-1444 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 75- The Wealthy Custodian (CA) Joins The Show- 1 Mil Net WorthSend us a textDave and Brandon had the pleasure to interview Jeff York, recently retired CA custodian. Jeff spent 33 years as an elementary school classified staff member in Northern California. The Wealthy Custodian retired having never made more than 41k in a year. Check out his story!
2022-07-3148 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 70- What Does It Mean To Be A Financially Independent Teacher?Send us a textCan a teacher really become financially independent? Brandon and Dave will discuss their different perspectives! Let us know what your thoughts are on social media!
2022-06-261h 01Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 67-Gerry Born (Millionaire Educator) Free College Credit Alternatives + EconomySend us a textBrandon and Dave have Gerry Born (Millionaire Educator) back on the show! Gerry has a wealth of knowledge on a variety of financial topics and in this episode, he is here to MAINLY discuss free college credit alternatives and how it can save folks money. Gerry has earned over 5 years of FREE college credit by taking these accredited programs and has his HS age son on his way to a debt free degree.
2022-06-051h 03Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 66-Where Are You On The 7 Levels of Financial Freedom?Send us a textDave and Brandon discuss the 7 levels of financial freedom. Half of America will never get out of level 2 according to research.
2022-05-291h 00Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 65-Dave and Brandon Discuss Preparing For SummerSend us a textSummer is almost here! What are some things teachers should be doing to get financially prepared? Take a listen as the guys discuss 10 things you should be thinking about before we end the school year.
2022-05-2256 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 58- Dave Ramsey Personality George Kamel Joins The Show!Send us a textBrandon and Dave welcome George Kamel , personal finance expert with a counter-cultural approach to money. He is the host of The Fine Print, The Ramsey Show, and EntreLeadership podcasts on the Ramsey Network. Since 2013 George has served at Ramsey Solutions where his goal is to help people spend less, save more, and avoid consumer traps, so that they can make the most of their money. Follow George on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or find out more about him online at ramseysolutions.com/personalities.
2022-04-0350 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 57-Top 10 Distinctions Between Millionaires & Middle ClassSend us a textDave and Brandon discuss some of the concepts in the book "Top 10 Distinctions Between Millionaires & Middle Class". Some of these points can be controversial! From the book....• Millionaires think long-term. The middle class thinks short-term. Create a clear vision of the life you desire, and focus on it.• Millionaires talk about ideas. The middle class talks about things and other people. Ask some positive “what if” questions every day, and bounce ideas off successful people who will be honest with you.• Millionaires work for profits. The middle class works for wa...
2022-03-271h 05Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 54-Former U.S. (FL) Teacher Couple Detail Their Move to Teach Overseas And How To Do It!Send us a textAfter getting married, Kevin and his wife (also a teacher) were both working in the state of Florida as educators. As a couple, they decided they wanted something different and proceeded to move and teach in Saudi Arabia. Upon fulfilling their contract in the Middle East, they moved further east and are in the midst of their first year teaching at a private school in India. Although teacher pay is about the same (or less) than it was in Florida, Kevin is now able to save over 75% of their family income due to the...
2022-03-0653 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 53- Can All Of The Financial Advice You Need Fit On An Index Card?Send us a textIn 2013, University of Chicago Professor Harold Pollack hosted a casual online video chat with author Helaine Olen. In the video, Pollack and Olen dig into some of the points Olen made in her book, Pound Foolish. They agreed that most people are given bad advice from financial advisors and that the best financial advice doesn’t have to be extensive or complicated. It can fit on one index card.Shortly after the interview, Pollack went online and posted an image of a simple index card that listed what he thought were th...
2022-02-271h 04Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 52-USMC GySgt Buie Discusses the Financial Benefits of the MilitarySend us a textUpon HS graduation, Chris enlisted in the USMC and has worked his way up the enlisted ranks in a very quick manner. Chris didn't necessarily know what to expect when joining the military, but after 14 years of service, his story can provide insight for any parent, teacher, counselor who might be guiding a young adult in this area. Part I is designed to be able to play to a student who might have questions about the benefits of serving the country. This episode is split into TWO parts: Part I...
2022-02-201h 07Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 51-Author Kristina Ellis-How She Earned 500k in Scholarships!Send us a textIn Episode #51, Dave and Brandon have the privilege to interview the newest Ramsey Personality, Kristina Elli. On the first day of high school, Kristina Ellis's mom--a single, working mother who lost her husband to cancer--informed her that she could not financially support her after graduation. Kristina would need to find her own way to pay for college. As an average student with less-than-impressive test scores, Kristina realized she would have to sell herself to scholarship committees if she wanted to stand out. That's when she devised the plan that led to her receiving o...
2022-02-1350 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 50- Author Dan Sheeks "First to a Million"-Financial Independence for TeensSend us a textDan Sheeks is the owner and founder of SheeksFreaks LLC, an online community to help young people live their best lives by making smart money decisions. He has been a high school business teacher in Denver, CO for eighteen years, and he’s passionate about teaching teenagers personal finance, passive income, real estate investing, and early financial freedom strategies so they can live their best lives.Have a teen in your life? Most teenagers are told about only one financial path: Work until you’re old and then retire. But what if y...
2022-02-061h 00Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 49-Elementary Teacher (PA) Discusses Overcoming MistakesSend us a textScott Fritz is a Pennsylvania elementary teacher who has had quite the financial education over the last 30 years. From being 50k in debt to being debt free and co-authoring a book on personal finance for educators, Scott has learned a lot. Check out Scott's book below! https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Employees-Pennsylvania-Optimizing-Decisions/dp/B09H9472XJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2CJWBYTXLEU0X&keywords=karl+fisch+pennsylvania&qid=1643166375&sprefix=karl+fisch+pennsylvania%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-1
2022-01-3048 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 48-Ohio History Teacher With Over 100k Of Debt-How Does He Get Out?Send us a textJosiah is a history teacher and coach in Van Wert Ohio, married to an in-home daycare owner. How does a teacher with two young kids confront an accumulated debt of over $130,000? Josiah's story was recently featured on the new documentary titled "Borrowed Future". Take a listen as we get to hear how Josiah details his plan to get debt free!
2022-01-2356 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 47- Part II: Dave and Stephanie's Second Part of Their Interview on Financial IndependenceSend us a text10 years of marriage, 6 moves, 2 kids, cancer, no initial ER fund, investing, real estate, Airbnb, Giving...Dave (Host) and his wife (realtor) discuss their financial journey in this two part episode to kick off season #2!
2022-01-1656 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 46- Part I: Dave (Host) and Wife Talk 10 Years Of Marriage, Debt, Kids, Cancer, Loans, DownsizingSend us a text10 years of marriage, 6 homes later, 2 kids, cancer, no ER fund, investing, real estate, Airbnb, Giving...Dave (Host) and his wife (realtor) discuss their financial journey in this two part episode to kick off season #2!
2022-01-0945 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 45-Wrapping Up Season 1! What Did We Learn?Send us a textDave and Brandon discuss what we learned in our first season of existing in the podcast world. Thanks for all of your support and enjoy the hard earned break!
2021-12-191h 02Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 44-The Millionaire Educator (Gerry) and Justin Garritt Are Back to Discuss Travel RewardsSend us a textFree flights, free lodging and discounted rental cars sound good to you? You don't want to miss our repeat guests discuss credit cards and travel rewards in our second to last episode of season #1!
2021-12-121h 05Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 43- Are Teachers Middle Class?Send us a textWhere do teachers fit in on the socioeconomic scale? Are teachers middle class based on the data but not functionally middle class? Dave and Brandon discuss this hot button issue in Episode #43!
2021-12-0557 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 42-Teacher/Author Rob (MD) Phelan Rejoins FIT To Discuss His New Book On FinancesSend us a textRob is a Maryland HS teacher who just authored his second book. His newest title is called "M Is For Money", a children's book that teaches kids the ABCs of money in an age appropriate manner. If you have kids, nieces/nephews, grandchildren or work with kids as a teacher, this book is a must have for your library! We often hear on the show "I wish I would have known about this money stuff earlier!"...Rob's book helps start the process now! Check out the new book below! https://www...
2021-11-281h 02Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 41-Rashad (TX-Admin) and his wife (special ed) filed bankruptcy in 2011, now worth over 500kSend us a textHow did Rashad and his teacher wife go from bankruptcy to a net worth over 500k? Rashad shares the trials and tribulations of how him and his wife are on pace to be educator millionaires in the next 5 years after hitting financial rock bottom just a decade a go. Check out Rashad's Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAV2cWBpO2xc-l4BcKrj55A
2021-11-211h 02Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 40-Dave and Brandon Discuss 10 Financial Things To Do BEFORE Jan 1st!Send us a textBrandon is back on the show and we discuss 10 financial things that you need to accomplish before the start of the new year!
2021-11-141h 02Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 39-Single suburban ATL teacher hits 500k+ net worth before age 40Send us a textMike Turchan moved from NE Ohio to suburban ATL upon college graduation. Originally thinking he would only be gone for a few years, he is now in the midst of his 16th year teaching at North Cobb HS. Mike discusses advancing his education to maximize his GA teacher pay, side hustles, credit cards, maxing out retirement accounts, travel and how a minimalistic lifestyle has him on pace to be a millionaire before age 45.
2021-11-0753 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 38-In This Two Teacher Household (OH) Education Is Just Part Of The "Family Business"Send us a textAaron and his wife (both teachers) live in suburban Cleveland, Ohio. Aaron and his wife come from a long line of dual educator families who have navigated their finances on teacher salaries. In this episode, we discuss Aaron's journey to become a PE teacher, get married, have a child, decisions on whether to buy or sell their home, types of investments and potential cost of high investment fees. Over the last year or so, Aaron is becoming more intentional with his finances and is learning more and more as he goes!
2021-10-3158 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 37-Three Teacher Friends (PA) Team Up To Buy 6 Investment PropertiesSend us a textThis week's guest is a former roommate of Dave's in North Carolina. AJ and his teacher wife Amy moved from Ohio/PA to NC upon college graduation. However, once they had children, they decided to move back home to PA to be near family. At his new teaching job, AJ quickly made friends with a few fellow teachers and they decided they wanted to get in the real estate game. Instead of having all of the pressure to handle rental properties individually, the team of 3 works together and each person brings their own uniq...
2021-10-2453 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 36-HS Teacher (CA) discusses his new book "How To Adult: Personal Finance For The Real World"Send us a textJake is a 33 year old personal finance teacher in Southern CA. After using a variety of resources to teach his students personal finance, Jake decided to write his own book that serves as a road map for success in the financial world. Jake serves up lots of great advice in this episode. His book would make for a great Christmas gift or graduation present. Here is a link to his book! https://www.amazon.com/How-Adult-Personal-Finance-World/dp/B08ZVZKD2H
2021-10-1755 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 35-Retired Teacher (St. Louis) shares the story of becoming a widow and the importance of estate planningSend us a textNancy is a retired HS Spanish teacher/administrator who suffered the tragic and unexpected loss of her husband while raising their two teenagers. Nancy discusses some of the successes and mistakes her family made when it came to proper planning and thinking about the unthinkable. Living trust, will, life insurance and more.
2021-10-1036 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 34- Author who is a part of a two educator household (Illinois) chats about the road to financial independence as a teacher familySend us a textEric is a former middle school PE teacher who is now a teacher educator at Illinois College. His wife is also a high school teacher, so the family is fully immersed in the education profession. Eric is passionate about finances and recently published a book about the pension system in IL which is located in the link below. Link to the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/TL-Financial-Retirement-Optimizing-Decisions/dp/B098S1DYCT
2021-10-0353 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 33-The Psychology of Money- 7 Money PersonalitiesSend us a textIn this episode, Dave and Brandon take a look at the 7 different money personalities and discuss how your money personality can shape your future.
2021-09-2645 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 32- Dr. Eric (TX) has done it all...HS teacher, Instructional Coach, AP, Professor to Millionaire!Send us a textDave welcomes Dr. Eric Creeger to the show in Episode 32. Eric and his wife are both Texas educators who have developed numerous side hustles over the years which has enabled Eric to retire before 50 years old. Both educators are in their second marriage and started over with nothing around 30 years old. Over the course of their 18 years of marriage, they went from a net worth of zero, to over 1 million dollars! One of the keys to his early retirement was not letting lifestyle creep happen in housing and the family vehicles.
2021-09-1943 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 31- Middle school teacher (PA) turned real estate investor makes 20k per monthSend us a text“Get good grades, get a college degree, take student loans, get a good job, and sit in a cubicle for 40 years.”Like everyone else he knew, Bryce Stewart believed this was the only realistic Economic Life Plan. But through real estate investing, he was able to retire from his middle school teaching job at age 35. He now spends his days with his wife and four daughters, free from the bondage of a traditional job. He loves to golf, supports Young Life, is involved at his church, tosses a mea...
2021-09-121h 04Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 30-Dave's Wife (Stephanie) Joins The Show To Talk Real Estate-Buying/Selling/InvestmentSend us a textThe housing market is scorching hot right now and In this episode, Dave and Brandon interview Stephanie Osborne Fleischer (Dave's wife) a multi-million dollar producing real estate agent in Eastern NC. What should you look for when buying/selling? How do you find the right agent? All of the questions are answered and more!
2021-09-051h 01Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 29- Ben (CO) is a millionaire teacher who surprisingly doesn't care much about money-He cares about independence, freedom and social justiceSend us a textBen is a millionaire educator from Ft. Collins Colorado. He has a wealth of knowledge on teachers, financial independence and believes financial literacy is a critical social justice issue in America. Ben's financial life changed by listening to a story on NPR and finding a community of like-minded individuals on bogleheads.org.
2021-08-2956 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 28-Thirty-Four Year Old Science Teacher (NYC) Approaching Millionaire StatusSend us a textChris is a middle school science teacher who lives in Queens NY and uses his athletic training background to side hustle his way to an extra 20k per year in income. Chris drives a paid for 10 year old car and lives in modest housing to save money and invest.
2021-08-2242 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 27- PE Teacher from St. Louis Suburbs Pays Off 80K In DebtSend us a textBrian joins the show to discuss getting out of debt and shares how his family is making it happen as a two teacher family with two young children. Brian teaches in one of the fastest growing districts in Missouri and uses his background in athletics to win with money. From humble beginnings and paying off 80k in debt to a potential retirement income of 10K+ per month!
2021-08-1545 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 26-Top 10 Mistakes Teachers Make With Their Money!Send us a textIn this episode, Dave and Brandon discuss the top 10 mistakes teachers make with their finances. We share mistakes we have seen over the course of our few decades as educators. Naturally, many of these problems aren't for teachers only but pop up for many middle income earners.
2021-08-081h 07Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 25-First Principal Interview with Kevin (TX)Send us a textDave and Brandon had the opportunity to welcome our first administrator to the show. Kevin has risen through the educator ranks fast as he is a former math teacher who starts his first year as a head principal this fall (under 30 years old). He is married to a teacher and they discuss their plan to financial independence. Discussions on investing in real estate and the stock market!
2021-08-0141 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 24- Professor (MA) Has 1.2 Million Dollar Turnaround Gives Advice On HS And CollegeSend us a textJason is a tenured professor who has had a major financial turnaround (1.2 million)! In our interview, Jason gives advice to HS and college students as well as some of the money lessons he has learned when it comes to navigating a successful marriage.
2021-07-251h 01Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 23- Brandon and Dave Talk Investing and Retirement PlanningSend us a textIn this episode, Dave and Brandon have a casual conversation about investing and some of the investment vehicles available to educators. Keep in mind, neither are certified financial planners, we are just here to have some fun and give opinions on what we do. If you are interested in meeting with a CFP who is licensed and has the heart of a teacher, check out two of our former FIT guests and their info below.David Gourley (Episode #6) https://davidgourley.as.me/schedule.php?fbclid=IwAR1Iv6QOkHVXAPLOmmRMRv-mPcrtFcSfANt1QEphG4aE...
2021-07-181h 01Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 22-2nd Year Guidance Counselor (NC) Paid Off 24K In Debt Over 10 Months!Send us a textPaige is a soon to be 2nd year guidance counselor at Jacksonville HS in NC. Paige graduated from Dave's 6 month "GET FIT" financial coaching program and paid off just over 24k during the last 10 months and is contributing $150 per month to her ROTH IRA. Paige has made many sacrifices to get where she is and hopes to be debt free in the next 18 months.
2021-07-1139 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 21- Brandon and Dave Get "Financially Naked" and Share Their Personal Budgets!Send us a textThe word BUDGET is a very controversial word. In this episode, Dave and Brandon share their personal budgets and talk about how they factor into financial independence.
2021-07-041h 01Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 20- Perceptions of WealthSend us a textDave and Brandon's "Mini Summer Episodes" continue as they discuss their perceptions of wealth and the realities based on research.
2021-06-2735 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 19-Former Engineering Student Turns To Education And Becomes Teacher in NYCSend us a textEmily is a former engineering student who found a passion for education and teaching after college by teaching in international, public and private schools. Emily discusses the financial awakening she had in her early 30's and talks to the show about how she manages being a teacher in a high cost of living area like NYC. Emily has made it a personal goal to help other educators learn about their benefits and maximize their careers to the fullest! Happy Father's Day Everyone!
2021-06-2045 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 18-Dave and Brandon Discuss Summer Income OpportunitiesSend us a textThe first of our "mini" summer episodes...Dave and Brandon discuss summer income or "side hustle" opportunities for educators. We discuss what to look for before determining if the juice is worth the squeeze to make extra income. Work for someone else?Try to become an entrepreneur?Adjust budget to save money and not have to work?Short term vs. long term Much More...
2021-06-1338 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 17- "The Millionaire Educator" (GA) shares his story from broke at 33 to a net worth of 2 MillionSend us a textGerry (Spanish Teacher) and his teacher wife started with humble beginnings. In their early thirties, they had $45,000 of student loan debt and both of their cars were kaput. Over an 18 year period, they went from having a net worth of ZERO to just over 2 million in 2021. Along the way they've have had many adventures, travel, an incredible son, and lots of fun. How does a teaching couple from GA invest over 50k per year? Check out his web site below! https://www.millionaireeducator.com/
2021-06-061h 11Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 16-First Gen US Citizen and PE Teacher (NC) Discusses His Path From PovertySend us a textVictor is a fist generation US citizen and PE teacher in the Raleigh, NC area. He started his financial journey in 2020 and has a path to financial freedom paved for the future. Listen as he discusses how he and his wife have had to get on the same page and do a complete mindset change. Victor is wired as a natural spender and his wife is the natural saver.
2021-05-3047 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 15-Basics of Crypto With NC Middle School Science TeacherSend us a textBitcoin, Dogecoin, Elon Musk, Block Chain technology....You cannot escape these topics on social media, the news and pop culture. In Episode 15, we have the pleasure to interview 28 year old Western NC Science Teacher, Aaron Littlefield. Aaron has been studying Crypto for 4-5 years and stands by the statement "I'll be shocked if Bitcoin is not worth 100k per coin next year". The goal of this interview is to have Mr. Littlefield make the concept of this new technology understandable to fellow Crypto newbies like Brandon and I. We know Crypto is controversial and fe...
2021-05-2351 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 14-"Retirement For Teachers" author (CA) discusses her book, upcoming retirement-at 37Send us a textCrystal Parker Duffy is a soon to be retired (37) California HS choir director. She recently wrote the book "Retirement For Teachers". In this episode, we discuss basic retirement strategies for educators, investment plans and her journey to financial independence. If you would like to enter a drawing to win a free copy of her book, visit the Financially Independent Teachers Facebook page and fill out the Google Form!
2021-05-161h 02Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 13-19x NC State Champ Wrestling Coach & Teacher: Rags to Riches & Giving BackSend us a textMaurice Atwood grew up without many of the things we have grown accustomed to in the United States. Running water, electricity and having three meals a day were not always a guarantee throughout his childhood. Fast forward, Coach Atwood is arguably the greatest HS wrestling coach in NC history with 19 state championships. Coach is a self described a "survivor" and his experiences growing up have shaped him to be a giver. He has helped numerous friends, colleagues and students over the course of his teaching career. Even as a NC teacher, he has a paid...
2021-05-091h 04
The Good Apocalypse PodcastHow to change people's minds - with Dave FleischerDave Fleischer runs the team at the Los Angeles LGBT Center's Leadership Lab that created deep canvassing - a groundbreaking approach to political campaigning that uses doorstep conversations to change people's minds about potentially polarising issues and which helped to win the US equal marriage campaign.Deep canvassing avoids pelting voters with arguments or facts; instead "we find surprising common ground by sharing our real, lived experience — vulnerable stories about ourselves and people we love— and invite voters to share in return." We spoke with Dave about how deep canvassing works, the psychology of what makes...
2021-05-051h 09Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 12- Baltimore City Math Teacher Doubles As Financial Professional To Help OthersSend us a textJustin Garritt is a Baltimore City math teacher who was so underwhelmed with sales folks coming into our schools selling teachers bad insurance products, he decided to go back to school to become a financial professional. Even though Justin is now a financial advisor and owns his own firm, he still doubles as a middle school teacher and coach. In Episode 12, Justin shares his financial journey and gives basic investment information and financial strategies can that benefit anyone, especially educators. Mr. Garritt is also well on his way to become an Everyday Millionaire by...
2021-05-021h 01Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 11- (Part II) Durham NC Teacher-Basics of InvestingSend us a textChad is a Durham NC history teacher who moved from NYC to the Research Triangle almost 20 years ago. Chad and his wife are both HS teachers in NC and have two children in NC public schools. This is the follow up to the can't miss episode as Chad details his journey from growing up in a one-bedroom apartment on government assistance to projecting his net worth to be multi-millions at 60. In part II, we cover the basics of investing. - Rule of 72- Rate of return- Types of Reti...
2021-04-251h 20Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 10- (Part I) Durham NC Teacher Shares His Amazing Journey To Financial IndependenceSend us a textIn our first ever two-part interview, we get a chance to chat with Chad about financial independence from the view of an educator. Chad is a Durham NC history teacher who moved from NYC to the Research Triangle almost 20 years ago. Chad and his wife are both HS teachers in NC and have two children in NC public schools. This is a can't miss episode as Chad details his journey from growing up in a one-bedroom apartment on government assistance to projecting his net worth to be multi-millions at 60. Even with four people in th...
2021-04-1850 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 9-Author/Teacher/Financial Literacy Advocate, Rob Phelan (MD) joins us to discuss all things personal financeSend us a textIn episode nine, Rob Phelan joins us to share his wealth of knowledge on financial independence. Not only does Rob share details of his personal journey to FI, he also discusses how educators can spread the word to their students and set them up for a better financial future. Rob is a math/personal finance teacher in Maryland, he is also a coach, author and business owner. Thanks for listening! You can find Rob and his many ventures below...- ChooseFI Foundation (www.choosefifoundation.org)- The Simp...
2021-04-1146 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 8-Financial advice for young teachers from a 5th year HS educator (NC)Send us a textIn episode eight, Dave and Brandon interview Rob, a 5th year high school math teacher. How does a single NC educator "make it" on one teacher salary? Give this episode a listen as Rob shares the story of purchasing his first home (15-year mortgage) and discusses the impact of putting money into a ROTH IRA each year. Thanks for listening!
2021-04-0444 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 7- Married NC teacher duo share their story and detail how they became millionaires on two teacher salaries.Send us a textIn episode seven, Dave and Brandon interview Ed and Erin, a married NC high school math teacher duo. Believe it or not, they actually became millionaires before their 50th birthdays! According to Chris Hogan's book "Everyday Millionaires", teacher is the third most represented career for net worth millionaires in the United States. How can a young teacher become financially independent? What playbook did this couple use to become millionaires themselves? Give them a listen as they humbly provide the details of their millionaire journey!
2021-03-281h 06Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 6-Former HS math teacher transitions into a financial coach and student loan specialist to help teachers walk through SL forgiveness process.Send us a textIn episode six, Dave and Brandon interview David (AKA The Budget Teacher), a former Missouri high school math teacher. David shares some personal financial stories and reveals how he and his wife (a HS Spanish teacher) lived off of one teaching salary while investing the other half of their family income. Fast forward, The Budget Teacher has transitioned into financial coaching in pursuit of helping other teachers get their finances in order. More specifically, David has received training and certifications in the area of public student loans and helps educators navigate the student loan...
2021-03-2159 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 5-Married NC teacher real estate investors. Couple has three paid off homes, two are income producing rentals.Send us a textIn episode five, Dave and Brandon interview Mike, a veteran NC middle school math teacher. How did Mike and his wife (also a NC teacher) accomplish paying off THREE properties before 40 years old? Listen as Mike shares the story of paying off two rental properties and their primary home while giving listeners tips on what to look for when investing into real estate.
2021-03-1459 minFinancially Independent TeachersEpisode 4-Never too late! Single educator (NC) starts maxing out retirement accounts in her 50'sSend us a textIn episode four, Dave and Brandon interview Angie, a veteran NC educator. How does Angie accomplish maxing out her IRA and 457 accounts on a single teacher income? Angie shares her story of paying off over $50,000 of debt to being a self taught educator investor. Thanks for joining us as Angie shares her inspirational message of "It is NEVER too late to get started".
2021-03-071h 07Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 3-HS Math Teacher (NC) Made 3k-4k over Spring Break (Side Hustle)Send us a textIn episode three, Dave and Brandon interview Chad, a HS math teacher who has made upwards of 3k-4k in one week at his side hustle. Chad did not go to college until his mid thirties and started teaching less than 6 years ago. Take a listen as we discuss some of the extra jobs or side hustles we have picked up to help "make it" as teachers.
2021-02-281h 13Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 2-Retired NC Math Teacher with 1.9 Million Net WorthSend us a textIn episode two, Dave and Brandon interview John, a retired NC math teacher. How did John and his wife (nurse) build wealth raising three children in a middle class home? What advice did he give his children who are now building their own wealth? Take a listen as John shares his story and drops some wisdom for fellow teachers, brand new and veterans. We are excited to get inside the mind of a millionaire educator!
2021-02-211h 06Financially Independent TeachersEpisode 1-Intro to FIT and Interview with NC teacher B. AkinsSend us a textCohosts, Dave and Brandon introduce themselves in the first episode of the Financially Independent Teachers Podcast. After a brief intro, they interview 11-year NC public educator, Brandon Akins, whose wife is also an NC educator. Brandon shares his background in education and describes how two NC teachers are working toward financial independence as an educator family.
2021-02-141h 20
reClaimedReducing Prejudice with Dave FleischerCharles, Matt, and Gregg are joined by Dave Fleischer to learn about how deep conversation and sharing stories can break down prejudice, persuade people with different opinions, and change minds. David Fleischer is Project Director for the Leadership LAB at the Los Angeles LGBT Center and has worked in electoral politics for 30 years. The Leadership LAB's website is here: http://www.leadership-lab.org/
2017-02-2441 min