527: Retired at 49 on an Average Salary after Getting a “Late Start” to FIRE

Think it’s too late for early retirement? Do you feel like just because you’re in your late thirties, forties, or fifties, FIRE doesn’t make sense for you? Well, think again because today’s guest defied the odds by retiring over fifteen years early, all while raising her daughter on her own and without a six-figure salary to sail her swiftly to a million-dollar net worth. Plus, she did all of it with no investing experience. If Jackie Cummings Koski can do it, so can you!

Jackie grew up in a single-parent household. Her father worked hard to support her and her five siblings. This instilled a strong work ethic in Jackie and made her realize that running towards hard things, not away from them, was the true path to success. She figured out college on her own and, shortly after, landed a corporate job that took her far away from the small town she grew up in. She got married and had her daughter, but then everything changed.

Jackie was getting divorced, forcing her to rely on herself fully for her financial future. In true Jackie fashion, she took this as a challenge and began educating herself as best as she could. Through smart saving, spending, and life-changing investing decisions, Jackie built her wealth in record time, reaching financial independence just ten years after finding the FIRE movement—all without any advantages!

In This Episode We Cover

How to reach financial independence without a high salary, inheritance, or advantages

Stock investing 101 and how intentional investing can explode your net worth

Why you must max out THESE investment accounts to be richer in retirement

How Jackie spends just $40,000 per year owning her own home and raising her daughter

Why you DON’T have to follow all the traditional FIRE rules to retire early

And So Much More!

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Money Podcast 154 - Bill Bengen (The Inventor of the 4% Rule) Talks Retirement, Past Crashes, and How You Can Withdraw Even More

Email Mindy for the Full 4% Rule Article!

Money Podcast 344 - Rethink Social Security: Myths, Benefits, and Clearing Up Misconceptions

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Better Investing

Root of Good

Mr. Money Mustache

Mad Fientist

1500 Days

00:00 Intro

01:14 FIRE at 49!

02:50 Making Money in Retirement 

06:11 Early Years, College, and Getting Divorced 

11:21 Working Her Way Through College

15:06 Getting Hired After College

15:50 Starting to Learn About Stocks

20:02 Finding the FIRE Movement

26:54 Spending and Saving

36:01 Jackie's Podcast and New Book!

38:20 Connect with Jackie!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-527

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