Mile High FI Podcast

Hosted by Doug Cunnington, Mr. Money Mustache, & Carl Jensen

Business Investing EducationInterviews guests

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Episodes

363

Latest episode

Nov 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Real talk about Financial Independence and life after corporate jobs. Doug Cunnington and Mr. Money Mustache talk about FI, lifestyle, side hustles, health, and anything on their minds. Plus, they interview experts and non-experts interested in the FI lifestyle. It's raw, candid, pretty much like you get to sit in on a private conversation.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 10, 202624 min

Myth of the "Unproductive" Retiree & Tax Gain Harvesting | MHFI 347

Doug and Mr. Money Mustache discuss life after corporate work, rental-property asset protection, and tax strategies including gain and loss harvesting. I put together the MMM episode guide: Mr. Money Mustache Episode Guide & Index Links Pete Adeney/Mr. Money Mustache Coach Carson on LLCs ( youtube link ) Chapters (00:00:06) - Podcast Intro and Announcements (00:01:23) - Rethinking Productivity in Retirement (00:03:30) - How Retirees Contribute to the Economy (00:05:50) - Economics, Financial Crises, and Economic Resilience (00:10:37) - Rental Property Asset Protection (00:14:44) - Tax Gain Harvesting and Its Ethics (00:18:01) - Tax-Loss Harvesting in Practice (00:22:29) - When Is Tax Optimization Worthwhile? (00:24:07) - Wrap-Up and Upcoming Plans Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the links to find out how: https://buymeacoffee.com/milehighfi Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more doug@milehighfi.com **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals. **

November 3, 202620 min

MMM on Geo-Arbitrage: Make Your FIRE Savings Go Further | MHFI 346

Doug and Mr. Money Mustache discuss choosing a place to retire, comparing Colorado’s costs and lifestyle with other locations. They also discuss geographic arbitrage and ways to explore potential places to live. I put together the MMM episode guide: Mr. Money Mustache Episode Guide & Index Links Pete Adeney/Mr. Money Mustache Chapters (00:00:00) - intro (00:02:28) - How State Taxes Affect Retirement (00:08:06) - Moving to Colorado and Finding Home (00:10:42) - Geo-Arbitrage: Finding an Affordable Place to Live (00:15:10) - Test-Drive a Town Before Moving (00:17:13) - Find Community Wherever You Go (00:19:58) - Wrap-Up and Listener Questions Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the links to find out how: https://buymeacoffee.com/milehighfi Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more doug@milehighfi.com **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals. **

October 27, 202640 min

Time Wealth, Trolls, & Practical Stoicism | MHFI 344

Carl and I discuss Stoicism and how we respond to criticism. I talk a little more about the Lazy Book (again). This is a partial highlight episode. I took some of the best parts from a 2023 episode. Don't worry, there is new stuff, plus you probably forgot the episode. I know I did! Chapters (00:00:09) - Stoicism and the Art of Taking Life Slower (00:04:17) - Time Wealth: Making Room for What Matters (00:05:49) - A Book About Laziness and Anti-Productivity (00:07:53) - Reaching Stoicism Overload (00:10:12) - Turning Insults Into Compliments (00:12:44) - Emotional Detachment and Stoic Practice (00:16:52) - Responding to Criticism With Curiosity (00:21:07) - Finding the Useful Truth in Criticism (00:23:41) - Anxiety, Busyness, and Leaving Earlier (00:27:15) - Letting Go of What You Can’t Control (00:29:07) - Insignificance, Happiness, and Freedom (00:30:50) - External Validation and Creative Work (00:34:32) - Planning a Writer’s Retreat (00:35:54) - Writing in Focused Bursts and Taking Breaks (00:38:36) - Creativity, Cannabis, and the Book Retreat Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the links to find out how: https://buymeacoffee.com/milehighfi Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more doug@milehighfi.com **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals. **

October 24, 202615 min

Send Your Questions (Plus updates) MHFI 344

Just a few updates for Oct. Send your questions for an upcoming show. doug@milehighfi.com And I talk about fitness & fitness trackers. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:15) - Send Your Questions (00:02:23) - Xero Shoes Update (00:06:08) - Fitness Tracking Changes (00:12:29) - Quitting Optimization Podcasts (00:14:02) - Retirement Shoutout (00:14:25) - Wrap Up Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the links to find out how: https://buymeacoffee.com/milehighfi Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more doug@milehighfi.com **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals. **

October 20, 20261 hr 7 min

Why a 6.25% Withdrawal Rate might Be Smart | MHFI 343

A listener asks about stepping back from work and how a 6.25% withdrawal rate might impact his family's lives. Rusty joins me to discuss the lifestyle implications, how a 6.25% withdrawal rate, and 50% success rate might be a really good move. It's not financial, legal, or tax advice...it's just our thoughts. Chapters (00:00:05) - Welcome (00:01:07) - A Listener’s Early Retirement Dilemma (00:02:34) - Anton’s Family, Finances, and FIRE Plans (00:05:07) - Time with Kids Versus Financial Certainty (00:09:39) - What Is Financial Independence For? (00:10:29) - Summer Break in the Mountains (00:13:44) - Rethinking Failure in Early Retirement (00:22:07) - FU Money and Returning to Work (00:31:28) - What a “Failed” Retirement Really Means (00:34:43) - What Retirement Calculators Leave Out (00:44:20) - Accessing Retirement Accounts Early (00:50:23) - Housing, Family Pressure, and Personal Values (00:53:40) - Choosing Your Own Path (00:57:52) - Prioritizing Life Over Success Rates (00:59:38) - Doug’s Blu-ray Player Purchase Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the links to find out how: https://buymeacoffee.com/milehighfi Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more doug@milehighfi.com **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals. **

October 13, 202646 min

Mr. Money Mustache: What is Enough for Early Retirement? | MHFI 342

Doug and MMM answer a voicemail. A listener wants to know "what is enough?" He's 41, net worth of about $3.2M, paid off house, $1.75 million in retirement accounts, $200K in cash, and $750K in stocks in a brokerage account. Expenses are around $60,000 per year. I put together the MMM episode guide: Mr. Money Mustache Episode Guide & Index Links Pete Adeney/Mr. Money Mustache Chapters (00:00:13) - Disclaimer and Episode Setup (00:01:46) - What Is Enough? (00:06:11) - Rob’s Financial Picture (00:08:16) - Safe But Still Working (00:13:40) - Why Goalposts Move (00:20:51) - Lumpy Expenses Explained (00:25:33) - Other People’s Expectations (00:28:30) - Sunk Costs and RSUs (00:32:37) - Life After Work (00:37:54) - Quit the Wrong Job (00:39:38) - Camp Fi and Fear Talk (00:42:32) - Road Trip Reflections (00:43:58) - Bogleheads and New Ventures Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the links to find out how: https://buymeacoffee.com/milehighfi Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more doug@milehighfi.com **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals. **

October 6, 202644 min

Productivity is a Problem | MHFI 341

Laziness has a branding problem. Justin Peters and Doug talk about idleness, anti-productivity, and intentionally doing less stuff. FI Minded – Financial Independence Without the Extremes Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the links to find out how: https://buymeacoffee.com/milehighfi Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals. ** Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:08) - Why Anti Productivity (00:03:22) - Lazy vs Anti Productivity (00:06:58) - FI Mindset Shift (00:09:01) - Fears Behind Overwork (00:13:42) - Status and Scaling Trap (00:17:47) - Optimizing Hobbies (00:28:39) - Practicing Doing Nothing (00:42:19) - Wrap Up and Where to Listen Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the links to find out how: https://buymeacoffee.com/milehighfi Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more doug@milehighfi.com **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals. **

October 1, 202628 min

Mr. Money Mustache & The Simple Path to Wealth Foreword | MHFI 340

Mr. Money Mustache and I worked on something cool! I put together the MMM episode guide: Mr. Money Mustache Episode Guide & Index Links Pete Adeney/Mr. Money Mustache Chapters (00:00:00) - Bonus Episode Setup (00:01:23) - Why Simple Path Works (00:05:25) - Recording With Mr Money Mustache (00:10:54) - Audiobook Wrap And Next Steps (00:12:15) - Index Funds Explained (00:22:03) - Timing The Market And Closing Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the links to find out how: https://buymeacoffee.com/milehighfi Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more doug@milehighfi.com **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals. **

September 29, 20261 hr 5 min

Balancing Life with Climbing the Corporate Ladder | MHFI 339

Rusty and I talk about whether listener, April, should consider a higher paying role as a manager or stay as an individual contributor. This topic was inspired by our episode on quiet quitting. Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? https://buymeacoffee.com/milehighfi **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals. ** Brought To You By: The Doug Show Email the show: doug@milehighfi.com 00:00 Welcome Back and Not Advice 00:51 Quiet Quitting Email Setup 03:42 April’s Dilemma and Timeline 09:29 Manager vs IC Tradeoffs 14:27 Overachievers and Winding Down 34:43 Coasting for Meaning 36:09 Downtime Hobbies 39:02 Retirement Burnout Myth 42:32 Government Job Perks 49:08 Stay IC for Now 55:02 Stand-Up Comedy Class Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the links to find out how: https://buymeacoffee.com/milehighfi Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more doug@milehighfi.com **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals. **

September 22, 20261 hr 10 min

From Paychecks to Purpose - Career, Identity, & Purpose | MHFI 338

Doug chats with Blue (From Paychecks to Purpose podcast) about the intersections of money, career, personal identity, and living a good life. They discuss early money memories & childhood influences, transitioning out of corporate roles, entrepreneurship, avoiding the trap of tying self-worth to a job title, embracing leisure & anti-productivity, and the concept of “Deep Pursuits” to find purpose outside of work. Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the links to find out how: https://buymeacoffee.com/milehighfi https://milehighfi.com/support/ Links From Paychecks to Purpose ChooseFI episode 596, “Mistakes Were Made” Mr. Money Mustache, “The 4% Rule: The Easy Answer to “How Much Do I Need for Retirement?” FinTalks MHFI Facebook group Doug’s site Check out Producer Chris’s blog: Epic Financial Journey — Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals. ** Brought To You By: The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles Email the show: doug@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 1:17 Money origins 9:24 Frugality & financial basics 15:07 Engineering careers 25:35 Transitioning to self-employment 32:14 Entrepreneurship 36:01 Identity beyond work 41:48 Anti-productivity 47:28 Deep pursuits & flow state 54:40 Travel as growth 1:00:16 Purpose Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the links to find out how: https://buymeacoffee.com/milehighfi Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more doug@milehighfi.com **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals. **