Two Sides of FI

Jason and Eric
  • 5.0 (2)
  • INVESTING
  • EVERY TWO WEEKS
Two Sides of FI

Whether you are new to the financial independence / retire early (FIRE) movement, already on your FIRE journey, or have retired early, there’s something here for you. Go beyond the numbers and get the personal stories as experienced by Eric and Jason.

  1. Retiring (Early) in 5 Days. Am I Ready?

    15 DEC

    Retiring (Early) in 5 Days. Am I Ready?

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

    43 min

  2. 1 DEC

    How Options Trading Led this Engineer to Financial Independence in His 30s

    How can a hobby turn into a second career and lead to financial independence before 40? In this episode, Jason talks with David Sun, an electrical engineer who stumbled into options trading after hearing about it from a fellow grad student. Only ten years later he launched his first hedge fund. Now in his mid-30s, David shares the keys to his success, as well as his thoughts on the role of options trading in a FIRE portfolio. Be sure to check out the show notes linked below for all the key resources shared in this conversation. Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/davidsun

    48 min

  3. 17 NOV

    Early Retirement + Group Travel: What Works, What Doesn’t

    Are group tours the ultimate hassle-free way to travel, or do they come with unexpected challenges? In this episode, Eric talks with Jason about his first experiences with group travel after a recent trip to Peru. They explore the pros, cons, and key lessons Jason learned—offering insights to help you plan your own adventure, whether you’re retired or just looking for your next great trip. Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/tours

    59 min
  4. Does Retirement = Happiness?

    27 OCT

    Does Retirement = Happiness?

    How would you feel if you worked hard to retire early and later realized you hated being retired? Sadly, online forums make it clear that a number of people who achieve FIRE are disappointed, bored, or otherwise unhappy in retirement. In this episode, Eric and Jason discuss their feelings on this topic. Join us to hear Jason's thoughts in his fifth year of early retirement, and Eric's observations after a recent vacation with his family. Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/happiness

    47 min
  5. Empty Nest, New Challenges: What’s Next After Early Retirement?

    22 SEPT

    Empty Nest, New Challenges: What’s Next After Early Retirement?

    In this episode Eric and Jason share their experiences as new empty nesters and reflect on the emotional and identity shifts that come with this major life change, especially after retiring early. They dive into how life changes when the kids are gone and work is no longer a primary focus. From adjusting to the quiet at home to rethinking purpose and identity, they discuss the highs and lows of this new phase. Join them as they explore what comes next in this post-parenting, post-career chapter of life. Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/identity

    42 min
  6. Financial Independence at 50 (Finally!)

    26 AUG

    Financial Independence at 50 (Finally!)

    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 episode, 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! Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/GFY

    43 min
  7. He Earned a Million Dollars Trading This Option Strategy

    18 AUG

    He Earned a Million Dollars Trading This Option Strategy

    How would you like to earn $80,000 a year trading options against your existing portfolio? That's exactly what our guest, Karsten "Big ERN" Jeske, has achieved. In today's episode, Jason talks with Karsten about his simple SPX options trading strategy. Be sure to see the show notes linked below for definitions, associated blog posts, and more. Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/options

    52 min
  8. Our 80/20 Rules for Early Retirement: How We Did It

    4 AUG

    Our 80/20 Rules for Early Retirement: How We Did It

    If you are not aggressive, you are not going to make money, and if you are not defensive, you are not going to keep money (Ray Dalio). In this episode, Eric and Jason talk about their personal "80/20 Rules" for retiring early. That is, the decisions they made along the journey that served as key pivot points towards ensuring their achievement of financial independence. Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/roads

    43 min
See All (92)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Whether you are new to the financial independence / retire early (FIRE) movement, already on your FIRE journey, or have retired early, there’s something here for you. Go beyond the numbers and get the personal stories as experienced by Eric and Jason.

Information

  • Creator
    Jason and Eric
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2024
  • Episodes
    92
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Two Sides of FI

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