Extreme Personal Finance Show

Chris Luger
  • 5.0 (17)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Biweekly

Personal finance doesn't have to be boring. We refuse to let it be. The Extreme Personal Finance Show is where financial independence meets a crushing guitar riff. I'm Chris, early retiree, tech guy, and lifelong metalhead. I built this show for people who wanna take control of their money and their lives! We cover everything from building wealth, killing debt, investing for the long haul, side income, real estate, retirement planning, and the mindset shifts that make all of it actually stick. No filler, no BS, no 47-minute intros. Each week I sit down with brilliant guests from the FIRE movement and beyond. These people who've cracked the code and are generous enough to share it. Plus solo episodes where I break down the stuff nobody talks about at the dinner table but everybody needs to hear. This isn't your parents' money podcast. Strap in and hold on tight!  HORNS UP! 🤘🤘

  1. 6d ago

    How to Retire on Purpose with Scott Folland | 117

    How to Retire on Purpose: The Last 6 Months Before Walking Away What happens when your financial advisor looks you in the eye and says "you could retire today," and you decide to keep working anyway? My friend Scott Folland is back on the show, and this time he's got a date circled. He's an orthopedic PA here in the Twin Cities, he's been at the same practice for 15 years, and he's clocking out for good in early January. Not because he hates the job. He actually likes it. That's what makes this conversation so different from most early retirement stories you hear. Scott walks us through the slow downshift, going to 80% time with Fridays off a couple of years back, then spending six months training the person who's taking over his role. We get into the part almost nobody talks about: what happens to your identity when the title goes away. Scott's had three sabbaticals in his career, including two years living overseas in East Africa, so he's had some practice being a person who isn't his job. Then there's the whiteboard. Scott went through a retirement planning module, decided the "vision board" exercise was corporate nonsense, bought a whiteboard at Target out of spite, and ended up with something that now sits next to his bed where he looks at it twice a day. Three columns: things to add, things to try, and things to cut out of his life entirely. That middle column is the one most people skip. We also get into the nuts and bolts. Where the money comes from first, why he's letting the 401(k) keep growing even though the rule of 55 is right there, how he's covering health insurance before Medicare, why he shut off his retirement contributions in the final year, and what he's doing with 2,700 miles of gravel road between Mexico and Banff. Oh, and he's planning to get a job. Two of them. You'll want to hear why. If you're a few years out and terrified to pull the trigger, Scott's closing advice is worth the whole episode. Contact Chris: https://heavymetal.money https://www.facebook.com/MoneyHeavyMetal https://x.com/MoneyHeavyMetal https://www.instagram.com/chrisluger https://www.tiktok.com/@heavymetalmoney email: chris at heavymetal.money Resources and Links: Stacking Benjamins Podcast Marks Money Mind Podcast Earn & Inest Podcast Faribault Wool Mill Tour Hostel Movie Rock Retirement Club https://www.rockretirementclub.com Jean Chatsky’s The Forever Paycheck Life Transitions - Live from CampFI RM Week 3 | Episode 051 https://youtu.be/7i_tGglOv28?si=3HQ2tKU2e2p4Qhz0 Williams Sonoma Coffee Class Contact Chris: https://heavymetal.money https://www.instagram.com/heavy_metal_money/ https://www.youtube.com/@heavymetalmoney https://www.facebook.com/chrisluger email: chris at heavymetal.money

  2. Sep 18

    Stop Competing, Start Collaborating with Joe Saul-Sehy and Jordan Grumet | 116

    Stop Competing, Start Collaborating with Joe Saul-Sehy and Jordan Grumet | 116 Joe Saul-Sehy from Stacking Benjamins and Dr. Jordan Grumet (Doc G) from Earn & Invest trashed my place…err I mean crashed at my place during Camp FI Midwest. Naturally, I put freakin’ microphones in front of them! This one started as a conversation about our joint Benjamins After Dark meetup in the Twin Cities and turned into a full-on masterclass on why collaboration is a money skill. Not a soft skill. A money skill. Competitor or collaborator? Pick one. Joe tells the story of meeting a brand new finance podcaster at Podcast Movement who wouldn't even say what his show was about. Joe never heard from him again. Being guarded gets you nowhere. You grow no matter where you sit. Doc G breaks down the mentor, mentee, and peer roles. If someone knows more, they're your mentor. If they know less, you're theirs. Either way, both sides walk away with more than they started with. As they say in medicine: see one, do one, teach one! Set the goalposts before you start. Collaborations can go sideways because nobody defined what success looked like up front. Different intentions, different audiences, two years of silence. Doc G's take: if one person wants to educate for free and the other wants to charge per download, you need to know that on day one. Be useful. Joe pulls from Alex Hormozi and Zig Ziglar: become the person people call. In his financial planning days, clients called him for mortgage guys, estate attorneys, even mechanics. That's the whole game. Open your network or go home. Doc G says a collaborator who won't share their contacts isn't worth their salt. I've seen the opposite in my tech career, people hoarding contacts like dragons on gold. It never works. Your advisor should be a collaborator. If someone leads with a product instead of asking about your life, that's a sales pitch, not advice. Roger Whitney's line: anyone who leads with product and not process is not an advisor. Networking is dead. Doc G declares it, and Joe agrees it should be. Replace it with three steps: Show up somewhere with like-minded peopleListen more than you talkBe generous with what you know when the time is right.Friendships over FI numbers. Joe says becoming financially independent was fine. Realizing he had enough people in his corner that they'd never let him fail? That hit way harder. Collaboration leads to impact. Doc G's closer. We all say we want money and career success. Roll it up and what we really want is impact. Collaboration is how you get there. Bonus content: a Camp FI travel hacker who turned out to have a PhD in agriculture, Joe getting pizza oven lessons at his sister's birthday party, my uncle refusing to meet my banker at the horse track, and a man in Mankato who volunteers so much people call him Mr. Mankato. Contact Chris: https://heavymetal.money https://www.facebook.com/MoneyHeavyMetal https://x.com/MoneyHeavyMetal https://www.instagram.com/chrisluger https://www.tiktok.com/@heavymetalmoney email: chris at heavymetal.money Resources and Links: Dr. Jordan Grumet https://jordangrumet.com Earn & Invest Podcast  https://jordangrumet.com/episodes   Jordan’s Substack  https://substack.com/@jordangrumet Joe Saul-Sehy https://joesaulsehy.com  Stacking Benjamins Podcast  https://www.stackingbenjamins.com Benjamins After Dark Meetup Groups https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/groups/ CampFI https://campfi.org Contact Chris: https://heavymetal.money https://www.instagram.com/heavy_metal_money/ https://www.youtube.com/@heavymetalmoney https://www.facebook.com/chrisluger email: chris at heavymetal.money

  3. Sep 11

    Live From CampFI: The Power of Community with Bill Yount (Catching Up to FI) | 115

    Live From CampFI: The Power of Community with Bill Yount (Catching Up to FI) | 115 This one's different. We recorded this episode LIVE, on location, at CampFI Midwest Week 1, and I brought in Bill Yount from the Catching Up to FI podcast, to co-host it with me. Bill and I have been talking about jamming for a while, so it only made sense to finally do it in person, in a room full of people who've actually lived this stuff. We talk about why community might be the most underrated piece of the FI journey, and then we bring a handful of campers up to the mic to share their own stories. You'll hear from Amy, who went to five CampFIs this year and organized the very first Camp FI New York. Rhonda, who's hit 24 FI events since 2020, including 14 CampFIs. JJ, the 25-year-old who's already thinking about giving back before most people his age are thinking about a 401k. And a surprise first-time guest, Adrian, who talks about finally finding her people. Bill and I also get into giving. I talk about the nonprofit I started after reaching FI, helping families with babies in the NICU cover the bills that pile up during an already brutal time. Bill shares his own giving story involving therapy dogs, a donor-advised fund, and a hospital oncology unit. This episode isn't about spreadsheets or net worth numbers. It's about what happens after you get the numbers right, and why so many of us end up circling back to the same conclusion: this journey is a lot better with people around you. Whoo! Let’s go!  Catching up to FI  https://catchinguptofi.com About Bill & Jackie  https://catchinguptofi.com/about/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-yount-md-a8033036/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackiecummingskoski/   DOLLAR DESTRUCTION by Locus of Control  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecd_SapmcH8 Local Twin Cities Stacking Benjamins Meetup Group on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1az41DVj1y/ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Tours https://www.minneapolisfed.org/connect/tours ChooseFI iOS App  https://apps.apple.com/us/app/choosefi/id6751371252 The Luger Foundation https://www.thelugerfoundation.org Daffy - Donor Advised Funds https://www.daffy.org/ Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital https://www.dollychildrens.org Discover Stillwater, MN  https://discoverstillwater.com   Nelson’s Ice Cream https://www.nelsonsicecream.biz   Contact Chris: https://heavymetal.money https://www.instagram.com/heavy_metal_money/ https://www.youtube.com/@heavymetalmoney https://www.facebook.com/chrisluger email: chris at heavymetal.money

  4. Sep 4

    Building a Work-Optional Roadmap & How to Retire Early with Chad Taylor | 114

    Building a Work-Optional Roadmap & How to Retire Early with Chad Taylor | 114 Do you make good money but still feel like you're falling behind? You're not alone. In this episode, we sit down with Chad Taylor, wealth advisor and founder of Seapoint Wealth Advisors, to discuss why so many high earners struggle with their finances. Chad shares his journey from the big brokerage world to independent advising and offers practical advice on how to take control of your financial future. Key Takeaways: The "I Make Good Money" Problem: Why tracking your spending is the first step to financial clarity.Building a Work-Optional Roadmap: How to plan for a lifestyle that doesn't depend on a traditional retirement.The Psychology of Retirement: Navigating the identity crisis that often comes with leaving a high-powered career.Avoiding Common Mistakes: The two biggest errors people make in the five years leading up to retirement.Investment Strategies: Chad's take on diversification, real estate, and why crypto isn't part of his long-term plan.Contact Chris: https://heavymetal.money https://www.instagram.com/heavy_metal_money/ https://www.youtube.com/@heavymetalmoney https://www.facebook.com/chrisluger email: chris at heavymetal.money

  5. Aug 28

    Your Money Trauma Is Real: Dr. Erika Rasure on Debt, Shame, and Healing Your Financial Nervous System | 113

    Your Money Trauma Is Real: Dr. Erika Rasure on Debt, Shame, and Healing Your Financial Nervous System | 113 Debt doesn't care how smart you are or how much you make. This week I talk with Dr. Erika Rasure, Chief Financial Wellness Advisor at Beyond Finance, about the emotional weight behind debt, the difference between guilt and shame, and why most budgets fail for reasons that have nothing to do with math. We also break down her RESET Framework and I bring her a real purchase I'm still feeling weird about. Horns up. Contact Chris: https://heavymetal.money https://www.facebook.com/MoneyHeavyMetal https://x.com/MoneyHeavyMetal https://www.instagram.com/chrisluger https://www.tiktok.com/@heavymetalmoney email: chris at heavymetal.money Resources and Links: Rob Zombie - The Black Scorpion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su9eBim2VYQ https://www.beyondfinance.com The Beyond Finance RESET Framework  https://www.beyondfinance.com/blog/reset-framework/ Connect with Dr. Erika on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikarasure/ Personal Gravity - Center for Transformational Coaching  https://www.centerfortransformationalcoaching.com/healing-your-personal-gravity/ Get your own DIAL-UP SURVIVOR SHIRT https://www.screamingbeaver.shop/product-page/dial-up-survivor-modem-unisex-t-shirt Mystic Lake Casino Amphitheater  https://www.mysticlakeamp.com Contact Chris: https://heavymetal.money https://www.instagram.com/heavy_metal_money/ https://www.youtube.com/@heavymetalmoney https://www.facebook.com/chrisluger email: chris at heavymetal.money

  6. Aug 21

    How I Reached Financial Independence in 10 Years | FI Minded with Justin Peters | 112

    How I Reached Financial Independence in 10 Years | FI Minded with Justin Peters | 112 Chris Luger of Heavy Metal Money joins Justin Peters on Fi Minded to talk about reaching financial independence in roughly 10 years, starting from a rough spot most people don't talk about publicly: a divorce that left him having to learn personal finance from scratch in his mid-thirties. In this episode: • Why Chris's net worth was around $200K after his divorce settlement, and how it grew to about $3.2 million a decade later • The notebook-and-pencil method he used to start tracking spending for the first time in his life • How overpaying on homeowners insurance for years taught him to shop every policy • Cutting $500 to $700 a month in eating out expenses without feeling deprived •  Using a mega backdoor Roth conversion to stack an extra $30K a year into retirement accounts • Side hustle income from car wrap advertising and other creative angles • How Chris avoided burnout across a 10-year journey by finding community at events like Camp FI • The real difference between frugal and cheap Contact Chris: https://heavymetal.money https://www.facebook.com/MoneyHeavyMetal https://x.com/MoneyHeavyMetal https://www.instagram.com/chrisluger https://www.tiktok.com/@heavymetalmoney email: chris at heavymetal.money Connect with Justinhttps://pod.link/1496701179https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/ Contact Chris: https://heavymetal.money https://www.instagram.com/heavy_metal_money/ https://www.youtube.com/@heavymetalmoney https://www.facebook.com/chrisluger email: chris at heavymetal.money

  7. Aug 7

    Why Women Need Their Own FI Space with Kim Hunter-Borst | 111

    Why Women Need Their Own FI Space with Kim Hunter-Borst | 111 Why do women need their own space in the financial independence world? This week I sit down with Kim Hunter-Borst, the heart and driving force behind Women of FI, to talk about the stuff that doesn't show up in a spreadsheet. Kim spent over 35 years in health insurance before finding her way into the FI community, and what she's built with Women of FI is something different. We get into the "girl math" trope and why women walked out of her college math exam. We talk about the mental load, the list behind the list. We also dig into her own money story, going from $69,000 in debt to financially independent and retired, and what it actually felt like giving herself permission to be unproductive after 40 years of tying her worth to doing. This one hits different. Grab your coffee, or your water, Kim will tell you it's fine either way, and let's get into it. In this episode: Why women hesitate to ask clarifying questions in financial spaces, and what it's actually costing themThe "girl math" trope and how it starts as early as a college placement examWhat the "mental load" and "the list behind the list" actually look like in real householdsKim's own journey from $69K in debt to financially independent in just a few yearsThe dollar cost averaging story that changed one woman's entire relationship with $800K sitting idleWhy Kim caps her Women of FI events at 50 people, twice a year, on purposeThe footstool metaphor that explains why women-centered spaces feel differentGiving yourself permission to be "unproductive" after a lifetime of tying worth to doing BOOK NOW! THE NEXT WOMAN OF FI EVENT Women of FI CoEd Getaway is November 12-15 in Honesdale PA.    Women of FI  CoEd Getaway Date: Nov 12 • 16:00 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/women-of-fi-coed-getaway-tickets-1988386623918 Contact Chris: https://heavymetal.money https://www.facebook.com/MoneyHeavyMetal https://x.com/MoneyHeavyMetal https://www.instagram.com/chrisluger https://www.tiktok.com/@heavymetalmoney email: chris at heavymetal.money Connect with Kim  Website: womenofFI.com  Email: hello@womenofFi.com Resources and Links: https://linktr.ee/WomenofFI BREAKING THE FINANCIAL GLASS CEILING: WHY MORE WOMEN NEED TO INVEST https://heavymetal.money/womeninvesting/ WHO ARE YOU WHEN THE WORK STOPS? https://heavymetal.money/economekim/ PlanVision https://www.planvisionmn.com Contact Chris: https://heavymetal.money https://www.instagram.com/heavy_metal_money/ https://www.youtube.com/@heavymetalmoney https://www.facebook.com/chrisluger email: chris at heavymetal.money

  8. Jul 17

    Real Men Ask for Help: A Divorce Coach's Guide to Rebuilding After Rock Bottom | 110

    Real Men Ask for Help: A Divorce Coach's Guide to Rebuilding After Rock Bottom | 110 Divorce doesn't just wreck your heart. It wrecks your bank account, your identity, and sometimes your whole sense of who you are. This week on the Extreme Personal Finance Show, I sit down with John Hardy, a divorce recovery coach who specializes in helping men rebuild after separation, betrayal, and financial abuse. John opens up about his own 30-year relationship, the alcohol that numbed the pain for years, and the moment he hit rock bottom before finally getting sober and starting over at 50. We dig into the money side of divorce that nobody talks about, hidden assets, vehicles sold for a dollar to keep them out of a settlement, and the financial devastation that comes when trust breaks down. They also get real about identity loss, isolation, and why so many men suffer in silence instead of asking for help. If you're rebuilding after a breakup, or you just want to understand what your partner might be carrying, this episode is packed with practical steps for putting your life (and your finances) back together. John shares his first steps for starting over, why community and accountability matter more than willpower, and how a "bad financial transaction" like divorce can become the launchpad for something better. John also talks about his new book, "Emotional Alchemy," a collaborative project with 19 other divorce coaches, and where guys can find him for coaching. Contact Chris: https://heavymetal.money https://www.facebook.com/MoneyHeavyMetal https://x.com/MoneyHeavyMetal https://www.instagram.com/chrisluger https://www.tiktok.com/@heavymetalmoney email: chris at heavymetal.money Resources and Links: Connect with John! https://www.johnhardydivorcecoach.com Book Emotional Alchemy  https://paintopowerbook.com Contact Chris: https://heavymetal.money https://www.instagram.com/heavy_metal_money/ https://www.youtube.com/@heavymetalmoney https://www.facebook.com/chrisluger email: chris at heavymetal.money

See All (132)

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Personal finance doesn't have to be boring. We refuse to let it be. The Extreme Personal Finance Show is where financial independence meets a crushing guitar riff. I'm Chris, early retiree, tech guy, and lifelong metalhead. I built this show for people who wanna take control of their money and their lives! We cover everything from building wealth, killing debt, investing for the long haul, side income, real estate, retirement planning, and the mindset shifts that make all of it actually stick. No filler, no BS, no 47-minute intros. Each week I sit down with brilliant guests from the FIRE movement and beyond. These people who've cracked the code and are generous enough to share it. Plus solo episodes where I break down the stuff nobody talks about at the dinner table but everybody needs to hear. This isn't your parents' money podcast. Strap in and hold on tight!  HORNS UP! 🤘🤘

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Luger
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    132
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Heavy Metal Money Media | Extreme Personal Finance Show
  • Show Website
    Extreme Personal Finance Show

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