BiggerPockets Money

Did Buying a House Ruin Her Path to Financial Independence?

October 9, 2026·46 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

What if you had $1 million invested for financial independence at just 36, but still worried that buying a home could derail your early retirement plans? Cheryl and her family have two young kids, a $1 million FI portfolio, and big goals: reach Coast FI and potentially work part time within five years, while ultimately retiring with $3 million by age 59.5. But after buying a primary residence, Cheryl wants to know whether she’s made a major financial mistake or if she can make homeownership, part-time work, and financial independence all work together. On this Finance Friday episode, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down Cheryl’s numbers and explore what it will take to balance her family’s goals without losing sight of the bigger FI plan.To go beyond the podcast:Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsConnect with Cheryl:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/millionairecher/We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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