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Episode Breakdown:

Why the Race to Financial Independence Might Be Overrated + Fighting Inflation in Retirement​
(0:00) Why financial independence isn’t always the best finish line
(24:20) Listener Question: How retirees can protect buying power from inflation

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​Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple​

Retirement Headline:

Why Financial Independence Might Be Overrated​
​Source: Of Dollars and Data by Nick Maggiulli

Nick Maggiulli’s latest blog post challenges a personal finance sacred cow: the belief that financial independence should be everyone’s ultimate goal.

Financial Independence vs. Financial Freedom

Nick shares a key distinction, inspired by Jamila Souffrant of the Journey to Launch podcast:

• Financial Independence – Your investments generate enough income to cover your lifestyle without working.
• Financial Freedom – You have choices, flexibility, and security with your money—even if you still work.

The big insight? You can have financial freedom without being financially independent.

The Downsides of the “FI Sprint”

Nick shares stories from Reddit where people hit their FI number, only to feel… empty. They skipped trips, missed family events, and sacrificed joy for years—only to realize they’d lost more than they gained.

Why?

1. It’s measurable – A number is easy to chase, even if it’s not the right target.
2. It feeds the ego – “I don’t have to work” is a big flex… but work often provides meaning, identity, and social connection.

Enter: Coast FIRE

Coast FIRE is the point where your savings will grow enough to fund retirement as long as you cover your living expenses from work.

It’s “feet up on the handlebars” mode—you still work, but without the grind, giving you space to pursue more meaningful work and enjoy the present without financial anxiety.

Nick calls it “the highest form of financial freedom that still requires you to engage in meaningful work.” I agree—because without purpose, full stop-work can leave a void.

Key Takeaways:

• FI isn’t wrong, but chasing it too hard can lead to regret.
• Aim for work optional, not never work again.
• Identify the parts of your work that bring purpose, and plan how to replace them if you retire.

Listener Question:

“How can retirees fight back against inflation?”

Inflation is the silent killer of retirement plans—less dramatic than a market crash, but often more damaging over time.

Here are 7 practical strategies to help protect your buying power:

1. Keep exposure to equities – Broad, low-cost index funds and ETFs give the best long-term inflation hedge.
2. Delay Social Security until it stings – COLAs apply to your base benefit. The bigger the base, the bigger each raise.
3. Use Roth conversions – Prepay taxes at known rates in your 60s to reduce future RMDs and keep more withdrawals tax-free.
4. Consider I Bonds or TIPS – Both adjust with inflation and can be a stable part of your allocation.
5. Adopt a dynamic spending strategy – Use guardrails to adjust spending for market and inflation changes.
6. Explore part-time work – Even $10–15K/year can significantly extend portfolio life.
7. Control big-ticket, inflation-sensitive costs – Downsizing housing or managing Medicare premiums can free up significant resources.

Inflation may be unavoidable—but it doesn’t have to be unbeatable.

Final Thoughts:

Financial independence is a great milestone, but it’s not the only (or best) finish line. True freedom often comes from balance—protecting both your future self and your present joy. And when it comes to inflation, small, proactive moves now can protect your lifestyle for decades.

Resources Mentioned

• ​Click here to order my book, Retirement Starts Today: Your non-financial guide to an even better retirement
• ​Click here to read, Why Financial Independence is Overrated – Of Dollars and Data

I need your help...

I will be starting a new segment on my podcast: Retire TO something, not FROM something.

The segment will be brief at the end of the show and will share a fun retirement idea, along with links to learn more. Volunteer work and part-time “fun” jobs will be a common theme.

​Click here to share your ideas!

That's it for our three hundred and ninety-second installment of "Every Day is Saturday." As always, I read (and usually reply to) every listener email. Got a question? Hit reply—you just might hear your name on the show.

Enjoy your “Saturday,”
​Benjamin Brandt