Ep 179: F.I.R.E. For Dummies with Jackie Cummings Koski

This week, Jackie Cummings Koski, author of "F.I.R.E. For Dummies," sits down with us to share her personal experience and offer some wisdom for anyone, no matter how late they are in the game, to begin building their financial future. 

This episode isn't your typical FIRE fantasy. As a Black, divorced, single mom who retired with $1.3 million at age 49, Jackie's got the receipts and the real talk about what it looks like to navigate personal finances when your story is a little more complicated than the usual "quit your job, sail the world" narrative. 

Jackie’s story is one of resilience, of taking on the challenge of reaching back to help your family when you're the first one to make it, and even more importantly, it's a story of recognizing that you have time on your side, even when you are a late starter.

We discuss: 

• The Great Un-Representation: Why the financial world needs more diverse voices, and especially more Black women, in the conversation.
• From "F.I.R.E. For Dummies" to Family Dinners: How the psychological aspects of money shape our choices, and why helping those closest to you often means reaching back instead of up.
• The Truth About Social Security: Jackie breaks down the reality of Social Security for early retirees (spoiler alert: it's a powerful backup, but don't expect it to be a cash cow).
• Beyond the Numbers: Living a life of purpose and leaving a meaningful legacy can be more important than just the final dollar figure.
• Is the 4% Rule a Myth?: Jackie shares her experiences with the 4% rule and how it can be adapted to your own circumstances and goals.

Links:

• Get Jackie’s book F.I.R.E. For Dummies here
• Listen to Catching Up to FI podcast with Jackie and Bill Yount 
• Visit her website, Instagram, and LinkedIn 

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