Setting up your 401 (k) can feel overwhelming, especially when you are faced with a long list of investment options. To make it easier, we welcome Zina Kumok, financial advisor and money expert, to explain how to choose wisely. Zina covers the importance of the employer match, diversification, and automation so your retirement savings can grow without stress.

In the second half, we sit down with Jessica and Corey Fick of The Fioneers, who reached Coast FIRE in their early 30s. They share how they built a million-dollar portfolio, left corporate jobs that no longer fit their lives, and created a business that supports the lifestyle they truly want.

If you are just starting out with your 401k or aiming for Coast FIRE, this episode will give you both the tactical steps and the long-term inspiration to succeed.

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  Trust & Will – Convenient estate planning made easy.

  
  

Podcast Chapters

00:00 – Why your 401k match is part of your compensation

00:28 – Welcome and overview of today’s episode

01:00 – Introduction to Zina Kumok

02:15 – What a 401k is and why it matters

03:30 – Understanding employer matches

05:00 – Choosing investments in your 401k

06:30 – Risk tolerance and diversification explained

08:30 – Automating your 401k contributions

09:20 – Alternatives to a 401k (IRA, HSA, brokerage)

13:00 – The importance of capturing your employer match

14:30 – Where to connect with Zina Kumok

15:17 – Coast FIRE couple spotlight: Jessica and Corey Fick

16:20 – The Coast FIRE Five

18:00 – Their journey from early investing to Coast FIRE

22:30 – How burnout pushed them to redesign their lives

25:00 – Reaching Coast FIRE and slowing contributions

27:00 – What their portfolio looks like today

29:30 – Household income range over 15 years

31:30 – Growing investments without new contributions

33:30 – How they control expenses in New England

35:20 – Advice for others pursuing Coast FIRE

37:10 – Why Coast FIRE is more approachable than full FIRE

40:00 – Where to learn more from The Fioneers

HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER

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Opinions are the creators alone.

Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice.

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CREDITS

Podcast Artwork: Liz Theresa

Editor: Johnny Sohl

Podcast Support: Andy Hill

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