Seeking FIRE Coach

[KHanson]

Anyone know of a reputable and trustworthy FIRE coach? I've read the books and crunched the numbers--what I'm looking for is someone aligned to the FIRE principles who can help answer some questions and help me establish my FIRE plan according to my specific life goals.

[soulpatchmike]

Pretty sure the collective here along with targeted forum searches will get you all of the individual components needed to generate your own FIRE plan.

Which phase of the FIRE journey are you in?
-I don't know what my finances are and don't know where to start.
-I am in debt and working a plan to get out
-I am in the accumulation phase and want to be sure I am investing wisely and maximizing my savings rate
-I have a pretty significant net worth and am not sure if/when I will be ready to FIRE.

If you have read the books and crunched the numbers, you should be in pretty good shape.  Do some targeted searches on this site to find threads that relate to your individual questions and I would imagine that it will get you moving along.  I used the bogleheads starter process and investment policy statement examples as my reference material for a starting point to write some things down.  I also am a spreadsheet jockey and have always tracked my finances that way.  I have learned new things about tracking and projecting along the way.

There is no magic bullets for your specific situation.  Your situation is your own and no one will have a situation and risk profile just like yours.  The journey needs to be owned by you.  Writing down your goals helps guide your research.  This is a continual education.  Many of the forum contributors have been working towards FIRE or have been FIRE'd for 5-10 years or more.  Many change or adjust as they learn new things but for most of the accumulation phase, it is a set it and forget it kind of thing.  This is a long game.  Be patient and build your plan one piece at a time.

[SailingOnASmallSailboat]

No suggestions other than to ask a lot of questions. Namely, how much experience does said coach have personally with FIRE and what does that experience entail and how did they feel about it.

Mostly this advice is after a trainwreck of a thread recently where the OP is becoming a FIRE coach though he a) has never experienced it as the rest of us define it and b) thinks it's a horrific idea and it ruined his life.

But I think @soulpatchmike nailed it. You could also do a case study and get lots of good advice specific to you and your plans.

[MoseyingAlong]

Hi,

I get wanting a coach. Sometimes it's very helpful to talk something over with another person.

Justin who blogs at RootofGood.com does a monthly report of their income and expenses. Under income, he includes some early retirement consulting. I don't know the guy and have never used his services but he might help.
https://rootofgood.com/early-retirement-consulting/

Best wishes

[ixtap]

How is this different than doing a case study? Are you looking for long term coaching or just a plan to get moving?

[LightStache]

How is this different than doing a case study? Are you looking for long term coaching or just a plan to get moving?

+1

I don't think a "trustworth FIRE coach" could exist. During the first sesh helping you identify frivolous expenses they'd have to cut their own service.

[Catbert]

Hi,

I get wanting a coach. Sometimes it's very helpful to talk something over with another person.

Justin who blogs at RootofGood.com does a monthly report of their income and expenses. Under income, he includes some early retirement consulting. I don't know the guy and have never used his services but he might help.
https://rootofgood.com/early-retirement-consulting/

Best wishes

I'll second Justin at rootofgood.com.  Take a look at his blog and see if you think it would be a good match. 

[cool7hand]

+1 for using this forum as your coach

[Dicey]

Start with a Case Study and some forum participation and see where it goes. You can always hire a coach later. Bonus, if you go the coach route, you will be more prepared so it should cost you less.

[TheAnonOne]

How is this different than doing a case study? Are you looking for long term coaching or just a plan to get moving?

+1

I don't think a "trustworth FIRE coach" could exist. During the first sesh helping you identify frivolous expenses they'd have to cut their own service.

^

[TheAnonOne]

Alright.... jokes aside. How I did it.. or fell into it.

1. Read the entire MMM blog. This will get you into the mindset and basically get you there.
2. Track your spending, use personal capital or some other tool
3. Track your progress, the forums have spots for tracking your NW growth monthly


The basic feedback loops is.

1. cut spending
2. dump money into VTSAX or VTIAX
3. repeat

Add time.... and done!

[ixtap]

Alright.... jokes aside. How I did it.. or fell into it.

1. Read the entire MMM blog. This will get you into the mindset and basically get you there.
2. Track your spending, use personal capital or some other tool
3. Track your progress, the forums have spots for tracking your NW growth monthly


The basic feedback loops is.

1. cut spending
2. dump money into VTSAX or VTIAX
3. repeat

Add time.... and done!

Some people also add side hustle, but for myself, more work is not what I am seeking in life. I volunteer plenty, or at least I used to, we are planning lots of travel in the second half of 2022, so I have stepped back from most of those obligations.

[herbgeek]

Don't forget the non monetary side of FIRE, ie what you will do all day, what will provide the social/intellectual/spiritual needs you need for a happy life.  Who will you do stuff with?  What gives you purpose?