Ep. 1983: Coast FI’s Missing Passengers

Coast FI promises that if you save enough early, your retirement money can coast the rest of the way. Don and Tom run the numbers and find the missing passengers: inflation, Social Security, uncertain returns, and the messy surprises of real life. They like aggressive early saving, but not treating a projection as a guarantee—or abandoning a valuable saving habit and employer match. The listener questions cover Treasury bills versus CDs in high-tax states, California municipal bonds, and how to simplify scattered retirement accounts. They also explain why an S&P 500 fund can leave nearly 40% of a portfolio riding on one sector. A globally diversified one-fund solution is less exciting, easier to maintain, and far less dependent on yesterday’s winners. 00:36 What Coast FI promises 04:36 Inflation breaks the easy math 06:43 Life does not follow a spreadsheet 09:25 Save early—but keep saving 15:20 T-bills, CDs, and state taxes 20:05 Simplifying four old 401(k)s 25:13 The hidden tech bet in the S&P 500 30:03 The Line Uncrossed audiobook Questions? Comments? Click!