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Afford Anything · August 18, 2026 · 1h 9m

Q&A: I Reached Financial Independence Three Years Early … Now What?

Joe Saul-Sehy, Paula Pant

Paula Pant and co-host Joe Saul-Sehy answer three listener questions: hiring an accountant when your tax situation gets messy, deciding whether to pay off a mortgage or retire early after hitting your FI number, and why one half of the show won't recommend risk parity investing. They break down the differences between CPAs, enrolled agents, and tax attorneys, and discuss how to vet a tax pro. The episode also tackles the 'one more year' trap — working beyond financial independence out of fear — and contrasts four well-known investing philosophies from JL Collins, Paul Merriman, Frank Vasquez, and Karsten Jeske.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

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The 'One More Year' Trap00:32:22
The episode examines the 'one more year' phenomenon — working beyond financial independence out of fear rather than genuine desire.
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Loving Your Job Changes the Retirement Math00:38:29
When you love your job, early retirement isn't an escape, and staying employed can be the optimal path.
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Editorial

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Choosing the Right Tax Professional00:04:02
Paula explains how to tell the difference between a CPA, an enrolled agent, and a tax attorney, and when software can't handle your tax complexity.
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Why a Former Financial Planner Avoids Risk Parity00:49:39
Joe Saul-Sehy explains why he won't recommend risk parity strategies, citing concerns about backtest reliance and real-world performance.
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Four Investing Legends, Four Different Views00:53:46
The show contrasts the investing philosophies of JL Collins, Paul Merriman, Frank Vasquez, and Karsten Jeske, noting where they disagree and what they share.
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History Doesn't Repeat Itself00:59:35
The episode warns against building an investment strategy on historical data alone, as past market patterns don't guarantee future results.
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The Cooking Analogy for Your Portfolio01:07:57
Paula compares portfolio construction to cooking: a simple recipe (index funds) versus gourmet tweaks (factor tilts, risk parity).
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Misc

✧A listener reached her $1.4 million FI goal three years ahead of schedule, leaving her unsure whether paying off a low-interest mortgage or retiring immediately is the right move.
✧The show compares investing strategies to cooking: simple index investing is a proven recipe, while risk parity and factor tilts add complexity that may not improve the dish.
✧Paula and Joe discuss the 'one more year' trap — working extra years out of fear even when the numbers work.
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