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

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.