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BiggerPockets Money Podcast

Why the Last 3 Years Before Early Retirement Matter Most

BiggerPockets Money Podcast

BiggerPockets

Investing, Education, Business

4.5 • 3K Ratings

🗓️ 20 March 2026

⏱️ 63 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

If you’re within three years of early retirement, your success depends on more than just your net worth. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench sit down with Fritz Gilbert to break down the most overlooked part of financial independence: the mental, emotional, and social transition into retirement. Learn why the final years before FIRE are critical, and how failing to prepare beyond finances can lead to loss of identity, lack of purpose, and unexpected dissatisfaction. You’ll discover Fritz’s powerful framework for navigating the four phases of retirement, how to replace work-driven identity with purpose and community, and why curiosity, experimentation, and health span planning are essential for long-term fulfillment. Whether you’re approaching financial independence or already planning your early retirement lifestyle, this episode gives you a practical roadmap to build a meaningful, flexible, and deeply satisfying life after work. To go beyond the podcast: Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney  Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney Connect with Fritz Gilbert Website: https://www.theretirementmanifesto.com/blog/ We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

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Tax season is one of the only times all year when most people actually look at their full financial

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When the tax year ends on the 5th of April, valuable tax allowances may be lost simply because

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people left things too late. Thankfully, Vanguard is here to help you make well-considered decisions, not rushed ones.

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