The Mind Money Spectrum Podcast

What can you set up today that if you forget about it, you are better off a year later?

Maxing out your 401k contribution and investing in stocks has the largest impact on your life for minimal effort. Aaron and Trishul go through other ways that setting up automation can provide significant benefits for your future self. From bill payments to investment contributions, automating your finances removes stress and builds long-term wea...

In 2024, tech stocks were up, while layoffs were also up, leading to a general concern among tech employees. 

Tech employees saw their incomes rise dramatically from their equity compensation, but the specter of layoffs meant most people were still concerned. Aaron and Trishul discuss some of the potential reasons behind this dichotomy and how to help people deal with the fear. A healthy cash reserve can help mitigate the concerns o...

The math behind how quickly savings and investments can achieve financial independence.

Trishul re-creates the spreadsheet he used to calculate his pursuit of FIRE twenty years ago. He begins with simple time value of money calculations and walks through how increasing savings rates and different investment returns dramatically impact your path to financial freedom. Aaron brings the math to life with a real-world example: a couple m...

Safe withdrawal rates often lead to having more money than you need. What then?

Trishul achieved FIRE and then built a business that now sustains his lifestyle. He knows he's on track to have more money than he needs. Aaron and Trishul discuss how it feels to be in this position and what to do next. Adjusting to this new phase can take years—and maybe it’s okay if spending doesn’t increase.

Episode References

MMS #146. A Financia...

Whether the stock market is up or down, Trishul and Aaron have developed the super power to not care.

Stock market downturns often trigger fear among investors. But Aaron and Trishul have developed the ability to simply not care about stock market volatility. It comes from a combination of resilience through multiuple downturns, acknowledging the long-term aspect of investing in stocks, using mutliple asset classes, such as bonds an...

Trishul's journey from FIRE to lifestyle practice.

Trishul Patel achieved FIRE by building teams to solve problems. After reaching financial independence, his desire to help others led him to accidentally create an lifestyle practice. Now, he focuses on keeping it from growing too large, ensuring it doesn’t interfere with the hobbies he finds most fulfilling.

Episode References

MMS #144. What Financial Independence in Your 40&apo...

Trishul's journey from engineer to hedge fund manager.

How does an engineer become a hedge fund manager? Trishul Patel shares his journey from engineering to wealth management, bringing his analytical mindset into the world of finance. In this episode, he dives into the key moments of his career and explains how foundational concepts like compounding and risk shaped his path to financial independence. Discover how his...

You need to build your own routine to thrive in retirement.

People often retire with the idea of spending their time doing "whatever they want, whenever they want." However, this lack of structure can lead to a negative spiral, potentially resulting in health issues such as depression. To truly thrive in retirement—whether in your 40s or 60s—you need to create your own sense of discipline. It's essential to ...

Trishul is in his 40's and has achieved FIRE. Aaron is also in his 40's, but is not financially independent. Yet they both lead similar lives. What's the difference?

Trishul achieved FIRE and began writing a blog to help friends and family make better financial decisions. This eventually led to starting a lifestyle practice as a financial advisor. Aaron started a lifestyle business to help people with stock ...

Parents teach hard worth through their actions, not their employment.

Trishul has achieved FIRE and is a parent. Aaron describes clients who have achieved financial independence, but still have kids at home for another decade. You teach kids the value of hard work, not through your employment, but through the same activities that make your life fulfilling—whether you're financially independent or not. Parenting is one...

Despite a generation of no real wage growth, how could wages increase?

Trishul examines why wages have stayed flat on a REAL inflation-adjusted basis over the last couple of generations. Globalization, tax law, and legislation favoring corporations have combined to increase wealth inequality and suppress wage growth. And Trishul sees no reason for it to change moving forward. Aaron argues that rewarding productivity and st...

Addressing criticisms of Kamala Harris's Unrealized Gain tax plan.

The ultra-wealthy pay a lower tax rate than wage earners, meaning the US has a regressive tax system rather than the intended progressive tax system. Kamala Harris's tax plan would address wealth inequality by taxing unrealized gains. A Forbes article provides numerous critiques, and Trishul and Aaron try to address each point.

Episode Re...

Rent or buy? How much as a down payment?

Most Americans have most of their net worth in their home equity. In this episode, Aaron and Trishul discuss the pros and cons of making a down payment and buying a home. Is it worth making a larger down payment to lower the monthly mortgage? Is it dependent on the growth assumptions of various asset classes or the behavior and discipline of individuals?

Episode References<...

How U.S. government incentives create rent-seeking.

In economics, rent-seeking is extracting wealth without adding value. Trishul provides data and examples of how rent-seeking has made lives harder. Home prices, healthcare, and education have all increased more than incomes, and rent-seeking is partially to blame. They look at how the U.S. government has incentivized individuals at the expense of society as a whole.
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How snowboarding in Park City influenced the genesis of Graystone Advisor

In this episode, Aaron shares his story of attending due diligence conferences to learn about non-traded REITs. While it was nice to be wined and dined, he started to see where the client's money went and how understanding fees is important. There will always be conflicts of interest, but if you are open and transparent about incentives, you can...

The red flags of TikTok financial videos.

In this episode, Trishul and Aaron discuss the problem of trying to pare down financial advice to soundbites. TikTok financial videos can contain red flags ranging from likely inappropriate to downright wrong. Anytime we hear passive investing, real estate, crypto, or "Don't invest in your 401k", we immediately assume the video has some ulterior motive.

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Bring on 80% unemployment!

In this episode, David Shapiro joins Trishul and Aaron to discuss AI and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Where are we now with technology and society, and where are we going? What is the future of AI at the individual, corporate, and state levels? How does AI affect different jobs? How does AI interact with capitalism in America? If 80% of society is unemployed, how do individuals and society t...

If a Tesla robot can fold your laundry (and do all the other chores), how do you spend your time? What do you take pride in?

In a world where robots handle our chores, what becomes of human time? How should we guide children into adulthood? Aaron and Trishul explore these questions, delving into Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. They contrast the past, where activities fulfilled both basic and self-fulfillment needs, with ...

Stuff is cheap. You should spend more on experiences.

In this episode, Trishul and Aaron dive into the world of "stuff." They reflect on their spending patterns and attitudes towards material goods versus life-enriching experiences. As the affordability of items increases, they explore strategies to avoid overconsumption, considering not only the physical space it occupies but also its broader impact on life. The...