Travel, Family, and FIRE: The Lifestyle of an Early Retiree (Karsten Jeske)
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Travel, Family, and FIRE: The Lifestyle of an Early Retiree (Karsten Jeske)
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About this listen
- Karsten Jeske’s road to FIRE – professional background (economist, Fed, BNY Mellon), move from Germany to the U.S., and motivations for early retirement.
- FIRE pillars and planning – first steps, debunking myths, the 4% rule and its adjustments, sequence-of-returns risk, and the impact of market valuations (CAPE).
- Investment strategy – stock/bond allocation, views on gold, alternative assets, small-cap value, and global index investing.
- Options as an income source – selling short-term S&P 500 put/call options to generate extra cash flow in retirement and mitigate sequence risk.
- Life after retirement – daily routine, travel, projects (blog, SWR tools, possible book), and future plans.
In this episode we interview Karsten Jeske, known in the FIRE community as "Big Ern" from EarlyRetirementNow.com.
Karsten shares his background as an economist, his experience working at the Federal Reserve and in asset management, and what led him to pursue financial independence and early retirement. He explains the origins and nuances of the "4% rule" and the importance of customizing withdrawal strategies based on individual needs and market conditions.
The discussion covers sequence of returns risk, optimal asset allocations, and how valuation metrics like the CAPE ratio impact retirement success. Karsten talks about his option-selling strategy for added portfolio income and its role in mitigating sequence risk.
The episode busts myths about FIRE being only for high earners and addresses common misconceptions about frugality.
Karsten describes the advantages of his Safe Withdrawal Rate Toolkit and how listeners can use it to plan retirements more accurately.
Daily life in early retirement, including travel, family, and volunteering, are also highlighted. He reflects on how his views have evolved since leaving full-time work and the importance of adaptability and diversification. Listeners gain practical advice for starting and sustaining a FIRE journey—rooted in data, realism, and flexibility.
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