Was His $120,000 College Degree a Huge Mistake?
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At 28, Joe has gone from roughly $120,000 in student loan debt to a positive $70,000 net worth—but now he faces a major personal finance decision: should he aggressively pay off student loans or keep investing for retirement? Brian and Bo break down his budget, Roth IRA, HSA, Bitcoin, side hustle income, savings rate, debt avalanche strategy, and Coast FIRE goals to build a financial plan for his 30s. If you’re wondering how to pay off student loan debt, whether to invest while paying off debt, or how much you should save in your 20s, Joe’s financial journey shows just how powerful intentional money decisions can become.
Timestamps
00:00:00 — $120K in Student Loans to Positive Net Worth
00:00:47 — How Joe Ended Up $120K in Debt
00:05:09 — From Negative Net Worth to $70K
00:08:13 — Saving 40% While Paying Off Debt
00:10:01 — Should He Pay Off Student Loans Faster?
00:12:36 — Sneakers, Gold, and His Investments
00:15:32 — Should Bitcoin Be Part of His Portfolio?
00:18:46 — How He’s Using His HSA
00:21:46 — Abound Wealth
00:25:14 — Using a Side Hustle to Build Wealth
00:34:56 — When Is Lifestyle Inflation Okay?
00:39:20 — The Plan to Eliminate His Student Loans
00:43:39 — Could He Coast FIRE With Millions?
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🎓 Brian Preston (CFP®, CPA) and Bo Hanson (CFA®, CFP®) share professional insights to help you own your financial future.
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