Trying for FI
Sharing stories and strategies from the daily grind toward our financial independence. We are a Queer blended family of five living in the Bay Area and are "late starters" dedicated to Trying for FI!
Trying for FI
We Used ChatGPT to Analyze 47 Retirement Funds—Here’s What We Found
In this episode, we pick up where we left off on our Coast FI path—and dive into the real-life, real-time process of choosing 403(b) (or 401(k)) funds that match our values, fees, and family cash flow.
We talk about:
• Why we decided to prioritize Fetch’s 403(b) over Rascal’s SEP (for now)
• How we used ChatGPT to analyze 47 different fund options from scratch
• What we learned about expense ratios, ESG investing, and Fidelity vs. non-Fidelity funds
• Why our paycheck flow is temporarily upside down — and how that’s reshaping our money habits
• The psychological challenge of shifting control, roles, and comfort zones around who’s “managing” what
This is a deep and practical episode for anyone who:
- Wants to DIY their 403(b) or 401(k) investments
- Is navigating self-employment + W2 income trade-offs
- Is learning to balance values-based investing with expense ratio realities
- Is late to FIRE but trying to build systems that work for your real life
Plus: we tease an upcoming episode that will question whether ESG funds are truly aligned — or just shiny distractions with high fees. Stay tuned.
#403b #401k #firemovement #coastfi #esginvesting #expensetratio #diyinvesting #chatgptandmoney #retirementsavings #valuesbasedinvesting #financialindependence #familyfinances #financialdecisions
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