274 - Finding Your Financial Independence Number with Chad Hufford

Is your business building your wealth, or just funding your lifestyle? In this eye-opening conversation with financial advisor Chad Hufford, we break down how contractors can define their "target number" for financial independence and create a clear path to achieve it—without sacrificing the present. Discover practical strategies to build wealth both inside and outside your business.

What You’ll Learn

  • How to calculate your specific "target number" for financial independence

  • Why creating a "work-optional lifestyle" is crucial for business owners

  • The proven debt elimination strategy that creates momentum for wealth building

  • How to balance business cash reserves with personal financial planning

  • Why most financial advice fails (and what actually works for contractors)


Time Stamps

  • 01:04 - Episode Intro

  • 01:28 - Life Lessons and Reflections

  • 02:58 - Guest Intro

  • 04:05 - Importance of Having a Financial Plan

  • 05:15 - Proactive Financial Strategies

  • 07:59   - Creating a Closer Relationship with our Future

  • 10:36 - Setting Financial Goals

  • 27:39 - Living Within Your Means

  • 32:54 - Debt Elimination Strategies

  • 37:20 - Investing for the Future

  • 38:02 - Customizing Your Financial Plan

  • 39:07 - Mortgage vs. Investment Dilemma

  • 40:58 - Consumer Debt and Long-Term Goals

  • 44:08 - Business Cash Reserves

  • 46:53 - Investment Strategies and Diversification

  • 53:18 - The Role of a Financial Advisor

  • 56:49 - The Importance of Adherence

  • 01:00:58 - Building a Long-Term Financial Vision

  • 01:05:49 - Final Thoughts and Getting Started

Snippets from the Episode

  • "Nobody would ever buy a house that was built without a blueprint, but too often we let our futures unfold without one. We end up being a little more haphazard, sometimes aimless."— Chad Hufford

  • "If you don't know where you're going and you start feeling lost, the tendency is to just go faster, to double down on everything you're already doing."— Chad Hufford

  • "Education without execution is merely entertainment. If you are learning things without implementing them in your life, you're not gonna get much benefit."— Chad Hufford

  • "The most common fund in a 401k is a target date fund. It drives me nuts because there's really nothing targeted about it. It just lumps everybody together in a single age group. It's one size fits all, which means one size fits nobody."— Chad Hufford

Key Takeaways

  1. Define Your Financial Independence Target Number

  2. Reduce Personal Lifestyle Expenses Before Building Wealth

  3. Pay Off Consumer Debt Before Aggressive Investing

  4. Build Business Cash Reserves of 3+ Months

  5. Focus on Investment Income, Not Principal

  6. Diversify Like an Orchard, Not a Single Tree

  7. Choose a Financial Advisor Who Holds You Accountable

Resources

More from Chad Hufford

More from Martin

More from Khalil

More from The Cash Flow Contractor

Connect with Us

Ready to find your own target number? Visit our show notes for links to Chad's resources, then take the first step toward financial independence. Remember, our greatest burdens come from work not done. Start building your financial freedom plan today.

Next
Next

273 - Setting Clear Employee Expectations: What's The Minimum vs. What Drives Success