EP. 68 - Financial Independence & Retiring Early (FIRE)

What does it really take to retire early—and not just scrape by, but thrive?In this candid and inspiring conversation, John Lai, Co-Principal of Clive Capital, shares how he recently retired from Amazon to pursue the FIRE lifestyle (Financial Independence, Retire Early). Joined by fellow Clive Capital Principal Keshav Kolur, the two dive deep into the mindset, math, and strategies that led John to early retirement—and how you can take steps toward your own financial independence.What You’ll Learn:✅ The different flavors of FIRE (Lean, Fat, Barista, Coast, and more)✅ How to calculate your own FI number (and know if you’re there)✅ The real story of how John reached FIRE—beyond the 401(k)✅ The decumulation phase: how to think about spending in retirement✅ Tax strategies for both the accumulation and drawdown yearsAbout the Speakers:John Lai recently left a high-level role at Amazon to embrace full-time financial freedom. With a background in big tech and an eye for alternative investments, John brings a practical, thoughtful voice to the FIRE conversation.Keshav Kolur, Clive Capital’s CEO and an early investor in real estate and private equity, provides a complementary perspective on building wealth through passive income and strategic portfolio planning.📌 Whether you’re early on your FIRE journey or already halfway there, this episode will give you the insights, inspiration, and tactical ideas you need to move forward with confidence.🔔 Subscribe for more real-world FIRE stories, passive investing strategies, and wealth-building insights:Reach Clive CapitalWebsite: https://www.clivecap.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keshavkolur/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlai/Calendly: https://calendly.com/keshavkolur/30minhttps://calendly.com/laijohn/30minEmail: [email protected]: +1 650-229-5450