Life After Financial Independence, with Emma Pattee | Afford Anything Podcast (Audio)

Emma Pattee became a millionaire at age 26. But she hates it when I describe her like that.
Here are other ways that Emma would prefer to be known: She’s thoughtful. She’s hilarious. She’s kind.
Emma is the child of hippies. She grew up in a tent in Oregon, at least for a portion of her childhood. She has a BFA in writing from Emerson College.
She bought her first house at age 21. At the time, Emma was juggling a demanding full-time job with her ambitions of becoming a writer. This balancing act felt too tough. She felt motivated to quit her job as quickly as possible, so that she could devote her time to writing.
She moved in with her boyfriend’s parents, saved 70 percent of her income, and contemplated what to do next.
She decided to “buy a small house in a not-so-nice neighborhood, and live for free by renting out enough rooms to cover my mortgage and make a little money on the side.”
But then she developed an addiction to real estate.
She kept buying houses and converting them into rental properties. She DIY’ed some projects and hired contractors for other projects. She improved the homes and raised the rents. She reinvested the cash flow into buying more houses. She borrowed against the equity and bought even more houses.
And that’s how Emma, by age 26, became a millionaire.
Her seven-figure net worth - and more importantly, the cash flow that accompanied it - allowed Emma to reach financial independence. She could stop trading her time for a paycheck.
Emma quit her job at age 26 and dove into the world of self-employment, starting a lucrative one-woman enterprise as a professional ghostwriter. She writes books and articles, for which her clients receive authorship credit. In exchange for this effort, Emma makes a substantial amount of money.
So who is Emma Pattee? She’s a financially independent millionaire real estate investor who started a lucrative self-employment business as a writer. (Sound familiar?)
Among the many words in that sentence, the most important word, to Emma, is the word “writer.” That’s why she started down this path. She wasn’t trying to become wealthy. She wanted to become a self-funded artist. She wanted, simply, to write.
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Emma is a close friend. She was my guest of honor, my Plus One, when I delivered my keynote speech at the World Domination Summit last month. She’s my travel buddy and real estate investing companion; we visited Alabama last year to check out potential investments in Birmingham and Montgomery. She and I have talked about meeting occasionally for writing retreats.
In today’s episode, Emma and I sit down at her dining room table, plug in a microphone, and hit “record.” In the 30-minute conversation that follows, we talk about how and why we reached financial independence - and what comes next.
Enjoy.
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[@ellaonfire]

I love Paula. The quality of her content is unparalleled to the rest of the FI community. Can't believe she doesn't have million subscribers. When I feel lonely and want to hear a conversation with like-minded girls, I just come here to listen to Emma and Paula. I have played this episode so much I feel like we are friends. Thank you Paula for all you do. 🙏🌺

[@dyhppyx]

Both of you are seriously great. Your honesty and vulnerability about your own issues is such powerful truth that everyone needs to think about. Paula your channel deserves millions of subscribers.

[@rla510]

Paula and Emma, you ‘guys’ rock! Great conversation, thanks for being courageous and sharing your friendship with ‘the world’.

[@Jerrodbasketball]

Where are woman like this in my life? I’m a 23 year old woman investing in real estate and running a small business with my mother and I can’t find intelligent woman to discuss topics like this with. Everyone I know doesn’t have their life together. Such a lonely world being on top. You run a wonderful podcast. I’ve been listening for quite sometime. Wonderful work.

[@StephenPaulTroup]

Jarrod, stop looking to your age group for this kind of leadership, you ARE the leadership in your age group. Start socializing in every way you can with those about 10 years or more older than you. Local business-oriented clubs, national groups, online groups, etc..and you will quickly find you are no where near the top, there are much higher summits to climb. And the groups you seek out don't have to be 'women only', even in mixed groups you can seek out successful women as mentors. And be open to the possibility of finding a male mentor too. We do make up half the population :). BTW, great name, I bet you are hard to forget!

[@margottomasik2108]

Just keep asking and looking around. You will find them.

[@emayan6620]

Thanks for these, Paula. The Emma Pattee episodes are two of my favs. I can relate to some key points, the biggest being fear (of living the starving artist stereotype). Unfortunately while saving for years, I was still also fearful of taking any kind of risk, like investing. I've finally changed this mindset, but would be so much farther along had I done that many years ago.

[@philsuarez7615]

Hey Paula great episode, if you want to hear a story about a 40 year old man that was broke and by the age of 53 became semi-retired by working in the construction trades and being frugal send me a reply

[@DANIEL-ls5ku]

I agree with Emma, at last someone is talking sense in the FI world. I believe no one retires except the ones on the graveyard. Retirement as an ultimate goal? What a waste of life.

[@thelmaespinel8558]

Love the episode thank you both for been honest and open about your Fi journey

[@fredwinslow744]

give your self more credit on this one. emma. it’s not about being emotionally messed up that makes you win .... it is that ( evolutionarily and on average speaking ) ladies that worry about the nest and security and safety constantly and men that think about the best approach to the hunt security and safety constantly simply said. survived more often and readily and of course that leads to the best other things in life and that’s exactly what both of you are wonderful survivors and it is a gift of course my wife drives me “crazy “ being this way and i would have it no other way !! i can leave for the “hunt “ and i just know she will not be taking one eye off the nest or the kids of course this analogy can be applied to anyone, sex ,orientation or cultural background

[@dapperlink]

I'm late to the party, but glad I made it to this interview. Each of your raw honesty is much appreciated, but before I even listened, Emma had me at Jean jacket! 😎👍🏾 Thank you both!

[@lisaa6099]

Best financial video on you tube. I relate to the isolation and anxiety that stems from the drive. I thank you fir this video.

[@swathi5773]

FI doesn't solve the issue. Resolving emotional issues will free us. Good content!

[@StephenPaulTroup]

Afford Anything - I started listening to this video and your voice is so smooth and something about your speech pattern made me think I had clicked onto one of those Ad Traps that is trying to sell you something but it goes on forever and ever and ever and ever and you can't stop it. You know the kind I'm talking about? Thankfully, I looked at the comments and you are receiving 'high praise' from many so I'm pretty sure you are legit. I paused @ 5:07 to make this comment, I'm going back to hear the rest now, I'm ready to be blown away!

[@StephenPaulTroup]

After listening, honestly, I didn't get a lot from this. But I wish you well and I hope it helps alot of other people.

[@IrresponsibleMusic]

Great podcast, thanks! I've listened to a ton of your episodes and I appreciate your work. This is a great and candid conversation!

[@HylianCucco]

This was a great episode, thanks Paula

[@eringigi7096]

Interview starts 9 minutes in.

[@tammyhensley3575]

I am a real estate investor and also find it hard to find like minded people to talk to. People not doing this do not understand and think it is bragging. We need to come out of the closet!

[@karenwallace5855]

My financial independence drive came from wanting my freedom from overbearing, unappreciative bosses. I wanted to be free and in control of my money and my time.

[@belindacarter6872]

Would love to hear Emma on Bigger Pockets to hear her Real Estate story and increase the female presence there. This podcast bothers me to have the inserted commercials. I pay KZbin Red to NOT have to listen to commercials, but this format forces it, if I listen, and I don’t like that.

[@fredwinslow744]

good podcast. u both were never after billions which likely reflects a realistic yearning for a simple but good life as nature offers usually at a stiffer price and if modern society doesn’t offer this possibility , then what is it really good for except confusing most of us homosapiens

[@acirka]

You want speak fluent french: Bravo Paula, on aimerait bien avoir une petite entrevue en français avec un invité! ;)

[@SilkeRosenbusch]

Please get rid of the adds from your sponsors! - They ruin every podcast! - You got enough money already.

[@purelifestyle628]

Cand. med. Silke Rosenbusch use skip forward function

[@StephenPaulTroup]

Hitting the Right Arrow button will jump you ahead abut 10 seconds

[@amandascharf3870]

You are probably seeing KZbin ads, not Paula's. Pay for KZbin and voila! No ads!