Kristi Tanner Smith considers herself privileged—she was an only child in a big house with lots of toys. But Kristi’s mom was diagnosed with a fatal disease and given six months to live when Kristi was five. While her mom did beat that estimate, she ultimately lost her battle when Kristi was 12. During her mom's final years, she tried to teach Kristi about money: "Save up and pay cash for purchases. Be responsible with your finances." Her father was the opposite. So Kristi was able to see both sides of the coin and recognize that being responsible was the better way to go. Kristi lost her father to a freak accident in 10th grade, and she used the insurance settlement to pay for college, where she studied Criminal Justice. Kristi’s husband worked at Nike; they paid for his entire college tuition once he went full-time with the company. (Pro tip: If you need your college tuition paid for, look for a company that offers tuition reimbursement!) After college, she took a job in the Probation Office. She didn’t like it. To make matters worse, on her honeymoon, she discovered they were looking to replace her! She knew she didn’t want to be dependent on someone else for money, so she turned to real estate. She discovered BiggerPockets, ChooseFI, and the concept of financial independence—this became her new focus. She started with the home she inherited from her mother, then bought a home from the MLS, followed by a primary residence, then another MLS purchase, and a cabin in the mountains. Her cash flow on these few properties covers her monthly living expenses, freeing her to pursue her passions. Because when you take care of the money part, you can pursue your dreams and live the life you TRULY want! In This Episode We Cover: Kristi's journey with money How her mother taught her about money Her experience with money during high school and college Her financial position during her first job Kristi's tip to get free tuition in college How she discovered financial independence Her first experience in real estate investing What she did on her dad's life insurance policy How she got her first property Advice on working with a real estate agent Tips on actively managed funds and commission-based financial planners And SO much more! Links from the Show ChooseFI MLS Financial 180 Airbnb Scott's Email BiggerPockets Money Podcast 85: From Financial Disaster to Financially Free with Jacob Wade from I Heart Budgets BiggerPockets Money Podcast 41: How to Find the Best Possible Certified Financial Planner (CFP) for Your Needs with Kyle Mast BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money Survey Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow108 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices