The middleweight (coastfire, F you money, control)

Andy describes a shift from traditional FIRE to what he calls the 'middleweight': a parent-centered approach that prioritizes control over schedule and presence now, not just accumulation for retirement. He recounts walking through rental properties in Metro Detroit with Nicole and realizing they did not want the maintenance and time-sink of hands-on rentals; that moment reframed their goal from owning assets to owning time.

The middleweight is three concrete moves plus an attitude change. First, reach 'coastfire' — for them roughly '$500,000 to $550,000 invested by age 40,' projected to grow to 'around $2 million' by retirement so compound returns do the heavy lifting. Second, build 'F you money' (he clarifies 'F you' stands for freedom unlocked): accessible cash equal to 'six to 12 months of living expenses' to create options (leave a toxic job, take a sabbatical, negotiate fewer hours). Third, use that flexibility to redesign work and life for presence instead of waiting for retirement.

He gives his own numbers: he left a corporate role paying about '$180,000' after Nicole asked 'why don't you just use that money to make marriage kids and money your full time job?'; year one 'generated around $70,000 in revenue' and he paid himself '$30,000 to $40,000' on paper, which felt risky but immediately improved quality of life. Over time 'Marriage kids and money generates around $300,000 per year' and he now pays himself roughly his old salary. He currently works 'roughly 20 hours per week,' gaining 'around 20 extra hours every week,' invests 'five to seven hours per week' in fitness, and emphasizes mental margin: 'Freedom started long before the income recovered.'

He highlights contentment as essential — deciding what is enough creates margin — and cites Angela Rosman as an example who negotiated part-time work after reaching coastfire. The core claim: save aggressively, reach coastfire, build F you money, then redesign work to enjoy life along the way rather than deferring presence until retirement.