Episode 116

full
Published on:

18th Sep 2023

The Ultimate Retirement Account: Health Savings Account (HSA) | E116 Sean Mullaney

We often hear about 401Ks and IRAs, two incredible retirement planning tools but what if I told you there was a third, secret retirement account that trumps both of these?

Today we are discussing the Health Savings Account, or HSA, and why the HSA is not only a financial game-changer for managing your medical expenses but also a powerful tool to build wealth for your future.


This episode is a replay of episode 40 where I interviewed Sean Mullaney Financial Planner, and the voice behind FITaxGuy.com. I needed to recast this episode because it is hard to cover Mastering Money at Work if I don’t talk about HSAs.


You’ll uncover how HSAs offer a triple tax advantage, giving you tax deductions when you contribute, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses.


But here’s the real kicker: an HSA can become a pseudo-retirement fund by delaying your reimbursements and investing your contributions for the long haul.


If you want to learn how to do that along with if you qualify for an HSA, how to keep your expenses organized, and what to do if your company doesn’t offer an HSA, well then you’re in the right place.


Also, note this episode is originally from 2021. All of the information is still relevant and helpful but the HSA contribution limit has increased from $3,600 to $3,850 and increasing to $4,150 in 2024.


Alright, let’s get into it. I hope you enjoy my conversation with FI Tax Guy himself…Sean Mullaney.


Key Takeaways:

  • What is a HSA
  • How do you qualify for a HSA
  • Tax benefits of an HSA
  • Is a HSA my health insurance?
  • Who a HDHP the right for you
  • How to figure out if your insurance qualifies for a HSA
  • How to get a FICA tax break when funding your HSA
  • Examples of qualified medical expenses
  • How to use your HSA as a pseudo-retirement account
  • The HSA contribution limit (increased to $3,850 in 2023)
  • How to keep your HSA expenses organized
  • How to set up an HSA independently if your employer doesn’t offer one


Mentions:

IRS Publication 502: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf


More of Sean:

www.MullaneyFinancial.com

www.FITaxguy.com


More of The Struggle is Real:

Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/

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FI Minded - Financial Independence Without the Extremes
Achieve Financial Independence & Have Fun Doing It
Pursuing financial freedom, a work-optional lifestyle, or early retirement often leads to the same questions: “one more year,” “do I have enough?” “what does life actually look like after this?”

FI Minded helps you think like someone who’s already financially independent so you can make smarter decisions about how you work, spend, and live.

From Coast FI and Slow FI to lifestyle design, career transitions, healthcare, and self-employment, each episode explores the real decisions behind building a flexible, work-optional life…without burnout, over-optimization, or missing out along the way.

We cover:
* Smarter ways to reach financial independence (without burnout)
* Designing a flexible, work-optional lifestyle
* Coast FI, Slow FI, and enjoying your time along the way
* What life actually looks like after FI (and how to prepare for it)
* The tradeoffs behind big money decisions

Make progress toward financial independence while actually living your life.

Some of our past guests include Carl Jensen (1500 Days), Jeremy Schneider (Personal Finance Club), Nick Loper (Side Hustle Show), Andrew Giancola (The Personal Finance Podcast), Jordan Grumet (Earn & Invest), Rachael Camp (Work Optional), Jillian Johnsrud (Retire Often), Sean Mullaney (FI Tax Guy), Jill Sirianni (Frugal Friends), Jackie Cummings-Koski (Catching Up to FI), Joel Larsgaard (How to Money), Cody Garrett (Measure Twice), Jesse Cramer (Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors), Jess (The Fioneers), Chris Hutchins (All The Hacks), Diania Merriam (EconoMe), Andy Hill (Marriage Kids Money), Fritz Gilbert (Retirement Manifesto), and and others helping you rethink how to approach financial independence.
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