103 | The Trades Path to Financial Independence

Most financial independence surveys don't show electricians, plumbers, or carpenters — yet these tradespeople can earn $70+ per hour without student debt. This is the FI path hiding in plain sight.

Tinian Crawford (Captain DIY) walks through the trades route to financial independence: how the apprenticeship process actually works, why networking with other tradespeople multiplies your income, and how to balance a day job with side gigs. The conversation covers starting pay versus long-term earning potential, the lack of financial literacy in the trades, and the flexibility that makes this career path particularly suited to FI.

Chapters

• Introduction [00:00:00]
• The Value of Trades in FI [00:01:45]
• Tinian's Story [00:03:45]
• The Apprenticeship Process [00:11:10]
• Building a Network [00:32:00]
• The Hot Seat [00:44:24]
• Conclusion [00:54:30]

Key Topics

• Why trades are underrepresented in FI communities
  Despite high earning potential, trades professions rarely appear in financial independence surveys alongside doctors, engineers, and lawyers.

• Tinian's career shift
  His path from graphic design to trades, and how labor experience reshaped his career trajectory.

• Becoming licensed
  The apprenticeship process, including pathways to licensure and balancing school with work.

• Financial literacy gap
  The lack of financial education among tradespeople and strategies to close it.

• Networking effects
  How connecting with other tradespeople creates job opportunities and collaborative work.

• Day jobs plus side work
  Managing full-time employment while pursuing side gigs to maximize income and flexibility.

Notable Quotes

• "Starting pay in trades may be low, but income increases significantly over time." [00:20:04]
• "Tradespeople can earn a minimum of $70 an hour or more, depending on their skill level and demand." [00:04:13]
• "The more trades that I network with, the more jobs I get through them." [00:32:17]

Resources

• The Simple Path to Wealth [00:49:55]
• Mad Scientist Podcast [00:36:30]
• Tinian Crawford (Captain DIY): diy2fi.com, Twitter @DIYCaptain

Definitions

• Hindsight Bias: The tendency to see events as having been predictable after they have already occurred. [00:50:08]
• Apprenticeship: A method of training in which a novice learns a trade from an experienced worker. [00:11:12]
• Trades: Careers that involve skilled labor, often requiring specialized training and physical work. [00:30:38]

---

▶ Listen Next: Ep. 105 — You Can Afford Anything but Not Everything | Essential Listening

---

Join the Community
Connect with thousands on the path to financial independence. Share wins, ask questions, and stay accountable. Join ChooseFI.

---

New to ChooseFI?
Start with our most popular episodes, hand-picked to give you the foundation of financial independence. Listen to the essentials.

---

Run Your Numbers
Find out when you could reach financial independence with our free calculators and planning tools. Try the FI Calculator.

---

Support the Show
We work hard to keep ChooseFI ad-free for a clean listening experience. The easiest way to support us is to use our Top Recommended Cards page when signing up for your next travel rewards credit card.

---

Get the Weekly Roundup
The best FI content, deals, and community highlights delivered to your inbox every week. Subscribe free.