Tanja Hester

Tanja Hester is the author of "Work Optional" and "Wallet Activism." She retired early at 38 after a career in Democratic politics and public radio journalism.

Hester documented her journey to financial independence on her blog, Our Next Life, and has become a prominent voice in the FIRE movement.

The New York Times called her "the matriarch of the women's FIRE movement." Hester advocates for considering systemic barriers and opportunity gaps in personal finance.

She hosts a podcast, writes for MarketWatch, and lives in North Lake Tahoe, California, with her husband and rescue dogs.

Hester is active on social media and continues to blog about financial independence.