Engineering the Escape: The "Program Approach" to FI/RE | CampFI SouthEast 2026

In this session live from CampFI SouthEast 2026, Daniel C. Rodgers explains why traditional personal finance often fails creators and engineers alike. He introduces the "Program Approach" to Financial Independence—a high-reliability system designed to treat your path to retirement like a technical deployment, and remove all the guess-work. After 20 years as a software developer at Microsoft and Google, Daniel applied his engineering background to his own finances. By building an "Execution Engine" instead of a static budget, he decommissioned his corporate career and reached full debt-freedom, including his primary mortgage, and built cash flow for peace of mind. This talk pulls back the curtain on the smart sheet architecture and technical phase-gates that made his "Escape" inevitable. Key Takeaways: Why FI is hard and a NetWorth isn't enough to quit work. The statistical reality behind the system that holds us in place and how to build mindset to break free. How program management methodology can make any complex, long-term goal achievable and how to apply that to financial freedom. Live demo of Daniel's smart tool and how anyone can use this free tool to see where they are, set real goals, and measure progress. The power of forecasting and how to build confidence in your numbers. Connect with Dan: Website: https://escapetheclock.com Podcast: https://escapetheclock.com/podcast Planner: https://escapetheclock.com/toolkit Newsletter: https://escapetheclock.com/subscribe #financialindependence #fire #retirementplanning #wealthmanagement #escapetheclock #escapetheclockpodcast #danielcrodgers #campfi #retirementplanning #financialfreedom