Welcome - Retire Before Dad

September 9, 2021

I spent 2008 getting to know my future spouse. In the late summer, we had a pragmatic discussion about how each of us wanted our futures to look. There was a lot of overlap, which was a relief at that point in our relationship. The future Mrs. RBD earned a Master’s degree and had a...

Perfect Grass

Family, Personal Finance, Unusual

Perfect Grass

August 26, 2021

Perfect grass seemed like the ultimate suburban pursuit. I’ve always envied lush green lawns and sharply trimmed edges — the kind you fear stepping on at wealthy over-55 communities. But after ten years of living on a quarter-acre lot, my lawn is mediocre. A diverse patchwork of weeds and crabgrass decorate our front yard. Each...

Invest in Your Best Vision for Our Future

Investing, Personal Finance, Stocks

Invest in Your Best Vision for Our Future

August 5, 2021

Over the winter, I had a large maple tree cut down in my backyard to make room for a shed. The cleanup required several multi-hour sessions of chopping and stacking firewood. Podcasts helped to pass the time. I’ve listened to the Rule Breaker Investing podcast for a few years, but not as often since the...

7 Smart Money Habits To Build Long-Term Wealth

Career, Debt, Investing, Stocks

7 Smart Money Habits To Build Long-Term Wealth

July 15, 2021

Smart money habits will help you reach your financial goals, with patience. Most of us aren’t looking for extravagant wealth. We want sustainable and long-lasting wealth that provides financial security for our families and enough money to fund our desired lifestyle. That kind of wealth is more attainable than most people think. But there are...

It’s Only Worth What Someone Else Will Pay

Investing, Unusual

It’s Only Worth What Someone Else Will Pay

June 10, 2021

I used to work for a small IT company and reported directly to the owner. After seven+ years of regular lunches, I started encouraging him to sell the company. When times were good, we could grow the business. But my boss wasn’t willing to make long-term growth investments. So revenue was only reliable to the...

Opposite directions towards right and wrong

Are Municipal Bond ETFs Right for Your Portfolio?

Investing, Personal Finance, Tax Advantaged

Are Municipal Bond ETFs Right for Your Portfolio?

May 6, 2021

Over the past 12 months, I’ve added a few municipal bond ETFs (exchange-traded funds) to my taxable investment portfolio. I’ve done this to diversify my dividend income and reduce taxes in non-retirement accounts. These investments are easy to buy, have low volatility and risk, and provide monthly dividend income. I use the monthly tax-exempt income...

Don’t Follow the Money to an Unremarkable Career

Career, Investing

Don’t Follow the Money to an Unremarkable Career

April 15, 2021

I fell into my career at age 23. A childhood friend worked for a nearby information technology (IT) consulting company in a hiring frenzy. It was 1998. Dot-coms were booming. Y2K loomed. The U.S. government had a revenue surplus, and we lived in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington D.C. Experienced talent was scarce, opening...

Great grey owl, Strix nebulosa, hidden of tree trunk in the winter forest, portrait with yellow eyes

10 Wise Investments for a Cash Windfall

Investing, Personal Finance, Real Estate, Stocks, Tax Advantaged

10 Wise Investments for a Cash Windfall

March 18, 2021

The U.S. government is borrowing $1.9 trillion to provide pandemic relief and stimulate the economy. A big chunk of that will be direct payments to Americans. I won’t get into the details of who gets what; you can find that here. Long story short, many Americans will get more than a thousand dollars deposited to...

Build Income Streams. Explore the Unusual.

Single-Income Lifestyle, Multiple-Income Life

Single-Income Lifestyle, Multiple-Income Life

Perfect Grass

Perfect Grass

Invest in Your Best Vision for Our Future

Invest in Your Best Vision for Our Future

7 Smart Money Habits To Build Long-Term Wealth

7 Smart Money Habits To Build Long-Term Wealth

It’s Only Worth What Someone Else Will Pay

It’s Only Worth What Someone Else Will Pay

Are Municipal Bond ETFs Right for Your Portfolio?

Are Municipal Bond ETFs Right for Your Portfolio?

Don’t Follow the Money to an Unremarkable Career

Don’t Follow the Money to an Unremarkable Career

10 Wise Investments for a Cash Windfall

10 Wise Investments for a Cash Windfall

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