Welcome - Retire Before Dad

November 11, 2021

I’ve come across hundreds of fintech startups and financial products over the years blogging. Founders and CEOs pitch me over email and in person at conferences. Marketing firms looking to drum up exposure for their clients email me constantly, hoping for a guest post or mention on RBD. I decline most pitches and never hear about...

professional construction worker laying bricks and building barbecue

Here’s How I’m Investing Each Month

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

Here’s How I’m Investing Each Month

October 28, 2021

I’ve maintained a long-term buy-and-hold investing strategy since about 1995. The month-to-month details have changed quite a lot over the years, but the basic principles are mostly the same: Invest first, spend second Max out tax-advantaged accounts first Invest in taxable accounts second Keep transaction costs and stock sales to a minimum Diversify income streams...

How to Prepare for the Next Crisis While Times are Good

Investing, Personal Finance, Real Estate, Stocks

How to Prepare for the Next Crisis While Times are Good

October 14, 2021

Crises come around every so often — personal crises, family crises, national crises, political crises, market crises, and global. The events are often predictable, but their timing is not. Scientists predicted a virus such as COVID-19 could infect humans and cause severe health and economic consequences. But no one knew the specific date, where it...

Single-Income Lifestyle, Multiple-Income Life

Entrepreneurship, Family, Investing, Personal Finance, Real Estate, Stocks

Single-Income Lifestyle, Multiple-Income Life

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...

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Four Fintech Obituaries

Four Fintech Obituaries

Here’s How I’m Investing Each Month

Here’s How I’m Investing Each Month

How to Prepare for the Next Crisis While Times are Good

How to Prepare for the Next Crisis While Times are Good

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

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