One of the more common retirement concerns I hear from new subscribers is the transition from saving for retirement to spending retirement savings. During our careers, we’re programmed to sacrifice spending to invest in accounts we don’t plan to use for decades. But when “decades later” arrives, retirees don’t want to spend what’s accumulated. The…
My friend Andy Hill from Marriage Kids and Money just launched a new book called Own Your Time. I’m giving away four hardback copies (snail-mailed from me) to newsletter subscribers (check your email). Own Your Time is a family finance-focused book. Young professionals and working parents who are starting to learn about personal finance will…
When I’ve written about dividends over the years, it’s been about cash payouts from stocks, funds, and alternative investments. But dividends can be more than just money hitting your brokerage account. Years of saving, investing, and running a business now pay a different kind of return: Lifestyle dividends — the freedom, flexibility, and opportunities that…
This summer, my family of five will be visiting England and Scotland. International travel became my top priority after my high school Latin class went to Italy in 1993. That trip inspired: A 60-day European backpacking trip in 1998, which led to Four months in China and South-East Asia in 2001, Five months in South America…
Jordan Grumet (aka DocG) is a long-time thought leader in the financial independence and retire early (FIRE) community. His podcast, The Earn & Invest Podcast, is nearing its 600th episode. He’s interviewed just about every blogger, author, and intellectual authority in the personal finance and retirement space (check out my interview, #580). An article I…
A more in-depth talking head version of this article is available on YouTube (view below). I chased early retirement for almost two decades. My early retirement goal made me a disciplined saver and investor, but I wholeheartedly believe early retirement is the wrong goal. This is humbling to write. In this article, I’ll provide three…
On December 1st, 1986, my Mom took me to open my first bank account at the local Dollar Bank branch. I was 11 years old and a little skeptical of giving the bank teller my $21.60. I walked out with a small green booklet that looked like a passport. My parents thought it was the…
The FIRE movement made the rounds in national news for a few years and still gets a head nod here and there. The early retirement (RE) part of FIRE always received more criticism because it’s the goal when someone doesn’t like their career choice and wants to escape. In hindsight, this was me. Both financially…
I moved in with my parents when I was 27. The football wallpaper in my bedroom was gone, and the bed was bigger. But it was still the room I slept in for the first 18 years of my life. While most of my friends were married and starting high-salary jobs after years of graduate…
The mainstream financial media’s portrayal of early retirement has always felt disingenuous, leading with “this 30-something retired” or some variation of that hook, then later highlighting that the “early retiree” is working a new job (even though they don’t need to), running a business, or has an employed spouse providing income and health insurance. These…
Famed investor Charlie Munger and diplomat Henry Kissinger both died within a day of each other in November 2023. Each lived to 100 (Munger was 34 days short, but we’ll give it to him), and both put on suits and went to work until their final days. One wonders: Did their continued work, curiosity, and…
Useless clutter around the house irritates me every day. Not because it’s in the way, but because when I see unused stuff around the house, I see things that used to be money. And I wish I had the money, not the item. Most items aren’t worth money anymore. Even if they are, they probably…
This money post references Sunday’s Game of Thrones Season 7, Episode 4. You don’t need to be a viewer to appreciate the personal finance lesson. However, if you aren’t caught up on your episodes and want to stay in the dark, this is your spoiler alert. Season 7 of Game of Thrones is here…
The financial firm UBS publishes a quarterly report called Investor Watch that analyzes investor behavior. One of these reports has remained on my mind since publication in 2015. The report was called When is enough… enough – Why the wealthy can’t get off the treadmill. The premise is that more than half (52%) of millionaires surveyed…