Roadmap

Thanks for your interest in the road ahead for RBD. 

I recently asked a small group of readers for feedback on an online course idea about DIY investing and retirement planning. 

The response was positive, and I’m moving forward with a free mini-course followed by a premium paid multi-media course (video, worksheets, written content, etc.) designed for intermediate-level DIY investors.

Online course platforms (where students take courses) support additional features like:

• 1-on-1 video coaching
• Video office hours (ask me anything)
• Live webinars (“Tips for creating a retirement plan”)
• Membership community
• Course hosting

These kinds of offerings can provide tremendous value at a low cost for DIYers who need guidance and support. 

I’m also considering local in-person meetups starting in Northern Virginia. 

Do any of these features interest you?

Reply to any recent email (or next Thursday’s) with your feedback (I read and respond to all replies).

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RBD started as a creative outlet — an escape from my humdrum 9-to-5.

It quickly turned into a side business and is now my full-time career — from which I don’t want to retire. 

My RBD goal has always been to write articles that help DIY investors make smarter money decisions. 

But from a content creator’s business perspective, times have changed.

Blog-like content has largely shifted to social media and newsletters. Many bloggers have switched to a paid newsletter model on platforms like Substack and Medium. 

Demand for video content (short and long-form) has surged, surpassing the demand for long-form blog articles (my bread and butter since 2013).

So, I’ve been dedicating more time to making videos and improving my skills there (long way to go!).

Once I overcame the fear of being on camera, I found that I enjoy making videos, and I’m experiencing success in these early stages (~700 YouTube subs, 50k+ video views).

Diversification and multiple income streams are strategies I’ve always advocated in personal finance and investing, but they haven’t been enough of a priority in my business.

Furthermore, I’ve never implemented the third tier of the blogger’s business model (products). I’ve stubbornly stayed with a decade-old business model (advertising + affiliates), but it’s become more challenging to sustain due to audience preference shifts toward video and social media and Google’s algorithm volatility.  

Therefore, a more comprehensive business model that includes premium paid services is likely the path forward. 

Now, the thought of building out this kind of content, platform, offering, etc., is intimidating because there’s lots to learn and some upfront investments. 

But I love what I do, and the challenge of building a business online is far more fulfilling than my previous career.

And I’m all in.

I’m excited to build a business with a deeper personal audience connection instead of hiding behind an anonymous moniker and logo (RBD circa 2013-2018).

Part of what’s motivating the move forward is knowing I have a small group of “helpers” (100+) that you are now a part of. 

When I launch these forthcoming products, you’ll be the first invited to try them, and you’ll receive deep discounts and freebies (like 1-on-1 meetings with me).

I’ll ask for feedback, maybe another survey, gap analysis, and constructive criticism, to continuously improve and add to the premium content.

Free will always be my primary content model. So, if you want to continue just reading and watching without trying the paid items, that’s absolutely fine. Premium paid offerings will only appeal to a subset of my existing audience.

But these offerings will also attract a new and engaged audience seeking advice in their DIY financial endeavors while enabling a more stable and diversified business model for RBD. 

The main difference going forward will be more video content versus traditional blog posts. Though I plan to continue writing, video content will continue growing in priority. 

I still love writing, but audiences are not reading like they used to. Some days, it feels like my writing or ideas aren’t as good (maybe that’s partially true), but it’s more about diminishing attention spans in the world of TikTok and Instagram.

The sub-email list you are now a part of will always have the option to be “untagged”. So, if you don’t want to receive updates on the course and road ahead, you can remain a regular RBD subscriber. 

Thank you for being an RBD subscriber and road-ahead helper. 

Craig