Retire Before Dad

    • Start!
      • About
      • Featured on…
      • Archive
      • Portfolio
      • Guest Post Policy
      • Contact
      • Terms & Privacy Policy
      • Home
    • IPOs
    • Reviews
      • Fundrise Review
      • M1 Finance Review
      • Motley Fool Stock Advisor
      • AcreTrader Review
      • Masterworks Review
      • Roofstock Review
      • PeerStreet Review
      • EquityMultiple Review
      • RealtyMogul Review
      • Virginia 529 Review
    • Resources
      • Passive Income Ideas
      • Best Brokers for Dividends
      • Dividend Aristocrats
      • Debt-Free S&P 500 Stocks
      • Best Real Estate Crowdfunding Platforms
      • Affiliate Programs And Blogging
      • How To Start An Online Business
    • Recommended
      • Net Worth Calculator
      • Tools
      • Blogroll
      • Dads Blog Money
      • Simple Money Magazine
    • Best Cards
      • Travel Rewards
      • Cash Back
      • Small Business
      • Airline Rewards
      • Hotel Rewards
    Career· Personal Finance

    Is Your Salary an Unhealthy Addiction?

    By Retire Before Dad

    This page may contain links to our partners. RBD may be compensated when a link is clicked. See the full disclosure here.

    I’m grateful to work for a high-quality employer that appreciates my contributions and pays me a reliable paycheck 26 times a year.

    The retirement plan is best I’ve seen anywhere. The healthcare plan is first-rate — our family never worries about coverage or costs.

    It’s challenging work, and I occasionally even feel like I’m making a difference in the world. 

    But sometimes I question if full-time employment is right me today. Maybe I’d be better off if I never went back to work after losing my job in October 2017.

    When I lost my job, I had enough savings and side business income to sustain our family for months, maybe a few years.

    I used the opportunity to enjoy some time away from the office, spending more time being a Dad, and writing on my blog.

    I purposely avoided starting a new job search to keep the focus on building my business income, hoping to increase that income stream before rejoining the traditional workforce. 

    During my ‘unemployment’ period, we broke even or worse every month. Family health insurance costs hurt the most. Our net worth stayed mostly flat, fluctuating some with the markets. 

    I disliked the lack of progress. 

    Two months after losing my job, I found an ideal position on LinkedIn. I applied and got the job within two months. It was the only application I submitted. 

    On the day I received the offer in writing, I was overcome by relief and laziness. Knowing there was a steady paycheck in my future diminished my drive to create.

    Unhealthy Addiction

    A steady job with a good salary is supposed to be a coveted financial blessing and the key to achieving what many perceive to be the American Dream.

    But at some point, the comfort of a salary might be holding you back from something bigger, like owning a business or extensive global leisure. 

    When you’re in the early wealth-building phase, growing your salary is the most effective way to accelerate earnings.

    But mid-career, without ownership opportunities or a clear path to promotion, it’s easy to get stuck in a lackluster salary growth trajectory. Salary increases greater than 3%-5% become rarer for mid-to-late career employees as significant percentage increases become too costly for the employer. 

    To escape the salary ceiling, you can position yourself for a promotion (not always an option), find a new job, or start your own business.

    Starting a business won’t increase your income in the short-term. But your earning potential is infinite.

    A recent article over at Four Pillar Freedom about not earning a salary included the following quote which inspired the title for this post:

    The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary. — Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of The Black Swan

    A salary is like an unhealthy addiction when viewed through the lens of an entrepreneur. The safety and serenity of a steady salary might be holding us back from our greatest potential — or at least our ideal lifestyle. 

    I’m sure the above quote is all over Silicon Valley and the top business schools for entrepreneurs. 

    But those of us in pursuit of early retirement have a different mindset. We’re not desirous of the riches of entrepreneurship. We seek control and enough money and passive income to reclaim financial autonomy. 

    In this context, a salary is a dependable means to an end. Utilize the steady income to invest and grow assets to attain independence from full-time employment.

    The Meat Market

    A new family moved into our neighborhood when I was about eight years old. The Dad opened a butcher shop and grocer nearby. He must have invested his life savings into the store and borrowed a bunch too. 

    When I first met the Dad, he caught me staring at his missing fingers. He beamed with pride as he offered me a closer look at his nubs, then proceeded to boast that losing only two finger parts was a good record for someone in the trade for as long as he was. 

    We didn’t shop there much, but I remember pig carcasses hanging from the ceiling in the back and the ubiquitous smell of blood throughout the store. 

    He was passionate about carving up animals for food and followed his passion into the depths of entrepreneurship. That’s what we’re supposed to do, right — follow our passion?

    Looking back, I realize what an extraordinary risk he took, moving his family and opening a storefront on his own. He put everything on the line. 

    The business didn’t last. My neighbor, the butcher, closed up shop within five years, and the family moved away.

    Imagine how stressful that period of his life must have been on his marriage and family. The journey into entrepreneurship is risky enough, let alone adding a family into the mix. 

    As someone who chose not to make my passion a full-time endeavor, I can relate.

    Constraints

    Even with a relatively sizable financial backstop in October 2017, I was not willing to put everything on the line to become a full-time finance writer and blogger. It seemed too uncertain and stressful when I contemplated the idea as a sole breadwinner. 

    Full-time blogging was never my goal when I started writing. I needed a creative escape from my humdrum day job and hoped to earn a side income from my efforts.

    My primary goal is to retire entirely before age 55. Since starting a family, I’ve felt that the most reliable and low-stress path to early retirement is a steady salary and benefits — coupled with saving and investing a large portion of what I earn to become financially independent over time. 

    This strategy is working, and I believe I’m now on the path of least resistance to reach my goal. 

    Before I had a family, I felt the same way. But I was shortsighted.

    That’s when I should have more aggressively considered self-employment or entrepreneurship to amplify my wealth potential. I almost did.

    Around the time I was getting serious about changing careers to become a financial planner, I bought my first home. I soon realized the purchase was a mistake when the suffocating mortgage payments crippled my lifestyle.

    I could barely afford my home, let alone start my own business. 

    Then came the real estate and financial crisis, and the next decade of my life unfolded.

    Had I avoided home ownership in 2006, things might have turned out differently — but the fear of failure held me back more than anything.

    A Salary Isn’t Enough

    People tend to spend most of what they earn. It’s hard to believe, but 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. That means that by putting aside a small amount of money each month, you’re out-saving 78% of the population. 

    That statistic may give you the warm fuzzies. But it’s not enough to build real wealth. 

    I’ve consistently highlighted the importance of building multiple income streams for several reasons:

    • Security – If you lose your salary-paying job, it helps to have other income sources in place.
    • Flexibility – With multiple income streams, you have more options when making career decisions.
    • Wealth creation – Multiple income streams accelerate your wealth-building prowess.
    • Compounding – Compound interest is what will ultimately make you wealthy, not your salary.

    Even people with high salaries need to save and invest to be able to retire. A $200,000+ salary doesn’t mean much if there’s nothing left at the end of the month.

    High-income earners tend to find uses for most of their income, be it a car payment, private school tuition, or a country club membership. The utility of income is relative to spending.

    It’s not your earnings; it’s what portion of the earnings you save that determines your ability to grow wealth.

    When you learn to live on less than what you make, you can retire with fewer assets so long as you maintain spending levels. 

    It all starts with a salary. Though not enough to build wealth alone, it’s a solid foundation and not an unhealthy addiction for most of us. 

    However, as you gradually accumulate assets and more significant income sources, unleashing you from reliance on a full-time employer, recognize that there may be more compelling opportunities waiting for you outside of the corporate office.

    If you’re uncomfortable with the idea of giving up a salary but still desire something outside of your career, experiment on the side. Your boss will never know. 

    Photo via DepositPhotos used under license

    Please Share!

    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
    • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

    Favorite tools and investment services right now:

    Credible* - Now is an excellent time to refinance your mortgage and save. Credible makes it painless.

    Personal Capital - A free tool to track your net worth and analyze investments.

    M1 Finance - A top online broker for long-term investors and dividend reinvestment (review)

    Fundrise - The easiest way to invest in high-quality real estate with as little as $500 (review)

    *Advertising Disclosure: RBD partners with Credible which offers rate comparisons on many loan products, including mortgage refinances and student loans. This content is not provided by Credible or any of the Providers on the Credible website. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed here are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Credible. RBD is compensated for customer leads. Credible Operations, Inc., NMLS Number 1681276, not available in all states.
    Retire Before Dad

    I’m a 45-year-old IT professional, investor, and blogger based in the Washington, DC metro area. My primary financial goal is to retire at age 55, one year before my Dad retired. I write about how to build income streams so you can explore the unusual. Read the whole story HERE.

    Filed Under: Career, Personal Finance

    Comments

    1. Please note: Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
    2. Brenda says

      February 27, 2020 at 9:07 am

      Love the quote “The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary” and had to laugh because I just ate delicious homemade cake for breakfast which I made yesterday afternoon because I have plenty of time for that sort of thing because I’ve been retired for a few years (since age 53) because I was addicted to the paycheck which kept me in place long enough to “earn” my pension. I added an income stream 3 years ago via Airbnb and I dabble in gigs paying <$500. After reading this post I'm motivated to set a goal of adding another income stream within the next 3 years even though I think I'm in pretty good shape. Why bother? To show my kids that it can be done at any age and, "if ya ain't movin' forward yer movin' backward" (to paraphrase Ricky Bobby's daddy "if ya ain't first yer last").

      Thanks MR. RBD for your inspiring posts!

      Healthcare costs are the biggest challenge to retiring early and I couldn't have done it without my cost-sharing plan which has paid 100% of my claims so I encourage everyone to look into Medishare or CHministries.org to see if it's right for you.

      Reply
      • Retire Before Dad says

        February 27, 2020 at 9:26 am

        Safe to say, carbs are better than heroin! Glad to hear you’re earning from Airbnb. Great retirement side gig.

        Reply
    3. Steveark says

      February 27, 2020 at 11:50 am

      I guess I have a dissenting opinion. Because my chemical engineering skills were in demand my entire career I made more than enough money to live well and still save plenty of money. I seriously doubt I could have made as much money in the entrepreneurial space and I think I avoided a lot of stress by working for others. I always knew no matter what happened I could get six job offers by the next week if I wanted them. After I retired early I got an offer for three times what I used to make, almost professional athlete level money, and it took me maybe fifteen seconds to tell them I had no interest in a full time job no matter how much it paid. I gave them the names of some of my work friends who still needed to earn a living.

      Reply
      • Retire Before Dad says

        February 27, 2020 at 11:59 am

        Thanks for chiming in Steve. I think we’re mostly on the same page, though I find myself more conflicted than certain of my path. I’m also at the point where I’ll likely always have the keep working option because of my experience. I’ll need strength when it’s time to drop the addiction.

        Reply
    4. Financial Velociraptor says

      February 27, 2020 at 2:14 pm

      I’ve been FIRE about 7.5 years. Just now looking at going back to an office. But on my terms. Part time or intermittent, preferrably for a non-profit or company with a positive mission. No more grinding/slaving away for a huge faceless corporation that rapes the planet for fun and profit.

      Reply

    Comments Welcome! Cancel reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Services I Use Every Day

    Personal Banking: Wells Fargo
    Travel Credit: Chase Sapphire Preferred
    Primary Savings: Marcus
    Primary Broker: Fidelity
    DRIP Broker: M1 Finance
    Biz Banking: Wells Fargo
    Biz Credit: Chase Ink Business Preferred
    Net Worth Calculator: Personal Capital

    Home
    About
    Featured on
    Resources
    Website Terms/Privacy Policy/Full Disclaimer

    This page may contain links to our partners. RBD may be compensated when clicked and information is submitted. Retire Before Dad has partnered with Cardratings for our coverage of credit card products. Retire Before Dad and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. See the full disclosure here. We are individual investors, not financial advisors, tax professionals or investment professionals. All information on the site is provided for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be considered advice. Do not make investment decisions based on the information provided on this website. This website may discuss topics related to finance and investing. This information is not advice and should not be treated as financial and investing advice. The information provided on this websites is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. The website makes no representations or warranties in relation to the financial and investing information on the website. You must not rely on the information on the website as an alternative to advice from a certified public accountant or licensed financial planner. We assume no responsibility for errors or omissions that may appear in the website.

    Disclaimer

    Read the full Disclaimer policy here.

    We have made every effort to ensure that all information on this website has been tested for accuracy. We make no guarantees regarding the results that you will see from using the information provided on the website. We are individual investors, not financial advisors, tax professionals or investment professionals. All information on the site is provided for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be considered advice. Do not make investment decisions based on the information provided on this website. This website may discuss topics related to finance and investing. This information is not advice and should not be treated as financial and investing advice. The information provided on this websites is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. The website makes no representations or warranties in relation to the financial and investing information on the website. You must not rely on the information on the website as an alternative to advice from a certified public accountant or licensed financial planner. There is no accountant-client relationship created from the publication of financial or investing information on the website. You should never delay seeking financial advice, disregard financial advice, or discontinue professional financial services as a result of any information provided on the website.
    The website was developed strictly for informational purposes. You understand and agree that you are fully responsible for your use of the information provided on the website. We make no representations, warranties, or guarantees. You understand that results may vary from person to person. We assume no responsibility for errors or omissions that may appear in the website.

    Copyright © 2021 Retire Before Dad · Custom site by Moonsteam Design

    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.