Retirement

To my dismay, my beloved hot tub stopped working the other day. It had been fully operational since 2016, but when I went to visit it for a late morning soak, I found its GFCI circuit breaker not working. When I tried to flip it back on, the circuit popped down within three seconds. I […]

Since 2009, I’ve been writing about the importance of working to live—accumulating wealth to achieve financial independence and freedom. But despite years of advocating for this lifestyle, I’ve come to realize that convincing people remains an uphill battle. Instead, I now have new proof that live-to-work is back and stronger than ever! “Live to work”

Despite the wonderful peace of mind that comes with owning a home free and clear, deciding to pay off a low-interest rate mortgage early is not always straightforward. If your mortgage rate is low compared to risk-free investment returns, keeping the mortgage and investing excess cash elsewhere often makes more financial sense. What Is Considered

As I sadly watch my stock portfolio correct by over 10%, I find serenity in my paid-off home. No matter how much the stock market tanks, it’s comforting to know I’ll always have shelter to take care of my family. It’s funny, but only active investors, people in charge of their family’s investments, or personal

Unfortunately, the chances of another recession are increasing, largely due to the uncertainty set forth by the new administration. When uncertainty rises, we collectively tend to spend less and save more. As a result, corporate profit growth may slow, stock prices could fall, and layoffs may increase. Losing money in your investments and then your

Let’s say you’ve come into a large sum of money—perhaps $1 million or more from stock grants, a bonus, or the sale of a home. Congratulations! After accounting for taxes, the real challenge is deciding how to invest it. Given the significant amount, the last thing you want to do is lose a portion of

With fears of a recession rising again largely thanks to the Trump administration’s aggressive policy measures—tariffs, spending cuts, aggressive layoffs, and an increasingly combative trade stance—it’s time to awaken the vulture investor within. Both Main Street and Wall Street are at risk of losing a lot of money now. I don’t particularly enjoy the idea

As I watch my stock portfolio correct, I take solace in knowing that my real estate portfolio continues to chug along despite the chaos, fear, and uncertainty. With mass government personnel cuts, new tariffs against Mexico, Canada, and China, a heated Oval Office exchange between President Trump and Ukraine’s President Zelensky, and sharp words from

When I lived in the Marina neighborhood of San Francisco, I could walk to endless bars and restaurants within 10 minutes. It was the perfect place for twenty- and thirty-somethings to live, socialize, and indulge in city life. Back in 2005, at age 28, I had just bought my first single-family home—a handsome three-bedroom house

Recently, I went off the deep end—living like a degenerate gambler and party animal—and I wanted to reflect on it. Perhaps to nobody’s surprise, I don’t think having extreme amounts of fun is good for your financial future. It’s probably also not good for your health. In our personal finance world bubble, where we go

If there’s one lesson I’ve learned the hard way in real estate, it’s that a full-on, gut-remodel can be a nightmare. After years of painful, unpredictable remodeling projects, I can confidently say: I will never do a complete remodel again. Instead, I now favor purchasing a fully remodeled, move-in ready home for any future investments.

Get excited! After over two years of writing and editing, I’m thrilled to finally share my upcoming new book with you: Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps To Seven Figures! If you’ve enjoyed my writing on Financial Samurai over the past 16 years, you’re going to love this book out on May 6, 2025. With over 30

Artificial intelligence (AI) is causing an existential crisis for many workers, myself included. With the rise of AI, I’ve often found myself wondering: what’s the point? If AI is going to take over, why bother trying? Maybe you’ve felt the same way—worried about how to safeguard your future from AI. Or perhaps you’re a parent

One of the biggest reasons I was against contributing to a Roth IRA is my belief that most people won’t make more money in retirement than while working. As a result, they’re unlikely to pay a higher tax rate in retirement than during their working years. This belief also assumes that tax rates will stay