Retirement

One reason many people shy away from competition is that they dislike losing. With often only one winner, the sting of defeat can feel too humiliating. When people stop competing, they can become more fragile over time, to the point where even small setbacks can disrupt their well being. Ironically, the best path to victory […]

The 401(k) contribution limit for employees in 2025 has increased to $23,500, up from $23,000 in 2024. The employer contribution limit also rises to $46,500, bringing the combined employee and employer 401(k) contribution limit to $70,000 for 2025. Don’t underestimate the power of employer 401(k) contributions, especially as you advance in your career. As you

Every time a political candidate asks if you’re better off than four years ago, I can’t help but sigh. The implication, regardless of party, is always that you’re worse off and that they are the answer to your problems. The Democrat says things went downhill under the Republican, and the Republican says the same about

The IRS has announced new income limits for its seven tax brackets for 2025, with income thresholds increased by about 2.7% to adjust for inflation. This follows a 5.4% increase in 2024 and a historically large 7% bump in 2023. Reaching a top one percent income is becoming more challenging given the threshold keeps increasing

Out of all the things you could donate your hard-earned money to, giving to your child’s school might not be at the top of your list. If your children attend a private grade school with sky-high tuition, donating to the school might feel even more unnecessary. With so much poverty, homelessness, broken homes, and people

As an investor, it’s essential to understand that risk assets come with no guaranteed returns. Setting and following a stop loss can help protect your capital from significant losses, especially if you’re an active investor who picks individual stocks. Yet, I’ve come to realize that stop losses aren’t only useful for active investors—they can be

Investing in alternative assets has become an increasingly popular way to diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds. Wine and whiskey, in particular, are gaining traction due to their potential for strong returns, resilience during economic downturns, and rising demand. If Goldman Sachs and Vanguard’s predictions are true for an abysmally low stock market return over

Since the bottom of the global financial crisis in July 2009, the S&P 500 has generally experienced a strong bull market. While there were challenging periods in 2018, 1Q 2020, and 2022, stock market investors have largely been well rewarded. However, Goldman Sachs warns that the good times might be coming to an end. Goldman

Before retiring in 2012, I didn’t fear boredom or loneliness. It never occurred to me that I would be bored with so much potential freedom. My main fear was whether giving up a steady paycheck was an impetuous move that could lead me to financial ruin! After I left work, I found myself telling my

October 2024 marks one year since I purchased the most expensive house I could afford. Leading up to the purchase, I wrestled with uncertainty about whether buying such a home was the right move. For most, a home is the largest purchase they will ever make, bringing with it a mix of excitement and worry.

This guest post is by Vaughn, a long-time Financial Samurai reader who retired at 44 and is now 55. Vaughn’s early retirement was driven by necessity rather than choice due to a congenital bone disease. Fortunately, his high income during his working years secured a solid SSDI benefit, and his mother’s foresight provided future rental

One of the worst experiences for a homeowner is filing a home insurance claim only to be told it’s not covered. After years of paying premiums, the insurance company doesn’t deliver when it’s needed most. What a disappointment. This disconnect happens because we rarely take the time to review our home insurance policies each year.

Retiring early with a severance package is one of the smartest ways to leave the corporate world. Walking away without trying to secure one could leave tens of thousands, or even millions, on the table. I also believe that retiring early is better than retiring rich. For those who choose my preferred retirement path, negotiating

There are two things most financially-conscience people aspire to: retiring rich or retiring early. But which is better? Many people who haven’t retired believe early retirement sounds fantastic, especially since so many are disengaged from work. On the other hand, who wouldn’t want to retire rich? However, to retire rich, you typically have to work

One of the most significant developments to come out of the pandemic, if not the greatest, was the shift to remote work for millions of employees. Beginning in March 2020, businesses quickly adapted out of necessity, keeping their operations afloat with employees working in pajamas from their living rooms. However, this golden era of remote