Retirement

Many of us experience mental health conditions or know someone close to us who does. Life is stressful and it only seems to get more stressful over time. The difficulties of day-to-day life can cause significant anxiety about what the future holds. We’ve discussed parental existential crisis and money dysmorphia, both of which may stem […]

In the second half of 2023, I significantly impacted our passive income, causing our household to technically lose its financial independence. Prior to this, we had been financially independent since 2012, when I left my banking job. My goal now is to regain financial independence by December 31, 2027. To achieve this, I need to

With the New York Times article on Fat FIRE, I’ve been thinking a lot more about the repercussions of achieving financial independence and retiring early. One of those repercussions is that financial independence can turn you into stingy person who is unwilling to give! Every year, my kids’ Mandarin immersion independent school hosts a fundraiser

One of my ongoing challenges as a writer is explaining financial concepts in an easy-to-understand manner. With a background in business school and 13 years at Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse, financial concepts come naturally to me. Despite writing over 2,500 personal finance articles since 2009 on Financial Samurai, however, some concepts still get misunderstood

In October 2023, my passive income took a significant $150,000 hit, representing a decrease of 39%, following the purchase of a new house. It was funded by proceeds from selling public stocks and bonds. The decision to buy the house with cash was agonizing, as we didn’t need a nicer home. It also meant we

Waiting to collect Social Security increases your monthly benefit payments, but only 10% of non-retirees plan to wait until 70 to maximize their benefits, according to the 2023 Schroders U.S. Retirement Survey. While it’s understandable that many don’t want to keep working into their 70s, waiting to collect Social Security doesn’t necessarily mean waiting to

After delving into the exorbitant prices of new luxury cars, I’ve come to the realization that a larger segment of the population is purchasing such vehicles than I initially thought. This trend poses a significant problem for those striving for financial freedom, which is why I’ve come up with the House-To-Car Ratio guide. I see

If you’re a book collector, I wanted to give you a heads up that the first print of the first edition of Buy This Not That is almost sold out. My editor at Portfolio Penguin informed me that the next print of the first edition will arrive in their warehouse on April 24, 2024. Subsequently,

One of the most commonly asked questions I get is whether I had to make sacrifices in my pursuit of FIRE (financial independence and retire early). When they refer to sacrifices, what they really mean is whether I missed out on the typical fun experiences of a young adult. My response is consistent – yes,