Blog - Page 184 of 268 - Financial Samurai

Credit Card Approval Standards On The Rise: Excellent Credit Scores Still Get Denied

36 Comments / Credit Score / By Financial Samurai

Credit card approval standards are going higher. One reader with a 805 credit score e-mailed me saying he recently got denied for the Barclays Arrival World MasterCard. As part of the FICO Open Score Access initiative, he got his credit score in the mail plus the nice rejection letter. The reason for the rejection was […]

Credit Card Approval Standards On The Rise: Excellent Credit Scores Still Get Denied Read More »

SoFi Review: Social Lending For Student Loans, Mortgages, Personal Loans

36 Comments / Debt / By Financial Samurai

SoFi started in 2011 and is a lending company that recently surpassed $15B in funded loans as of 2017. They have 225,000+ customers, 240 employees and have raised $1.9 B in equity funding after raising $500M led by Silver Lake in February 2017. Here is my SoFi review. The company was founded by Mike Cagney, Dan

SoFi Review: Social Lending For Student Loans, Mortgages, Personal Loans Read More »

Do You Want To Be Rich Or Do You Want To Be Free?

130 Comments / Career & Employment / By Financial Samurai

It’s normal to dream about being rich. But the real question is whether you want to be rich or do you want to be free? Personally, I chose freedom in 2012 at the age of 34. That’s why I walked away from a multiple six-figure job in finance. Some people want mega riches. Others don’t

Do You Want To Be Rich Or Do You Want To Be Free? Read More »

What’s A Money Coaching Experience Like?

35 Comments / Relationships / By Financial Samurai

I believe everybody needs a money coach in some form or another. Your money coach can be your spouse, parent, best friend, sibling, or mentor. He or she just needs to be a little bit more experienced and financially savvier than you. If not, she needs to at least be a good listener so they can reflect

What’s A Money Coaching Experience Like? Read More »

How To Overcome Money Addiction: A Never Ending Struggle

104 Comments / Investments / By Financial Samurai

I’ve got a confession. I have a money addiction. My money addiction is partially why I started Financial Samurai in 2009 and have written 2,500+ posts since. I wanted money then, and despite reaching FIRE in 2012, I still want money now to take care of my family. However, I’m doing my best to try

How To Overcome Money Addiction: A Never Ending Struggle Read More »

Are Americans Really So Financially Unprepared?

135 Comments / Retirement / By Financial Samurai

Americans seem financially unprepared. According to an American Psychological Association survey, 72% of Americans say they’ve felt stressed about money at some point in the last month. Meanwhile, as many as 50% were so stressed out they admitted to not being able to sleep. Is that you? Hope not, because this is Financial Samurai! If

Are Americans Really So Financially Unprepared? Read More »

Rejecting Reasons Not To Retire Early And Live Your Dreams

120 Comments / Retirement / By Financial Samurai

Since writing, The Dark Side Of Early Retirement, I’ve sometimes wondered whether writing about early retirement hurts society and the very people who decide to leave the work force early. Being able to do what you want when you want sounds great. But is it healthy? Let’s look at all the reasons not to retire

Rejecting Reasons Not To Retire Early And Live Your Dreams Read More »

After Five Years Of Unemployment, I Finally Found A Dream Job!

94 Comments / Career & Employment / By Financial Samurai

I remember going to Airbnb’s Friday afternoon happy hour back in 2012. My college buddy’s wife worked as an assistant chef and invited me over. The office wasn’t very large and Joe Gebbia, one of the founders, was horsing around with a wig held together by a white headband. After speaking to Joe for about

After Five Years Of Unemployment, I Finally Found A Dream Job! Read More »

The Main Reasons To Do And Not To Do Your Own Taxes

66 Comments / Taxes / By Financial Samurai

Ignorance is bliss. But, goofing up on your taxes can be costly. Let’s go through the main reasons to do and not to do your own taxes. When you don’t know your boss is getting a huge bonus for saving the firm money by screwing your bonus, you’re happy. When you don’t know the reason

The Main Reasons To Do And Not To Do Your Own Taxes Read More »

How To Cheaply Build A Diversified Investment Portfolio If You Don’t Have Much Money

78 Comments / Most Popular / By Financial Samurai

The rich get rich by buying appreciating assets like stocks, bonds, real estate, and fine art. They have very diversified investment portfolios. The people who don’t get rich spend their money on depreciating assets. They buy cars they can’t comfortably afford instead of using my 1/10th rule for car buying. And, they waste money on

How To Cheaply Build A Diversified Investment Portfolio If You Don’t Have Much Money Read More »