When I worked at Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse, we would occasionally bring a hot IPO deal to market. During the company roadshow, we’d take management around to meet one on one with our largest investors and clients. Sometimes the IPO was so in demand that many clients could not even get a one on […]
The Futility Of Chasing A Hot IPO And What To Do Instead Read More »
In Spring 2025, I sold one of my properties and will successfully exclude $500,000 in capital gains, tax-free, thanks to the IRS Section 121 Exclusion. For those unfamiliar, this powerful rule allows homeowners to exclude up to $250,000 in capital gains if single, or $500,000 if married filing jointly, from the sale of a primary
How To Use The Tax-Free Home Sale Exclusion Every Two Years To Save Read More »
Since starting Financial Samurai in 2009, I’ve encouraged folks to keep an open mind and embrace as many different perspectives as possible. So often, we get set in our ways and think our approach is the only right way to do things. But I can assure you, you’re probably missing something—or could do something a
The Shocking Power Of Getting A Different Perspective Read More »
As soon as both my children were born in 2017 and 2019, I superfunded their 529 plans equal to the five-year gift tax exemption. At the time, I was thrilled to do it given a parent’s number one responsibility is to provide for their children. Finally, a tax-efficient way to shift some of my assets
You Should Love The 529 Plan More After OBBBA Passed Read More »
When I lived overseas, one of the most celebrated aspects of my international schools was cultural diversity. At the International School of Kuala Lumpur, Taipei American School, and Canadian Academy in Japan, I had classmates from all over the world. With such a diverse student body, there was a natural openness and acceptance of one
How Cultural Differences Can Hurt Your Chances In The Workplace Read More »
After remodeling a fixer I bought in 2019 between 2019–2022, I swore I would never take on another remodeling project again. I hate remodeling with a passion, even though I’m always satisfied after the project is done. The delays, cost overruns, and people management completely bum me out. If you want to save your sanity
The Cost To Remodel A Rundown Two-Bedroom In-Law Unit Read More »
One of the main reasons I refused to spend a small fortune renting a vacation property in Honolulu was because I wanted to stay in my childhood home. The home was built in 1986, when I was nine years old, and I’ve been going back almost every year since. But staying there isn’t just about
The Healing Power of Returning to Your Childhood Home Read More »
How much money do you need to feel financially comfortable or wealthy? The answer depends on where you live, your household size, and your lifestyle desires, of course. However, according to the 2025 Charles Schwab Wealth Survey, Americans say it now takes a net worth of $839,000 to feel financially comfortable—up from $778,000 in 2024. More surprisingly, the
What It Takes to Feel Wealthy Today Is Less Than Before Read More »
I love index funds and ETFs for their low-cost nature and simplicity of ownership. However, if you want to build generational wealth before traditional retirement age, consider looking beyond just index funds and index ETFs. Since starting Financial Samurai in 2009, I’ve written extensively about investment strategies, financial independence, and retiring earlier to do what
The Richest People Are Not Index Fund Fanatics – Why Are You? Read More »
Imagine spending your life building wealth, investing in real estate, stocks, or your business, with the hope of leaving a legacy for your children. Then one day, you find yourself wondering: Will the government take a massive chunk of it anyway? If your estate is well above the federal estate tax exemption threshold — $30 million
The Step-Up In Cost Basis And Its Relation To The Estate Tax Threshold Read More »
