Conquering FOPA: The Fear Of Other People’s Approval

Everybody has some degree of FOPA, or Fear of Other People’s Approval. We’ve become so accustomed to fitting society’s mold that we’ve stopped thinking and acting for ourselves. We seek prestige and status, which becomes a never-ending endeavor that will make you miserable after a while. But I argue that to truly make a difference […]

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Landscaping As An Investment: Focus On Aesthetics And Functionality

One of the most gratifying investments I’ve made is landscaping a fixer I bought in 2014. Great landscaping can really improve the value of your property. Not only does good landscaping make the property look great, it may create more useable space. What’s funny though is that when I was in my 20s and 30s, I

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Cashing Out Of Stocks To Buy Real Estate: Analyzing The Temptation

After a banner year in 2020 and an even stronger 2021, more people are thinking of cashing out of stocks to buy real estate. After all, real estate is a real asset that provides utility and tends to hold its value. Stocks are just digital values that could plummet in value over night. Seeing your

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The Definition Of American Prosperity Needs An Adjustment

There’s a common joke here in the SF Bay Area. How do you know someone went to Stanford? They’ll tell you within the first couple of sentences. We Americans have a tremendous desire for status and prestige. When we work hard for something, it’s our second nature to tell everybody about our achievement. You do

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Annualized Returns By Asset Class From 1999 – 2018

Before I show you the 20-year annualized returns by asset class between 1999 – 2018, I want you to guess the following four things: 1) Of the following asset classes, the S&P 500, a 60/40 stock/bond portfolio, Bonds, a 40/60 stock/bond portfolio, REITs, Gold, Oil, EAFE (Europe, Asia, Far East), national real estate, which performed

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