After 12 years of FIRE (financial independence retire early), I went back to work. Unfortunately, I only lasted four months. Here’s my story of what went wrong. I purposefully waited months to release this post to ensure I was thinking logically and not emotionally. From the end of November 2023 through March 2024, I re-entered […]
Went Back To Work And Could Only Last Four Months: Here’s What Went Wrong Read More »
I’m a fan of both stock dividends and rental property income, my two favorite sources of passive / semi-passive income. When younger and less wealthy, rental property income may be preferable. As you age and accumulate wealth, you’ll likely appreciate stock dividend income more for its simplicity. However, stock dividend income’s main drawback is that
Why Rental Property Income Is Superior To Stock Dividends Read More »
There’s a classic saying, “Youth is wasted on the young.” It’s meant to convey that those who are young lack the perspective to appreciate all the advantages of youth and thus take it for granted. After more than seven years of being a parent, it is clear to me that not having kids is a
Not Having Kids Is Your FIRE Super Power: Don’t Blow It! Read More »
Everyone with children should contribute to a 529 plan. It is a tax-efficient way to save for college since none of the gains are taxable if used for approved college expenses. But maybe you’re wondering when to stop contributing to a 529 plan given you’ve already contributed a lot already. Let’s discuss. Today, it costs
When To Stop Contributing To A 529 Plan To Fully Fund College Read More »
We’ve all heard the phrase, “Be greedy when others are fearful, and fearful when others are greedy.” But what about being even greedier when others are greedy?! As I sat peacefully in the hot tub recently, I began to recollect all the ways I wasn’t greedy enough since graduating from college in 1999. If only
Being Even Greedier When Others Are Greedy In A Bull Market Read More »
If you have a rental property that is generating positive cash flow and is expected to appreciate in value over time, then you must hold onto it for as long as possible. The problem, however, is you might have tenant issues that make you want to sell. Being a landlord is not for everyone. After
View Your Tenants As Guardians Of Your Rental Property Read More »
If you own a rental property and are thinking of selling, don’t do it unless you absolutely have to. To build great wealth, aim to own your rental property for as long as possible. As fate would have it, my great tenants of two years and two months gave me their 30-day notice while I
Don’t Sell Your Rental Property If You Don’t Have To Read More »
During a recent liquidity crunch, I kept thinking how nice it would be to have more cash sitting in my bank account. Once I received a $106,000 real estate capital distribution, I felt a tremendous relief. But then I was faced with the somewhat stressful decision of how to reinvest it. My private real estate
Having Cash Could Make You Poorer In Many Ways – Be Careful Read More »
In 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 restore the ~$150,000 in
The Grind Back To Financial Independence: Early Stages Complete Read More »
After taking my family on a nine-day vacation to Honolulu, Hawaii, my plan to relocate there is back in the cards! Since 2014, two years after retiring from my finance job, I’ve been contemplating moving back to Honolulu to spend more time with my parents. However, actually making the move has been much harder than
The Challenges Of Living And Working In Honolulu, Hawaii Read More »
