If you ever want to be absolutely free, you need to develop multiple income streams so that when the inevitable change happens, you’ll be covered.  I first recommend you start with the end in mind. What makes you happy?  From this question, now you can derive how much money you honestly think will make you happy.

Once you’ve digged deep to answer these two important questions, you can then start building your income goals.

What makes me happy?

Family, friends, experiences, travel, freedom to say and do what I want, sports, relationships, the online community, hot tubbing with drinks, food and enough money to not have to worry. Good old nostalgia really makes me happy too.

What makes me unhappy?

Racists, bigots, haters, lying politicians, bad bosses, cronyism, inequality, people who say one thing and do another, thieves, and zealots who impose their will on others.

How much money do I need to achieve what makes me happy?

Anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000 a month after taxes to account for a single life to one that provides for a family of four.

I really don’t need much to be happy if I’m supporting only myself and have no debt.  I was super happy living on nothing while in school, so $3,000 a month after tax would be fine.

$15,000 a month after tax is a large nut that equates to about $235,000 in gross income a year, the income level where I think maximum happiness is attained. With $15,000 a month, I can afford private school tuition for two if necessary, go travel 8 weeks a year, get huge and eat whatever I want, have a paid off car, live in a comfortable home practically anywhere in the world, and continuously save for a rainy day. Furthermore, $15,000 a month after tax can be used to help my parents in case they need financial help for whatever reason.

Think about an after tax monthly income number you’d like to achieve and let me know. For now, it’s time to open up the kimono and see what can be produced after over a decade of saving and investing. This is a long post, so make sure you go to the bathroom first!

CONSTRUCTING THE FINANCIAL FREEDOM PORTFOLIO

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Becoming wealthy has never been easier in America thanks to quantitative easing, improved financial education, an improving economy, a widening safety net, and a bull market in stocks and real estate. Surviving as a wealthy person on the other hand, has never been tougher. The government goes after you if you make much more than $200,000 a year (medicare tax, AMT, deduction phaseout, credit eliminations, education tax, net investment income tax). If the government doesn’t get you, regular citizens will. Who did you cheat or rob to get to where you are? This is a real problem for those who want to make it big in the land of dreams and hand guns.

Freedom is one of America’s greatest attributes. Yet, if you go too far on the income curve you’ll start feeling like a prisoner to society. Despite the rich giving more to charity in one year than many others will give in their lifetimes, people will protest their wealth and hate them forever. Class warfare is no fun, even if you do have the financial means to own a bazooka.

Most readers here are ambitious folks who want to improve their financial health. Thanks to disciplined savings and investing habits, in another 10 years, I’m sure everybody is going to be that much wealthier. But once you get to where you are going, you’ll wonder what’s next. Never lose site of the fact that it’s really the journey to financial independence that’s most rewarding.

When society turns their back on you for being successful, just recollect on all your struggles and take a deep breath. Be proud of your accomplishments because you know you’re not just doing it for yourself, but for your family as well. You don’t have to be ashamed for not being the dumb ass in high school who thought it was cool to skip class every week to smoke weed. You shouldn’t feel bad that you worked summer internships during college while your buddies went off to play. And you should certainly not feel embarrassed by your frugal habits and smart investments once you found a job.

Unfortunately, society has a fantastic way of discrediting your achievements. “Nobody is self made,” and “You didn’t build that,” are my two favorite retorts. Just try taking yourself completely out of the equation and see where that logic goes when there’s nobody to think, dream, and execute. When you are outnumbered, resistance is futile. You must blend in and rage with the rest of them.

With the below suggestions you’ll be able to better walk amongst the shadows without fear of retribution any longer. Your family will be more guarded from bullies lurking to recondition your children every chance they get. Once you finish reading this post, never speak of its matters beyond your immediate family and friends again. We’ve got to protect our own little community on the web.