What if one of the best ways to get wealthy is to trick yourself into thinking you’re poor? It sounds counterintuitive, even ridiculous. But after decades of saving, investing, and observing how people behave around money, I’ve realized one thing: abundance often breeds complacency. When you feel flush, you spend more, work less, and get […]
Artificially Feeling Poor May Help You Grow Rich One Day Read More »
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from investing and writing about personal finance since 2009, it’s this: nothing stays the same for long. Markets rise and fall, interest rates swing like a pendulum, governments change policies, and new technologies like AI disrupt entire industries overnight. If you’re relying on a single financial strategy to carry
Why Diversifying Your Financial Strategies Is More Important Than Ever Read More »
The older I get, the more I dislike being a landlord. There’s too much potential for disappointment, misunderstanding, or outright unpleasant moments. When you’re dealing with people and one of your most valuable assets, the margin for frustration is high. If you want to be a successful landlord—and not get run over—you need to set
To Be A Successful Landlord, Setting Expectations Is A Must Read More »
Embattled Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook is facing accusations of mortgage fraud—specifically, owner-occupancy mortgage fraud. The claim is that she took out two mortgages in two states, within two weeks, while designating both properties as her “primary residence.” If true, it’s a terrible look for someone sitting on the Fed, the very institution tasked with
Owner-Occupancy Mortgage Fraud: Benefits, Risks, and Legal Workarounds Read More »
I recently had a zero-coupon Treasury Bill redeem in the amount of $102,000. This money is part of the 35% of my taxable brokerage portfolio that’s in bonds. Somewhere between a 60/40 and 70/30 equity/bond split is what I like to maintain at age 48, as a dual-unemployed parent alongside my wife. Given I enjoy
20-Year Treasury Bonds At 5% Looks Attractive For Retirees Read More »
In my post, “How You’ll Feel Achieving Various Millionaire Milestones,” a commenter named Joseph shared these thoughts: “I’m fascinated by someone worth $10M or $20M not feeling wealthy. Are they hanging out with nothing but billionaires? The only other explanation is a scarcity mindset. But I suppose that mindset got them to where they are. They need
When Investing Is More Alluring Than Spending, Fight Back Hard! Read More »
Since writing about FIRE in 2009, I’ve favored investing in growth stocks over value stocks. As someone who wanted to retire early from finance, my goal was to build as large a capital base as quickly as possible. Once I retired, I could convert these gains into dividend-paying stocks or other income-generating assets to cover
Stop Investing In Value Stocks Over Growth If You Want To FIRE Read More »
After a week of reviewing the tax-free exclusion rule for selling a rental property, I decided not to sell. I’d already used my $500,000 tax-free exclusion amount and would need to wait at least two more years before I could potentially use the full amount again. Most importantly, I’m on a mission to boost my
Earning Passive Income Requires Optimization And Sacrifice 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 »
