When my son was born in 2017, I decided to focus on being a stay-at-home dad (SAHD). Every early childhood development book I read emphasized that the first five years are the most critical for a child’s growth. So I figured, why not spend that time with him? It wasn’t a difficult decision since I| Financial Samurai
As I watch my stock portfolio tank, I take solace in knowing that my real estate portfolio continues to chug along despite the chaos, fear, and uncertainty. With mass government personnel cuts, new tariffs against Mexico, Canada, and China, a heated Oval Office exchange between President Trump and Ukraine’s President Zelensky, and sharp words from| Financial Samurai
Well, folks, after 16 years of diligently writing three free posts a week, I’ve finally decided to erect a paywall. Originally, starting in 2009, my goal was to provide free financial insights for 10 years to help people achieve financial independence sooner. Success! I’ve always believed that if you’re lucky enough to learn something valuable,| Financial Samurai
For over 10 years, my father has been my primary editor on Financial Samurai. When my father isn't available, my wife steps in. This system has allowed me to maintain a consistent publishing schedule of three quality posts a week. Typically, I spend 1.5–3 hours writing a post. Then, my father spends 1–1.5 hours editing| Financial Samurai
Curious to know the ideal net worth for retirement? As someone fake retired in 2012 at age 34 with $3 million, let me tell you. $10 million sounds like the ideal amount of money to retire with. With $10 million, you can easily generate between $300,000 - $500,000 of low-risk investment income. I was talking| Financial Samurai
In March 2020, we pulled our son from preschool. We ended up homeschooling him until August 25, 2021, or for 18 months. He's now attending a language immersion preschool, which goes up to the 8th grade. Our experience has taught us that homeschooling can be incredibly beneficial. It is more efficient and can provided customized| Financial Samurai
We’ve all collectively been through a rough few years. After a brutal global pandemic and stock market crash, followed by years of inflation and the subsequent rise in interest rates, you can be forgiven for feeling kind of shitty about the state of your finances. The rising cost of living has affected everyone, and on top of that there’s now a housing crisis to deal with too! While Millennials were seen as whiny and entitled, Gen Z has been described as “financially hopeless,” and ha...| Millennial Revolution
If there's a car in your blind spot and you swerve suddenly, there's a good chance you'll get into an accident. Your accident will not only cost time and money to fix, you might also suffer an injury or even die. If you have financial blind spots, the consequences can be just as severe. I can't teach you| Financial Samurai
In a previous post, I discussed the futility of working when your net worth is declining. During a stock market crash or recession, your Return on Effort (ROE) for working drops significantly. Therefore, the only way to increase your Return On Effort is to work less, not more. At some point in your life, you’ll| Financial Samurai
In 2023, my passive income took a significant $150,000 hit, representing a decrease of 39%, following the purchase of a new house we didn't really need. It was funded by proceeds from selling public stocks and bonds. The decision to buy the house with cash was agonizing, as we didn't need a nicer home. It| Financial Samurai
I once encountered an actor in Paris who had secured minor roles in significant films, courtesy of his friendship with Leonardo DiCaprio. Despite having the opportunity to continue with these smaller roles due to his connections, his pride led him to pursue larger roles. Regrettably, 10 years later, I haven't seen him in a single| Financial Samurai
Living paycheck-to-paycheck is an unpleasant financial experience. Not only does it mean needing to spend everything you have to make ends meet, it may also create an ongoing feeling of despair. Never feeling like you’ll ever get out of the rat race and retire is demoralizing! You might even have to get into debt to| Financial Samurai
A common suggestion people have made to help me regain my financial independence is to move to a cheaper area of the country or the world to save money. I've resisted relocating so far because I believe the excitement of living in a big city is worth the cost. Instead of focusing on saving money| Financial Samurai
When my kids were born, I made a promise to be a stay-at-home father for the first five years of each of their lives. Mission accomplished with my son in April 2022, and my daughter in December 2024. I'm now wondering how I will fill the void once both kids are in school full time.| Financial Samurai