I retired at 42. I know what it takes. I am also a credentialed expert with 20+ years experience in many roles in Financial Services. If you are interested in Financial Freedom, you’ve come to the right place.
And other many other sites, I’ve actually done it. I am actually retired.
At the ripe age of 42, I left my professional career and stepped into a life of Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE). Interestingly, when I started crafting my own financial independence plan as a teenager in the mid-1990s, the term “FIRE” wasn’t even on the radar. However, the dream of buying one’s way out of…
Growing up, I developed a relationship with money that some might call obsessive, others might call smart, but I see it as a unique blend of hoarding and emotional struggle. I don’t part with my money easily. In fact, the act of spending—even on things I need—causes me to feel a wave of guilt that’s…
In 2021, shortly before I retired, I found myself on a run with a friend who has always been a source of inspiration to me. We are the same age, but while I was preparing to leave behind the structure of my career, he was running several small businesses and dedicating much of his time…
Would you believe me if I told you that most millionaires don’t earn six-figure incomes? It’s true, and it’s exactly why income isn’t the biggest hurdle to retiring young. Recently, I ran a survey on our YouTube channel asking, “What’s the biggest hurdle you face in retiring young?” The results were striking: 71% of people…
I originally wrote this about fake financial gurus in Sept, 2021 a few weeks before I retired at age 42. I’ve made some updates to formatting, but left everything else the same. Oh no, not another fake guru talking about FIRE. I have never really paid attention to all the websites and YouTube videos around…
When people hear that I retired a few years ago at the age of 42, their reactions are often the same. They look at me with wide eyes and exclaim, “You’re living the dream!” They talk to me like I hit the jackpot as if my early retirement was a stroke of luck. They treat…
In my conversations with my kids, one topic that frequently comes up is the idea of knowing when enough is enough. It’s a lesson that, while simple, holds profound significance for our happiness. Understanding when we have enough is not just a practical consideration; it’s a powerful mindset that can transform our lives. It shifts…
This was originally published 10/12/2021, a few weeks before I retired at 42. Last month, I wrote that we were almost ready to retire. In the next week, I plan to formally announce my retirement to my employer. I have started to tell a few close people at work. The reactions are consistent. Let’s just…
I’ll never forget when I was in the final two weeks of my career, making the rounds to say goodbye to colleagues and thank those who had been part of my journey. During one of those conversations, I sat down with an investment research analyst who specialized in writing about retiring early. Ironically, he hadn’t…
A few week’s back I mentioned that I was just about to announce my retirement. I have since given my notice at work. After 22 years in Financial Services, one year as a mortgage broker, and one year as a technical writer the end is in sight. This upcoming Friday is my last day. I’ve…
We are almost ready to retire early. We have Financial Independence. My wife is a stay at home mom with our three kids. We have assets. We just haven’t figure out what to do next. The friends that are aware that we will retire soon ask me what they think to be a hard question….
Do you wonder how to retire early? Twenty years ago i asked the COO of the large company that I worked at what book I should read. He said “7 Habits of Highly Effective People“. He even gave me a copy. Several days later I went to read it. I opened it to the table…
There are many paths to FIRE. I was just reading a blog called A Purple Life. In mostly her words with slight editing by me: “She developed a plan to retire in 10 years at 35. With the help of decreased spending, increased wages, and geoarbitrage she reached her goal in half the time and retired…
When choosing the most profitable slots in online casinos in Georgia, many players unconsciously use a decision-making strategy known as “satisficing”. This concept, introduced by Herbert A. Simon in 1956, describes how people settle for choices that are “good enough” rather than the absolute best. Instead of carefully analyzing the return to player (RTP), volatility,…
In 2001, I was 21 The phrase “financial independence retire early” did not exist. But I knew I wanted it. Have you wondered how to get started in real estate without knowing much of anything or having much money? Well here’s my story. I walked into a real estate agency a couple miles from the…
