Personal Finance

How Much House Can You Afford?: The McDonald’s Principle
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How Much House Can You Afford?: The McDonald’s Principle

It’s hard to know how much house you can afford. Actually it’s easy to know how much house you can afford. It’s hard to know how much house you should afford. The McDonald’s Principle When I bought my first house, I developed The McDonald’s Principle. It was simple, clever, and powerful. It was my way…

If I Had Listened To “Good Advice,” I Could Not Have Retired At 42.
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If I Had Listened To “Good Advice,” I Could Not Have Retired At 42.

I have heard so much advice over the years that people consider to be “good advice”. But if I had listened to all of this good advice, I would not have been able to retire young. By ignoring good advice, I was able to reach my goals. “You Have Too Much Debt, You Are Going…

My Relationship with Money: The Hoarder Mentality That Led to Early Retirement
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My Relationship with Money: The Hoarder Mentality That Led to Early Retirement

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…

Reflecting on My Journey to Financial Independence: What I’d Do Differently
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Reflecting on My Journey to Financial Independence: What I’d Do Differently

I run a lot. My core group of friends get together and run. It’s a very successful group dominated by financial experts and leaders in the finance space. One of the guys in the group is a professor at a very prestigious university. I’ll call him Professor Peter for this article. Professor Peter always has…

Stealth Wealth: The Key to Keeping Your Wealth and Your Freedom
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Stealth Wealth: The Key to Keeping Your Wealth and Your Freedom

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…

An Early Retiree’s Perspective on Dave Ramsey’s Blueprint To Early Retirement 
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An Early Retiree’s Perspective on Dave Ramsey’s Blueprint To Early Retirement 

Retiring early is more than just a dream, it’s a reality that many people can achieve with the right plan. If you’re like me, you’ve thought about leaving the 9-to-5 grind before the traditional retirement age.  I am a Chartered Financial Analyst who retired at 42. I can tell you firsthand that reaching financial independence…

Unexpected Challenges with Retiring Early (That No One Prepares You For)
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Unexpected Challenges with Retiring Early (That No One Prepares You For)

For many, early retirement feels like the ultimate goal. More time with family, pursuing hobbies, and saying goodbye to the daily grind. When I retired early, I imagined relaxation, adventure, and more control over my time. And while I got plenty of that, there were some surprises I didn’t anticipate. The truth is, early retirement…

How to Teach a Kid About Stocks: Easiest Way To Explain Stocks to A Kid
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How to Teach a Kid About Stocks: Easiest Way To Explain Stocks to A Kid

When my 7-year-old son Jonathan asked how large companies operate, I saw an opportunity to teach him about stocks using his own business experiences. By relating investing concepts to his entrepreneurial ventures, I made the topic engaging and understandable for him. This is the story of how I introduced my son to the world of…

9 Mental Shifts Required for a Successful FIRE Journey
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9 Mental Shifts Required for a Successful FIRE Journey

When I retired at 42 in 2021, I discovered the concept of Financial Independence Retire Early, also known as FIRE. Even though I had already reached financial freedom, understanding the mindset behind FIRE helped me reflect on the steps I took and how others can do the same. The FIRE movement is more than just…

“Do Something That Makes You Go To The Library”
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“Do Something That Makes You Go To The Library”

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…

Why Income Isn’t the Biggest Hurdle to Retiring Young
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Why Income Isn’t the Biggest Hurdle to Retiring Young

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…

Why a Roth IRA Isn’t Always the Best Choice: A Campfire Conversation

Why a Roth IRA Isn’t Always the Best Choice: A Campfire Conversation

I was sitting around the campfire last weekend, enjoying the warmth of the flames and the comforting crackle of burning wood. My cousin, a financial advisor brimming with enthusiasm, leaned over and brought up a topic that’s been buzzing incessantly on social media: Roth IRA conversions. He insisted that I should convert my Traditional IRA…

Fake Guru.  Why Should I Listen to DadisFire?
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Fake Guru. Why Should I Listen to DadisFire?

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…

The Reality of Early Retirement: More Than Just Luck
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The Reality of Early Retirement: More Than Just Luck

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…

How I Teach Kids About Money By Getting Rid Of Their Stuff
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How I Teach Kids About Money By Getting Rid Of Their Stuff

As parents, we’ve all encountered the seemingly inexhaustible supply of toys, gadgets, and general kid stuff that seems to multiply in our homes. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably looked around your house and wondered how you ended up with so much…stuff. But here’s the thing: this clutter, while visually overwhelming, presents an unexpected…

13 Common Habits of Millionaires: How Many Are You Doing?
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13 Common Habits of Millionaires: How Many Are You Doing?

Becoming a millionaire might seem like a distant dream for many, but the truth is, it’s more attainable than you might think. Contrary to popular belief, most millionaires didn’t inherit their wealth, nor did they necessarily attend prestigious universities or possess extraordinary investment skills. Instead, they built their fortunes through smart financial decisions, discipline, and…