G.F.I.R.E. is the decision to not only care for one’s self but also for one’s entire family. This goes beyond ensuring that kids are fed and bathed. It is a complete personal and financial system where one decides to take on additional responsibility in order to ensure the entire family is taken care of from the beginning of life until completion.
Before the G.F.I.R.E. movement had a name, I can remember the earliest stages of it. I think the first G.F.I.R.E. movement I had was when my brokerage account hit $10,000. I was so excited about how the investing process was going. I then thought Kris needs her own investments. I know that her money and my money are combined, but it would be better if she had her own accounts. That way she can track her money and investments. So I went through and created her additional savings accounts, checking accounts, brokerage accounts, TreasuryDirect accounts, and a Fundrise account. Now her accounts are nearly $10,000. It is very exciting.
My second G.F.I.R.E. moment involved my oldest son. I always worried about him because he wasn’t the same kind of student as I was. I was a super motivated straight “A” student for my entire schooling career. My son was kind of average. I always felt that he was going to have a hard time once he left the house. However, I one day realized that I already have a house for him. I have investments for him. I have taught him about the 3 kinds of income. And, most importantly, I will always be there for him. Now I sleep a lot easier knowing that his journey and my journey will always be intertwined. It is a good feeling to know that he doesn’t need to rebuild the skyscraper from scratch. He only needs to add more floors to the top.
Another G.F.I.R.E. moment was when I decided to open custodial accounts for my nephew and niece. I know that my brother and sister may not be in the best position to invest right now. I also know that the best way to invest is over long time periods. It is important for all children to be invested in the stock market as early as possible. I took it upon myself to start their investing journey. My kids already have custodial accounts, so adding my nephew and niece is only natural. It is the right thing to do and this is a classic G.F.I.R.E. situation.
As you can see, G.F.I.R.E. will always present itself to you. You have to decide if you want to get involved or turn a blind eye. Some people are hellbent on keeping every dollar they earn to themselves. The G.F.I.R.E. movement is about family and keeping family safe from the outside pressures of the world. We believe that working through life together is the best way to keep everyone happy and healthy.
Disclosure: I am not a financial advisor or money manager, and any knowledge is given as guidance and not direct actionable investment advice. Please research any investment vehicles that are being considered. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
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