Thinking of buying a multi-family home
As a generational thinker, I always have to be on the lookout for another stream of income. Not just a quick buck, but something that can be kept in the family for a long time. My grandpa made a lot of money investing and renting real estate. It is very lucrative if you have the…
Military Pension vs Dividend Portfolio
The military retirement system is one of the best retirement pension plans available in the United States. In a nutshell, if complete 20 years you will receive 50% of your salary in retirement, for the rest of your life. Two things even make this better, annual cost of living increases and you begin to draw…
Dating + Finances: Part 1
Wow. There is a lot to unpack here. Over the years, Kris and I noticed some different dating trends forming. It started back in 2011 when my friend said that he would never buy a woman a drink. I honestly had never heard anything so outrageous in my life. I always felt that buying a…
How do you escape the rat race?
(Read part one of the series “Are you part of the rat race” https://militaryfamilyinvesting.com/2020/07/20/are-you-part-of-the-rat-race/) Now that your eyes have been opened, let’s continue. The rat race is a MINDSET. To escape the rat race you first have to change your perspective. Why do you go to work? If your answer is, “To pay bills, provide…
Are you part of the rat race?
It is a very delicate topic. Let’s first start with what the “rat race” is. The rat race is going to work every day (earned income), getting a check from your employer, paying bills, and basically surviving on this income. Sure, there may be a vacation, car, or wedding thrown in for good measure, but…
Going to start a business with my kids
The more I study the wealthy, the more I want to adopt some of their methods. The rich buy cars and houses for their children and also ensure that their children have a college education. The wealthy do this as well but also have businesses where the children will be hired and promoted within the…
Stock Portfolio Update #1
It’s time for our first look into our stocks portfolio. Remember, the 4 parts of a balanced portfolio are High Yield Savings, Bonds, Stocks, and Real Estate. Let’s focus on the stocks portion of our portfolio. First let’s look back at where we were in June 2019. In June 2019, I was in Turkey with…
How I would invest my first $100
If I were a new investor this is how I would invest my first $100. Remember the 4 parts of a complete portfolio are High Yield Savings Account, Bonds, Stocks, and Real Estate. With that, let’s get into it: $25 into a normal savings account: This would be into your Bank of America or Wells…
Jobs to work part time
The most important question you need to ask yourself is, “Why am I working this second or third job?” If you can’t make ends meet from your primary income source, you need to find out why. Create a detailed household budget, discover where your money is going, make spending cuts, and see what you have…
The most important financial decision you will ever make
This one may throw you for a loop. The most important decision you will ever make is: Who you decide to marry. Yes. Synergy with your spouse is the number one way to ensure you reach your goals. Remember, your goal doesn’t need to be saving and investing. I know plenty of couples who keep…
What is financial independence, to you?
Everyone’s version of financial independence looks differently. Some want to win megabucks in the lottery. Others want to earn a military retirement and then move to Thailand or The Philippines. Whatever the case may be, we all need to come up with a plan to achieve our goals. No matter your goals, the best way…
Don’t be afraid of the stock market
When I let my mom know that I was opening brokerage accounts for my niece and nephew, her response was “Don’t you lose all your money in the stock market?”. That is typically the response you get from the uninitiated. I think people relate the stock market to frenzied day traders who are yelling, screaming,…
3 things all young married couples should know
Getting married is a part of life for most people. You find someone special, you date them, and eventually, you want to get married. Love is the binding force that keeps marriages together, however, you have to work on loving your spouse. Love is constantly evolving, like you and your spouse. Here are 3 things…
3 Types of Budgets
Budgeting is the #1 way to becoming wealthy. We need to understand how much money is coming in and how much money is going out. We also need to discover if our money is being spent in the most efficient manner possible. As soon as we get paid we split our money into 3 distinct…
Invest in Relationships and Finance to build Wealth
I watch a lot of YouTube money videos. There are so many different ideas coming from these content creators. I truly enjoy listening to their stories about growth financially and spiritually. However, I do not see much talk about building relationships. Relationships are just like investments. They require research, time, and energy. You make deposits…
Meet your special person: Family Values
Many of our single friends wonder how Kris and I got lucky enough to find each other. Yes, that night we were lucky to be in the same place at the same time. However, after 16 years, it is anything but luck that has kept us together. It is love, hard work, and commitment. Commitment…
Meet your special person: Core Values
Kris and I have been married for over 14 years. On our journey, we have met many divorced people, as well as, couples who have decided to get divorced after we met them. We end up sending a lot of our time with friends who are single and looking. But how do you find that…
When should you teach your kids about investing?
Now. Now. Now. No matter the age. This is a lifestyle. Most of us older generation folks were taught to get paid, pay your bills, save a little of what is left, and pray you somehow get retired. Investing is a departure from this. The mantra “Pay yourself first” is somewhat correct. It should be…
Portfolio Update: Bonds #1
Bonds are an important portion of my investment strategy of high yield savings, bonds, stocks, and real estate. I will review my bond portfolio that is invested via TreasuryDirect.gov. I also invest in bonds via electronic traded funds (ETFs) on the stock market. However, I consider them stocks because they behave like stocks. My treasurydirect.gov…