Category: F.I. Mindset
The Emotional Roller Coaster of Debt
I thought I had it all figured out ten years ago. I had 13 years in the Marine Corps under my belt, and I was looking towards the rank of Master Sergeant (E-8). I looked at the pay chart for E-9s over 20 years of service, and the money looked great. If I could reach…
5 Takeaways from “Find Your People”
“Find Your People” by Jennie Allen is a celebration of life, love, and friendship. The book explores why we feel so alone in this modern time. With cell phones and social media, we should feel closer to one another, right? The problem is that we all chase individualism. This love of being alone, living alone,…
America is Expensive: So What Are You Going to do About It?
I spent the last two years away from my family, working in Okinawa, Japan. Finally, I am back home where I belong, but things have changed. I left in August 2020, and today the landscape in America is much different. For one, America is much more expensive. Due to inflation and perhaps a pending recession,…
Is $75,000 a Year The Magic Happiness Number?
The news media often says earning $75,000/year is the magic happiness number for most people. After this number, your happiness level begins to diminish. Here is an article on VeryWellMind.com that refutes the argument. There is a lot of truth to this $75,000 number—my two cents. However, it doesn’t tell the complete story. Today, I…
Education Destroys Creativity
I was a fairly decent student in high school (1995-1999). I graduated with a 4.4-grade point average and immediately joined the United States Marine Corps. Twenty-three years later, I am still in the Corps and finally expressing myself through creativity. But why is it so hard for us to show our creative sides? What changed…
Overcoming Limiting Beliefs 103: Investing in Real Estate
The greatest path to wealth is through real estate. Time will do most of the work if you can get into the market. Over time, home prices appreciate, and rents inflate along with the economy. Many people own homes but are deathly afraid to become real estate investors. However, the truth is that you are…
Happy Financial Independence Day 2
The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate our independence as a country. Americans became free from tyranny in 1776, and we have never looked back. But, as an American, are you free? Do you wake up every morning with zero debt and new money flowing into your account? Chances are you are in…
Being Broke Isn’t Cute part IV: Saving and Investing
I think our bunnies would be proud of us. We recognized that we were broke, figured out why, and slowly paid off our debts. So, since we are debt-free, what’s next? Welcome back to the Being Broke Isn’t Cute series (part I, part II, part III); we go from broke to investors. The answer to…
Being Broke Isn’t Cute part III: Becoming Debt-Free
Whenever I see my bunny rabbits, I get excited about my financial future. This is because these cute bunnies have no worries in the world—something I am trying to achieve. To be carefree and worry-free, we must first make a great effort to overcome financial adversity. Most of us start with financial limitations, whether limiting…
Being Broke Isn’t Cute part II: Getting on the Right Path
Unlike my little bunny rabbits, being broke isn’t cute. Being broke is a struggle that many people face daily, but now is the time to get on track. Welcome back to the Being Broke Isn’t Cute series (Part I), where I discuss how to go from being broke to comfortable. What is the right path?…
5 Takeaways from “3 Secrets to Effective Time Management”
“3 Secrets to Effective Time Management” by Elizabeth Grace Saunders is a must-read for those who struggle with time management. Elizabeth Saunders’ approach to time management is about accomplishing the important things first. It may seem simple, but you must identify what is essential to you BEFORE you start your day. Before she gets into…
Become CEO of Yourself 3
In our quest for financial freedom, the part we most often forget is forging the correct mindset. Truthfully, your mindset is the most critical factor in obtaining great wealth. As much as I love to talk about dividends and rental properties, I continually make it a point to return to a financial mindset. Once I…
Being Broke Isn’t Cute part I: Why Are You Broke?
Aren’t the rabbits on the cover just the cutest things you have ever seen? As I wrote in “The Publishing Chronicles 2: Design Your Own Book Covers,” the inspiration for my writing sometimes comes from images. In this case, I saw four pictures of these cute rabbits and had to write four articles. Do you…
5 Takeaways from “Rich Dad’s Guide to Becoming Rich”
“Rich Dad’s Guide to Becoming Rich” by Robert Kiyosaki is my favorite book of all time. That is to say, all of Robert Kiyosakis’ books are my favorites. Mr. Kiyosakis’ books all say the exact same thing, yet they are all different. He has simple messages he tells people across multiple parables (stories). I love…
Don’t Gamble with Retirement 7
Retirement comes for all of us; how we choose to spend it is entirely on us. We can struggle on a fixed income and pray the government solves our problems for us. Or we can take matters into our own hands by creating the most extraordinary retirement possible. If you rely on the government or…
Financial Independence Remain Employed
Who says that you need to quit your job once you become rich? The good part of being wealthy is choosing your own destiny. Many of us find solace in the daily grind. We have worked in the workforce for many years and have built a solid reputation. We want the ability to retire whenever…
Getting Married? 10 Financial Questions to Ask Your Future Spouse
Ah, the dream of marriage. We all go into marriage thinking of love, romance, kids, and vacations. These amazing dreams can become a reality, but it requires planning. Before we marry, we don’t want to break the illusion by talking about “business” or “money.” However, these are massive topics that we need to discuss. Most…
Don’t Work Hard For Money; Work for Income-Producing Assets
We all want to work hard and contribute to society as a whole. Well, most of us want to do this. However, working hard to pay our expenses will never allow us to get ahead of the financial power curve. The problem with working for money, or exchanging time for money, is that once you…
Choose Your Passive Income Adventure 3
Life is as simple or complex as we choose to make it. Unfortunately, if you want to make a lot of money, you will need to complicate your life. Building passive income requires knowledge, but that doesn’t mean it has to be difficult. Many people have limiting beliefs that prevent them from earning dividends, rents,…
The Magic of Cash Flow
Cash flow is the river of income that keeps a business afloat and running smoothly. Cash flow is the lifeblood of a household that allows everyone to flourish and succeed without daily financial stress. What is Cash Flow? Simply, cash flow is the difference between your income and expenses. The more cash flow you generate,…
