Tag: Financial Independence
Don’t Gamble with Retirement 10
A lot has changed since I started blogging about personal finance in July 2020. At the time, retirement planning was something you could do on the side. Why spend all of your time planning for something 30 to 40 years away, right? Wrong! After a crazy turn of events, the only way to retire is…
Becoming an Entrepreneur #5: Building an Audience
Now it’s time to put all our reading, training, and education into action. I firmly believe in the content-first approach to business that the book “Content Inc.” discussed. Welcome back to the Becoming an Entrepreneur Series (Part #1, Part #2, Part #3, Part #4), where we take you from employee to entrepreneur. Why is building…
Investing for Interest 112: Series “I” Bonds vs Series “EE” Bonds
The Investing for Interest Series (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111) is one of my favorite series. I love this series because there is always something new to review or compare in the world of fixed income. Bonds don’t receive as much love as stocks, but our fondness for bonds…
Make a 5-Year Commitment: Treasury Notes vs Certificates of Deposit
Certificates of deposits used to be one of the safest investments in town. However, we had a troubling turn of events in March 2023. Three large banks failed in about a week: Silvergate Bank, Silicon Valley Bank (SVC), and Signature Bank. Silicon Valley was the 16th largest bank in America (by deposits). These bank failures…
Bond Investing in Your 70s
We should all plan on enjoying our 70s while preserving capital. Even better, we can help our family build generational wealth while we travel the world. There is much to accomplish in the later chapters of life, but it requires financial sophistication to achieve our goals. Welcome back to the Bond Investing at Any Age…
Are We Living in Fast Forward? Things Have Changed Since 2020
The other day, I was listening to my favorite YouTuber as I worked on my books. He said he felt like life has been moving in fast forward since the pandemic. This statement got me thinking. I always tell my Marines that this new world will give them ADHD. Everyone and everything is trying to…
Start a Review & Content Business toward Passive Income
Do you love to learn and try new things? If so, perhaps it is time to start a business around your ability to keep learning and self-educating yourself. Most people do not pursue self-education but will follow people who keep learning. This puts you in a great position to do what you love while earning…
So Your Kid Wants to be a Doctor? Here’s How You Can Help
Parents, you will not like this article. I have been tough on parents over the last three years, and today the tradition continues. Don’t worry; I am a parent of two kids, 16 and 12. We all want the best for our children, but most people forget to do the most crucial thing—learn. Fixed versus…
Retirement Planning for the Average Person 5
Sometimes we must admit when we are wrong. I find myself in this position today—humbled. There was one core truth I believed, but it has changed recently. I believed you could stay in the workforce long enough to create a truly passive income retirement. For example, you could work until you earned $5,000/month in dividends.…
5 Takeaways from “Walk Yourself Wealthy”
“Walk Yourself Wealthy” by Dominic Hodgson is the ultimate guide to running an elite dog-walking business. I chose this book because I have a dog, am retiring, and want to stay in shape. Therefore, perhaps dog walking is something I can do in my spare time. Dog walking is a business. As such, you can…
Welcome to The T.I.C.E.S. Society: Tycoon, Investor, Creator, Entrepreneur, Scholar
It’s hard to express how fragile our lives become without knowledge. When we depend on a job, a person, or a government to save us, they usually come up short. Americans have become more educated over the years—meaning more people have college degrees than ever. However, most people need more financial education to grow a…
Dating with Dividends: Find Your True Love through Budgeting
Budgeting together is my definition of true love. Yes, it doesn’t sound sexy or romantic, but it’s practical and successful. My wife and I met in a far-off foreign land in 2004; I was 23, and she was 20. It was love at first sight. I told her I loved her in three days. Now,…
Becoming an Entrepreneur #4: Training vs. Education
The most difficult concept for most starving entrepreneurs to grasp is the idea of training versus education. There is a massive difference between these learning techniques. Eventually, as an entrepreneur, you’ll find yourself in new territory where no one else has traveled. If you don’t understand the difference, you will find yourself lost in the…
Bond Investing in Your 60s
What happens when you turn 60 (59.5)? That’s right; you gain access to your taxable 401Ks and non-taxable Roth IRAs. I’m not a big fan of the 401K system because it is basically a high-yield savings account. We have people turning 60 with a large pot of money and no skills to handle it. Welcome…
Homeownership Will Only be for the Rich
When did Americans become so greedy? Okay, I may need to word this differently. When did Americans become so entitled? As Americans, we want to work a standard job but own a home, drive two late-model cars, and put our kids through private school and college. And we want to do all these things without…
5 Takeaways from “Create Something Awesome”
“Create Something Awesome” by Roberto Blake is a working template for success in any creative pursuit. If you plan on becoming a creator, this is the manual for you. People have glamorized being a creator, with most failing to understand the amount of dedication and discipline it takes. Don’t worry; Mr. Blake is here to…
Retiring to a Small City and Living on Passive Income
Are you living in a big city attempting to fulfill the American Dream? How’s that working out for you? Even in small remote towns, the American Dream can cost upwards of $5 million. Actually, it’s more than that, just from last year’s inflation. If you are seriously considering retiring before 50, you must be extreme…
The Information: Passive Income is Your Only Chance at Happiness
Perhaps the title is slightly over the top, but I’ll explain my reasoning. I am writing this article for one reason: to quickly quote “the information.” Over my years of writing, I have begun to write “the information” as a quick reference to passive income, business, and entrepreneurship. For example, I say things like, “I…
Time is Money #3: Invest by Creating Infinite Returns for the Future
Most of us understand that we should be investing in our futures. The general media teaches us that putting money into a 401K is investing; however, it is more akin to saving. Yes, the money goes into the stock market, but you still “think” like a saver. Today, let’s discuss how to “create” money like…
The $5 per Week Dividend Investor: Time to Get Started
No more excuses. Let’s try something different today. I want to start you off as a dividend investor at the lowest level. Most people believe you need a ton of money to become a dividend investor. This theory is partially true. If you want to retire on dividends alone, you will need millions of dollars—true.…
