How A Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust Can Reduce Estate Taxes
Lately, I’ve been thinking more about estate planning. Part of it is just getting older. Part of it is having young children I want to...
Artificially Feeling Poor May Help You Grow Rich One Day
What if one of the best ways to get wealthy is to trick yourself into thinking you’re broke? It sounds counterintuitive, even ridiculous. But after...
Venture Capital Investment Terms To Know: MOIC, TVPI, & More
If you’re thinking about investing in venture capital or any private fund, you need to understand these five key terms: MOIC, TVPI, DPI, Loss Ratio,...
FIRE May Make Building Multi-Generational Wealth Impossible
If you want to FIRE, one of my regrets was pulling the ripcord too early at age 34 in 2012. Even though I started writing...
Treasury Bonds Can Appreciate In Value Too – Don’t Ignore Them
During a bull market, most investors get excited about chasing risk. Despite sky-high valuations, there’s a tendency to double down on even riskier bets in...
To Be A Successful Landlord, Setting Expectations Is A Must
The older I get, the more I dislike being a landlord. There’s too much potential for disappointment, misunderstanding, or outright unpleasant moments. When you’re dealing...
Not Regularly Checking Your Net Worth Has Some Great Benefits
I haven’t checked my net worth for four and a half months until recently. That wasn’t on purpose, because normally, since 2012, I check at...
Owner-Occupancy Mortgage Fraud: Benefits, Risks, Workarounds
Embattled Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook is facing accusations of mortgage fraud—specifically, owner-occupancy mortgage fraud. The claim is that she took out two mortgages in...
20-Year Treasury Bonds At 5% Looks Attractive For Retirees
I recently had a zero-coupon Treasury Bill redeem in the amount of $102,000. This money is part of the 35% of my taxable brokerage portfolio...
Daddy Day Camp: Worth Trying At Least Once As A FIRE Parent
If you decide to forsake making maximum money to become a FIRE parent or stay-at-home parent, then you had best spend more time with your...
The Most Common Tax Planning Mistakes For High Earners
If my posts on the mistake of chasing value stocks or the need to invest big money to make life-changing money don’t resonate, consider hiring...
How To Eliminate That Intense Financial FOMO You’re Feeling
Back in 2012, I thought I had finally conquered financial FOMO after walking away from a well-paying finance job. But after having children, I’ve noticed...
When Investing Is More Alluring Than Spending, Fight Back Hard!
In my post, “How You’ll Feel Achieving Various Millionaire Milestones,” a commenter named Joseph shared these thoughts: “I’m fascinated by someone worth $10M or $20M not feeling...
Stop Investing In Value Stocks Over Growth If You Want To FIRE
Since writing about FIRE in 2009, I’ve favored investing in growth stocks over value stocks. As someone who wanted to retire early from finance, my...
The Need For Investing Big Money To Make Life-Changing Money
This type of post only surfaces during a bull market, when greed tug at us the hardest, making satisfaction elusive. Ever since making my first...
Earning Passive Income Requires Optimization And Sacrifice
After a week of reviewing the tax-free exclusion rule for selling a rental property, I decided not to sell. I’d already used my $500,000 tax-free...
The Acceleration Of AI Growth With Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise
On the latest episode of the Financial Samurai podcast, I sat down with Ben Miller, cofounder and CEO of Fundrise, for a deep dive into artificial intelligence,...
The Futility Of Chasing A Hot IPO And What To Do Instead
When I worked in Equities at Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse, we would occasionally bring a hot IPO deal to market. During the company roadshow,...
How To Use The Tax-Free Home Sale Exclusion Every Two Years
In Spring 2025, I sold one of my properties and successfully excluded $500,000 in capital gains, tax-free, thanks to the IRS Section 121 Exclusion. For...
The Shocking Power Of Getting A Different Perspective
Since starting Financial Samurai in 2009, I've encouraged folks to keep an open mind and embrace as many different perspectives as possible. So often, we...
You Should Love The 529 Plan More After OBBBA Passed
As soon as both my children were born in 2017 and 2019, I superfunded their 529 plans equal to the five-year gift tax exemption. At...
How Cultural Differences Can Hurt Your Chances In The Workplace
When I lived overseas, one of the most celebrated aspects of my international schools was cultural diversity. At the International School of Kuala Lumpur, Taipei...
The Cost To Remodel A Rundown Two-Bedroom In-Law Unit
After remodeling a fixer I bought in 2019 between 2019–2022, I swore I would never take on another remodeling project again. I hate remodeling with...
The Healing Power of Returning to Your Childhood Home
One of the main reasons I refused to spend a small fortune renting a vacation property in Honolulu was because I wanted to stay in...
What It Takes to Feel Wealthy Today Is Less Than Before
How much money do you need to feel financially comfortable or wealthy? The answer depends on where you live, your household size, and your lifestyle...
The Step-Up In Cost Basis And The Estate Tax Threshold
Imagine spending your life building wealth, investing in real estate, stocks, or your business, with the hope of leaving a legacy for your children. Then...
The Richest People Are Not Index Fund Fanatics – Why Are You?
I love index funds and ETFs for their low-cost nature and simplicity of ownership. However, if you want to build generational wealth before traditional retirement...
In Defense Of Owning A Big Beautiful Home Over A Small One
The value of owning a big, beautiful home is underappreciated. Somewhere along the way, society began favoring minimalism and smaller living spaces, often dismissing larger...
Low US Household Leverage Bodes Well For The Economy
One of the things that gives me great comfort about the health of the U.S. economy is our historically low household leverage. According to the Federal Reserve...
The Cost of Supercommuting: Way More Than Just Gas Money
A typical supercommuter spends 60–90 minutes or more one way commuting to work or school. As the cost of living continues to outpace wage growth, supercommuting is...
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s (OBBBA) Impact On FIRE Seekers
On July 3, the House narrowly passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) with a 218–214 vote. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the...
Millionaire Migrations: Where Millionaires Are Moving Globally
If you became a newly minted millionaire, where would you migrate to? Due to inertia, I bet most of you would stay right where you...
The Dumbbell Investing Strategy: Balancing Risk and Safety
Ever since I left my day job in 2012, I’ve used a form of the dumbbell investing strategy to grow my wealth while protecting against...
En Suite Bathrooms: The Secret to The Perfect Guest-Ready Home
We’re staying with our parents for five weeks in Honolulu, and I wanted to share a little revelation I’ve learned about making a home guest-ready....
Why I’ll Never Manage Money for Anyone for Free Again
About a year ago, a relative asked me to help manage her money. She had been paying a ~1% asset management fee with Goldman Sachs...
Sleep In, Stay Broke: Wake Up Earlier for Financial Success
I’m convinced that if you wake up just one hour earlier every day for the next 10 years, you’ll not only accomplish far more, but...
Your Perception of War and Death Depends on Your Experiences
When the U.S. bombed three locations in Iran, my initial reaction was a mix of hope and sadness. Hope—because I wished it might lead to...
Think In Two Timelines If You Want To Build Greater Wealth
If you want to grow your wealth faster than the average person, I suggest trying to think in two timelines that move together in unison....
You Can’t Save The World, So Mind Your Own Finances
When I first started Financial Samurai back in 2009, I had idealistic dreams of helping as many people as possible achieve financial freedom. My finances...
Execution Fear: The Silent Killer of Great Real Estate Deals
One of the most overlooked risks in real estate investing isn’t rising interest rates, leverage, or even tenant issues—it’s execution fear. You run the numbers. The...
Mommies, Nannies, Au Pairs, and Me: The End Of Being A SAHD
When my son was born in 2017, I decided to focus on being a stay-at-home dad (SAHD). Every early childhood development book I read emphasized...
A Terrible Life Insurance Mistake That Cost Me A Fortune
In late 2022, my wife and I were finally able to lock in matching 20-year term life insurance policies at an affordable rate through Policygenius....
The Best Way To Determine If You Have Enough Money
I recently received a question that boils down to this: How do you know when you have enough money? And once you do, when is...
Descending The Corporate Ladder: A Solution To A Better Life
Feeling burned out and underappreciated? Tired of managing people and just want to focus on your craft? Thinking about going back to school to do...
The Hidden Dangers of Earning Risk-Free Passive Income
I’ve been focused on building passive income since 1999, back when I had to be in the office by 5:30 a.m. and worked past 7...
The Time To Participate In A No-Spend Challenge Is Now
Have you heard of the no-spend chalenge? It’s a popular concept among budget-minded and minimalist bloggers who encourage us to save more and declutter our...
Rich Banks of Mom & Dad Are Everywhere—Accept It and Adapt
If you are a parent, your mission is clear: develop into a rich Bank of Mom & Dad to save your children. If you don’t...
The Rise Of Everyday Middle-Class Multi-Millionaires
There is more wealth out there than you think. But the government and media sometimes likes to trick us into believing there is not. Government...
The Choices We Make To Achieve Financial Freedom Aren’t For All
After publishing Why We Keep Spending Even Though We Know We Shouldn't, I realized something important: the real reason I wasn’t willing to spend on a...
Why We Keep Spending Even When We Know We Shouldn’t
Spending money is an American pastime. With a national saving rate hovering around 5%, it's clear we collectively love to spend. And honestly, being able...
Accepting A Preemptive Offer vs. Listing On The Open Market
When you decide to sell a house, you might encounter a preemptive offer—a bid that arrives before you list publicly on the open market or...
How An ARM Can Save And Make You More Money On A Home
About once a month, I get an email or comment from a reader criticizing adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) as a poor financial choice. Since I’ve been...
The Best Psychological Trick To Boost Your Wealth Beyond Belief
Believing you deserve to be rich is one of the most powerful psychological tricks to boost your wealth. With trillions of dollars circulating in the...
Why Sell Your Rental Property Even If You’re Bullish On Prices
I'm bullish on real estate. Yet I recently sold another rental property. This type of incongruence between thought and action can feel unsettling and even...
Buying The Dip: Overcome Fear During A Correction And Prosper
During the recent stock market correction, I decided to buy the dip. But this time, I didn’t just buy my usual dip-buying amount of $25,000...
Health Issues Or A Disability May Force You To Retire Early
Before I retired from finance in 2012, I struggled with chronic back pain, sciatica, and TMJ. The stress was so overwhelming, I even paid a...
How You’ll Feel Reaching Various Millionaire Milestones ($1-$20M)
To celebrate the launch of Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps To Seven Figures, I want to share how you might feel and what you might do as...
Behind The Scenes Of The Millionaire Milestones Book
After three years of writing, rewriting, and refining, I’m thrilled to officially celebrate the launch of Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps To Seven Figures today! This...
When You Don’t Want Your Kids To Be Just Like You
There comes a moment when your child might look up and say, with wide-eyed innocence: “I want to go to the office and type on...
What A Recession Is Like For Early Retirees: The Good and Bad
If we're not already in a recession, we may soon enter one due to aggressive trade policies that are fueling tremendous uncertainty. As companies and...
The Income Limit To Qualify For College Scholarships And Grants
If you’re a personal finance enthusiast with kids, you’ve probably wondered: at what household income level will colleges stop offering scholarships and grants (i.e., free...
Use Stock Market Downturns To Make Your Kids Millionaires
Nobody enjoys a stock market downturn, especially those who rely more on returns to survive due to a lack of active income. But as parents,...
The Last Mile Is Where Success Is Made: Always Close The Loop
In 1997, Gary Winnick founded Global Crossing, a company with the bold vision of laying undersea fiber-optic cables to build a global IP-based telecommunications network....
Income And Net Worth Required To Afford A $10 Million Home
To celebrate the launch of my new book, Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps To Seven Figures, on May 6, 2025, I thought it’d be fun to...
The Early Retiree’s Guide to Funding Retirement Accounts
When it comes to saving for retirement, knowing which account to fund first is like knowing which steps to take when climbing a mountain. You...
How To Easily Determine The Right Amount Of Stock Exposure
Only when the stock market goes down do people start to wonder whether they have too much exposure to stocks (equities). Questions arise: Should I cut...
Staging A Home Is Worth It Because Buyers Lack Imagination
When it comes to selling a home, first impressions are everything. Yet, many sellers make the mistake of thinking buyers can look past an empty...
How To Survive The Most Dangerous Time After Buying A House
The first year after purchasing a house is the most dangerous and potentially challenging period. This is particularly true for first-time homebuyers who likely stretched...
The Precarious Life of Dual Unemployed Parents (DUPs)
With a likely recession and potentially stagflation on the horizon, I suspect many more families will join us as DUPs: Dual Unemployed Parents. Mass layoffs...
My Bear Market Investment Game Plan: Adjusting the Strategy
Creating an investment game plan is a crucial part of building lasting wealth. Without one, you're likely to accumulate far less over your lifetime. Now...
Sacrificing The Stock Market For The Good Of Your Loving Home
As stocks plummet and recession fears grow, there’s one silver lining worth highlighting: the increasing value of your home, if you own one. A home...
Reciprocal Tariffs Actually Make Wealthy Americans Even Richer
Reciprocal tariffs will drive up the cost of most goods, making everyday life more expensive for American households. According to Fitch Ratings, the U.S. tariff...
Putting Up A Paywall To Fight AI And Support My Family
Well, folks, after 16 years of diligently writing three free posts a week, I’ve finally decided to erect a paywall. Originally, starting in 2009, my...
Stagflation Is Worse Than A Recession: Here’s How To Prepare
Stagflation is a rare and challenging economic condition where slow or stagnant growth, high unemployment, and persistent inflation occur simultaneously. Typically, inflation rises when an...
Various Things Children Can Do To Earn Money For A Business
One of my goals is to put my kids to work so they can earn money, contribute to a Roth IRA, and learn the value...
Helping Others While Making Millions On YouTube And TikTok
Back in 2019, I remember being surprised at a survey by toy maker Lego that asked young adults what they wanted to be when they...
When To Cut Your Financial Losses When Paying For Service
To my dismay, my beloved hot tub stopped working the other day. It had been fully operational since 2016, but when I went to visit...
Live-To-Work Is Back And It May Cost You A Great Fortune
Since 2009, I’ve been writing about the importance of working to live—accumulating wealth to achieve financial independence and freedom ASAP. But despite years of advocating...
The Only Reasons To Pay Off A Low-Interest-Rate Mortgage Early
Despite the wonderful peace of mind that comes with owning a home free and clear, deciding to pay off a low-interest rate mortgage early is...
Driving A 28-Year-Old Beater Made Me Love My Car Again
While visiting my parents in Honolulu this past winter, I ended up driving my dad's 28-year-old beater for eight days. He bought that Toyota Avalon...
A Paid-Off Home Is A Great Shield Against Fear And Uncertainty
As I sadly watch my stock portfolio correct by over 10%, I find serenity in my paid-off home. No matter how much the stock market...
The Positive Impact A Recession Can Have On Your Life
Unfortunately, the chances of another recession are increasing, largely due to the uncertainty set forth by the new administration. When uncertainty rises, we collectively tend...
The Three Step Process To Investing A Lot Of Money Wisely
Let's say you've come into a large sum of money—perhaps $1 million or more from stock grants, a bonus, or the sale of a home....
Awaken Your Inner Vulture Investor To Survive And Thrive
With fears of a recession rising again largely thanks to the Trump administration’s aggressive policy measures—tariffs, spending cuts, aggressive layoffs, and an increasingly combative trade...
Chaos, Fear, And Uncertainty: Wonderful For Real Estate Investors
As I watch my stock portfolio correct, I take solace in knowing that my real estate portfolio continues to chug along despite the chaos, fear,...
Waiting For The Perfect Price Could Easily Hurt Your Lifestyle
I recently came across an eye-opening chart by the National Association of Realtors showing that the median age of first-time U.S. homebuyers is now 38...
How To Make Your Children Millionaires Before They Leave Home
If you don’t believe the world will grant your children a fair chance to succeed, you may want to take matters into your own hands...
Trying Your Best When There’s Little To No Chance Of Succeeding
If you knew that no matter how hard you tried, success was impossible or practically impossible, would you still push yourself to the limit? Or...
The Million-Dollar Mindset of Personal Finance Enthusiasts
I keep reflecting on how incredible 2024 was. With the S&P 500 up 23%, Bitcoin surging, and residential real estate climbing in most of the...
The Ideal Vacation Property Size Depends On Your Primary Home
Unless you are incredibly rich, it's highly likely that your vacation property is smaller than your primary residence. Having a smaller vacation property is a...
Having Kids Might Not Hurt Your Ideal FIRE Lifestyle After All
There are plenty of reasons people choose not to have kids, with the cost of raising them being a major one. Another big factor is...
A Home Within Walking Distance of Everything Might Not Be Ideal
When I lived in the Marina neighborhood of San Francisco, I could walk to endless bars and restaurants within 10 minutes. It was the perfect...
Partying Like A Young Degenerate Is Not Good For Your Finances
Recently, I went off the deep end—living like a degenerate gambler and party animal—and I wanted to reflect on it. Perhaps to nobody's surprise, I...
Rewarding Based on Merit Alone: Great in Theory, Tough in Reality
One of the reasons I left my job at Credit Suisse was that I no longer felt I was being paid based on merit. After...
Buy A Fully Remodeled, Move-In Ready Home Over A Fixer-Upper
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned the hard way in real estate, it’s that a full-on, gut-remodel can be a nightmare. After years of painful,...
Tax Cuts for the Middle Class and Retirees: A Win for Your Wallet
On February 6, 2025, the White House announced a series of tax cuts primarily benefitting the middle class and retirees. Here’s what’s on the table: No tax...
Don’t Lose Financial Opportunities Due To A Lack Of Hard Work
The beauty of hard work is that any able-bodied person can do it. If you put in more hours honing your craft than the average...
Trade Wars Could Be What The Housing Market Needs To Heat Up
As a stock market investor, I’m disappointed in the new tariffs President Trump has imposed—10% on imports from China and 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada,...
Federal Government Employees, Take The Severance Package
As someone who literally wrote the book on how to negotiate a severance package, I love severance case studies! The second rule of FIRE (Financial...
The Case For Open-Ended Venture Capital Funds Over Closed Ones
One adjustment I'm making to my net worth asset allocation is reducing exposure to closed-end venture capital funds while increasing allocation to open-ended venture capital...
Deep Panic Thanks To DeepSeek’s Fast, Open-Source AI Model
China's DeepSeek has shaken up the AI world with the release of an open-source AI model that reportedly outperformed OpenAI's in several benchmarks. Even more...
New Book! Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps To Seven Figures
After over two years of writing and editing, I’m thrilled to finally share my upcoming new book with you: Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps To Seven...
Bought Stock On Margin At A 12.575% Interest Rate And Survived
If there's one thing I don't recommend, it's buying stock on margin. Due to the volatility of stocks and high margin interest rates, borrowing money...
Why Residential Commercial Real Estate Looks Attractive in 2025
In this Financial Samurai podcast episode, I speak to Ben Miller, co-founder and CEO of Fundrise about his outlook for residential commercial real estate in 2025. Despite...
Living Well On $500K A Year: Escaping The Rat Race Faster
A couple earning $500,000 a year should feel rich, right? That’s top 2% territory in America—plenty of cash to save, invest, and splurge on the...
How To Make Money From A Whole Life Insurance Policy
Did you know that a whole life insurance policy can actually help you make money? It’s true—and it’s a strategy sometimes used by those with...
Know The Details Before A Fire Occurs
With the tragic fire that occurred in Lahaina, Maui, hurricanes ripping through Florida yearly, and now the devastating Southern California fires, it's important to review...
Calculate Your Excess Investment Returns To Feel Awesome
2025 has gotten off to a rough start with devastating fires and corrections in stocks, bonds, and other risk assets. So, I thought it’d be...
Safeguarding Your Future from AI: The Existential Crisis Playbook
Artificial intelligence (AI) is causing an existential crisis for many workers, myself included. With the rise of AI, I’ve often found myself wondering: what’s the...
Hire A Top-Tier or Average Real Estate Agent at Lower Commission
One of my goals for 2025 is to simplify life by selling a rental property. A key decision in this process is whether to hire...
Why You Could Make More In Retirement Than While Working
One of the biggest reasons I was against contributing to a Roth IRA is my belief that most people won’t make more money in retirement...
Feeling Poor As A Child May Help Them Grow Rich In Many Ways
If you're a FIRE parent, one of your biggest concerns might be raising a spoiled and entitled child who takes hard work and money for...
2025 Goals And Resolutions: Back To A Simple Retirement Life
Happy New Year everyone! I hope you’re enjoying the time off and doing some reflecting. I’ve returned to San Francisco and am ready to relax...
2024 Year In Review: A Year Of Transition And Luck
With 2024 almost done, I'd like to share my year in review. For the vast majority of investors, this was a banner year, with the...
Best Of Financial Samurai 2024: Favorite Posts And Popular Reads
As we wrap up 2024, it’s time to highlight the best posts from Financial Samurai this year. When I started Financial Samurai in July 2009,...
Got Downgraded To Economy Class And It Felt Fantastic!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone! I'm spending the week with my parents in Oahu and wanted to share my latest travel adventure. Personally, I...
美元利率趨勢如何影響通膨率?
何影響通膨率 Russell 2000 是關注小型股公司的重要基準指數。 Russell 3000 的這個子集由大約 2,000 家上市公司組成,約佔該指數市值的 10%。交易者經常用它來將小型公司的業績與道瓊工業平均指數和標準普爾 500 指數等其他流行市場指數進行比較。 要上榜,公司必須滿足富時羅素所訂定的某些標準。例如,它必須在紐約證券交易所或納斯達克交易所上市,並且不能在粉紅單或公告板上交易。此外,它在排名日的股價必須至少為 1 美元才有資格。最後,它必須被視為一家小型公司,其定義是市值低於 20 億美元。 美元利率走勢 為了保持對小型股公司的關注,該指數每年都會進行幾次審查。在此年度流程中,公司將根據其當前市值進行添加或刪除。當一家公司的市值成長超過該閾值時,它將被轉移到追蹤大盤股的羅素 1000 指數。 美元利率趨勢如何影響通膨率? 交易者可以透過共同基金和交易所交易基金 (ETF) 直接投資於...
Earn Active Income For Wants, Use Passive Income For Needs
When you reach financial independence or retirement you may eventually experience a sense of emptiness. After years of hard work, aggressive saving, and smart investing,...
The Biggest Flex By Men Is Not What You Think
“Flexing” is a slang term that means showing off or boasting about one's accomplishments, possessions, or skills, often with the intention of impressing others. For...
Cheap, Fun, And Practical Buys With Your Stock Market Returns
With another strong year in the stock market, it’s time for investors to celebrate! While marveling at the growth of your portfolio is satisfying, a...
The Biggest Financial Misconception About Applying To College
After speaking to dozens of parents, a principal a couple of times, and a financial aid officer, I've determined the biggest financial misconception about applying...
Capitalizing On The Return To Office: Big City Real Estate Insights
Real estate is inherently local, with property values closely tied to the economic drivers and characteristics of specific regions. While understanding the national housing price...
2025 Housing Price Forecasts: Continued Strong Gains
Now that I’ve shared the 2025 S&P 500 target price forecast, let’s dive into housing price forecasts for 2025. The outlook from housing analysts is...
Wealth vs. Morality: The Dilemma of Profiting From Sin
Sin—actions deemed morally wrong or harmful—can be difficult to resist, especially when money is involved. A hefty paycheck or a prestigious title can make it easier...
Boldin Financial Planner Review: Financial Freedom Made Easier
I recently had dinner with Steve Chen, founder of Boldin, in San Francisco, and I’m excited to deepen my partnership with his company. Since first...
Maximizing Tax-Free Income and Capital Gains In Retirement
There’s a lot of enthusiasm for Roth IRA conversions and Mega Backdoor Roth IRAs—and for good reason. Paying taxes upfront on your retirement accounts can...
2025 Wall Street S&P 500 Forecasts Are All Bullish – Uh Oh!
The 2025 Wall Street S&P 500 forecasts are rolling in, and so far, the outlook is all bullish. I haven't found a single bearish forecast,...
How One Lucky Financial Break Can Change Everything For Good
I firmly believe that above-average wealth is largely a result of luck. If we fail to recognize our lucky financial breaks, we risk confusing our...
The Santa Claus Rally Phenomenon And Its Origins
The Santa Claus Rally refers to a historically observed stock market phenomenon where U.S. equity markets tend to perform well during the last five trading days of...
Mega Backdoor Roth IRA: Supercharging Your Retirement Savings
Ever since I started saving for retirement in 1999, I’ve been a proponent of tax-deferred retirement vehicles like the 401(k) and skeptical of tax-now vehicles...
Key Factors To Consider Before Changing Health Insurance Plans
Health insurance is one of the most complex and aggravating topics for both consumers and providers in the US. Speak with anyone based outside the...
Return On Effort (ROE) Is Your Key To Unlocking A Better Life
If you want to optimize your life, it's essential to understand the concept of Return on Effort (ROE). The higher your ROE, the more you...
A Net Worth Equal To 25X Expenses Is Not Enough To Retire Early
Being financially independent means having enough passive income to cover your essential or desired living expenses. A common guideline is to aim for a net...
The 4% Rule: Clearing Up Misconceptions With Bill Bengen
I had the pleasure of speaking with Bill Bengen, creator of the “4% Rule” for retirement planning. Bill has been a reader of Financial Samurai...
Uncover Your True Investment Risk Profile: It’s Not What You Think
After reviewing my analysis on a conversation I had with a financial professional in 2013, I decided to take another close look at my finances....
The Power Of Losing: How Setbacks Can Lead To Success
One reason many people shy away from competition is that they dislike losing. With often only one winner, the sting of defeat can feel too...
2025 401(k) Contribution Limits: Bigger Savings, Better Retirement
The 401(k) contribution limit for employees in 2025 has increased to $23,500, up from $23,000 in 2024. The employer contribution limit also rises to $46,500,...
Financial Planning Through Changing Presidencies: My Journey
With Donald Trump set to become the 47th President of the United States, it’s natural to wonder what this new administration could mean for your...
Four Years Later, You’re Likely Way Better Off Than You Think
Every time a political candidate asks if you’re better off than four years ago, I can’t help but sigh. The implication, regardless of party, is...
2025 Tax Brackets: New Ideal Incomes for Workers and Retirees
The IRS has announced new income limits for its seven tax brackets for 2025, with income thresholds increased by about 2.7% to adjust for inflation....
The Surprising Benefits Of Donating To Your Kid’s School
Out of all the things you could donate your hard-earned money to, giving to your child's school might not be at the top of your...
Apply Stop Losses To Protect Your Wealth And Quality Of Life
As an investor, it’s essential to understand that risk assets come with no guaranteed returns. Setting and following a stop loss can help protect your...
Finishing Rich Despite A Low-Return Stock Market Environment
Since the bottom of the global financial crisis in July 2009, the S&P 500 has generally experienced a strong bull market. While there were challenging...
Overwhelmed, Not Bored: An Unexpected Challenge Of Retirement
Before retiring in 2012, I didn't fear boredom or loneliness. It never occurred to me that I would be bored with so much potential freedom....
我可以在線上差價合約交易平台上交易多種資產嗎?
我可以在線上差價合約交易平 交易者可以選擇在各種市場上交易差價合約。他們還可以從槓桿中受益並賺取股息。然而,他們應該意識到風險增加以及滿足最低資本要求的必要性。第一步是選擇線上差價合約交易平台。最好的平台提供多種資產類別、低點差和高執行速度。他們也遵守 AML/KYC 法規。 差價合約是金融衍生品,允許交易者交易股票、黃金和白銀等大宗商品以及加密貨幣等標的資產的價格變動。差價合約可以在廣泛的全球市場上進行交易。差價合約部位的利潤或損失是透過將合約的交易規模乘以其價格變動並減去所收取的任何費用來計算的。其中包括佣金和隔夜融資成本。 在線cfd交易平台 交易者在交易差價合約時可以使用槓桿來增加潛在利潤和市場曝險。這使得他們能夠持有原本無法觸及的大部位。然而,他們必須意識到,使用槓桿會增加風險,他們應該經常監控他們的投資組合。這包括評估他們的長期投資目標。 差價合約交易為交易者提供了進入各種市場的機會,包括股票、指數、商品和貨幣。無論交易者認為價格會上漲(做多)還是下跌(做空),他們都可以對這些資產建倉。與傳統股票交易不同,交易者並不擁有標的資產,而只是猜測其價格走勢。 我可以在線上差價合約交易平台上交易多種資產嗎? 交易者可以受益於線上差價合約交易的靈活性,這使他們能夠投資於廣泛的市場,而無需在股票經紀人處開設帳戶。差價合約還提供槓桿,可以放大利潤和損失。然而,交易者應確保選擇信譽良好且有執照的經紀商,以避免不必要的成本和費用。這包括隔夜融資費用和佣金。交易者還應該熟悉可用的不同類型的訂單。 透過差價合約提供的市場和標的資產的數量可能因經紀商而異,因此驗證您選擇的經紀商是否提供您想要交易的市場和工具非常重要。優秀的經紀人將提供廣泛的股票、商品、貨幣和指數以及比特幣等加密貨幣的清單。 差價合約交易允許交易者在市場上做多或做空,這意味著他們可以從價格上漲或下跌中獲利。此功能對於希望對沖現有投資的交易者特別有用,因為它可以降低整體風險。透過差價合約,您還可以利用槓桿進行交易,這意味著您只需要部位總價值的一小部分作為抵押品。槓桿可以增加潛在利潤,但也會增加您虧損的風險。 差價合約允許交易者進入全球市場,並根據對資產價格上漲或下跌的預期持有多頭(買入)或空頭(賣出)頭寸。他們還提供高槓桿,可以放大利潤和損失。交易者選擇經紀商提供的差價合約資產,例如股票、指數、商品或貨幣。然後他們選擇頭寸類型(多頭或空頭)、槓桿大小、投資金額(保證金)和其他參數。 經紀商透過向客戶收取點差來賺錢,點差是資產的買價和要價之間的差額。他們還可能收取其他費用,例如隔夜融資費用和保證止損。這些費用從交易者的利潤或損失中扣除。選擇差價合約交易平台時,尋找直覺且易於使用的平台非常重要。最好的線上平台提供資產價格歷史的簡單概述,並且可以輕鬆自訂。他們還提供各種交易工具和支援。 除了提供進入各種市場的機會外,最好的線上差價合約交易平台還提供有競爭力的價格。許多經紀商提供較低的每點交易費用和具有競爭力的槓桿率。一些經紀人甚至提供 100 美元的虛擬帳戶,以便在投資真實資金之前試用他們的平台。 eToro 是初學者交易者的另一個絕佳選擇,提供廣泛的社交交易功能和免費的 100,000 美元虛擬投資組合來練習策略。其 CopyTrader 功能允許交易者遵循更有經驗的交易者的交易想法,並可能從他們的見解中獲利。
Reflecting On A Year After Purchasing A House I Didn’t Need
October 2024 marks one year since I purchased the most expensive house I could afford. Leading up to the purchase, I wrestled with uncertainty about...
How Speaking To A Financial Professional Saved Me From Myself
Empower is offering free financial consultations until October 31, 2024, for anyone with over $250,000 in investable assets. I wanted to share my experience speaking...
An 80/20 Stock-Heavy Portfolio in Retirement Might Be Ideal
This guest post is by Vaughn, a long-time Financial Samurai reader who retired at 44 and is now 55. Vaughn's early retirement was driven by...
A Home Insurance Policy Review To Understand What’s Covered
One of the worst experiences for a homeowner is filing a home insurance claim only to be told it's not covered. After years of paying...
A Severance Package Is The Ultimate Catalyst For Early Retirement
Retiring early with a severance package is one of the smartest ways to leave the corporate world. Walking away without trying to secure one could...
Effective Ways To Protect Your Family From Harm’s Way
As a parent, your top priority is to protect your children until they are old enough to fend for themselves. Protecting your children requires good...
Why Retiring Early Is Obviously Better Than Retiring Rich
There are two things most financially-conscience people aspire to: retiring rich or retiring early. But which is better? Many people who haven't retired believe early...
Artificial Intelligence Put My Dad Out Of A Job And I’m Worried
For about 10 years, my father has been my primary editor on Financial Samurai. When my father isn't available, my wife steps in. This system...
Settling The Work From Home Debate Once And For All
One of the most significant developments to come out of the pandemic, if not the greatest, was the shift to remote work for millions of...
Government Grift As A Lucrative Side Hustle To Build More Wealth
I remember being a broke college student during my senior year at The College of William & Mary. A group of us gathered at the...
The Curious Inability To Spend Money On Yourself
Recently, I hit a major milestone in my journey to overcome what I like to call “frugality disease.” I spent $160 for an hour of...
What Creates That Cozy, Nestled Home Feeling In A Big City
Have you ever walked into a home and instantly felt cozy, even in the heart of a bustling city? It's hard to pinpoint exactly why...
The Biggest Concern After Fed Rate Cuts Is Not What You Think
At long last, after four years, the Federal Reserve has finally cut the Fed Funds rate by 50 basis points, bringing the target range down...
Increasing The Retirement Withdrawal Rate At The Wrong Time
If you're increasing your safe withdrawal rate for retirement now, you're likely making a mistake. You might be inadvertently top-ticking the market as the Fed...
The Temptation To Do A Cash-Out Refinance As Rates Collapse
With record-high home equity and declining mortgage rates, the temptation to do a cash-out refinance is growing. I’ve certainly considered it myself. However, after careful...
Car Insurance Fraud As A Side Hustle Is Not Worth The Money
In my post about illegal immigration, a commenter pointed out that I was lucky to avoid greater financial consequences from my car accident. It turns...
Bumped Into An Illegal Immigrant And It Could Have Been Costly
Like millions of others, I watched with intrigue the first—and potentially only—Donald Trump and Kamala Harris presidential debate. One of the most important topics discussed...
Maximizing Real Estate Returns In A Rate Cut Environment
At long last, the time has finally come for the Fed to begin cutting rates in September. As a result, real estate investors will likely...
MIT and Yale’s Class Profiles After the Affirmative Action Ban
In 2013, Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) filed a lawsuit against Harvard University in the U.S. District Court in Boston. They alleged that Harvard's undergraduate...
Direct Indexing: Growing Investment Strategy Among The Wealthy
One of the investing strategies growing in popularity with the wealthy is Direct Indexing. Before my consulting stint at a fintech startup in 2024, I...
Careful Giving Up Your Career To Be A Stay-At-Home Parent- Financial Samurai
In April 2017, I made a commitment to be a stay-at-home parent for the first five years of my son's life. When my daughter was...
The Broke Mindset: Your Contrarian Advantage In Building Wealth
Since I purchased my house in October 2023, I’ve been feeling broke. I’m living paycheck to paycheck to cover my bills and fund venture capital...
Consequences Of A Limited Partner Not Meeting A Capital Call
Last month, I missed a $25,000 capital call without even realizing it. The Managing Partner of the fund, a friend I've known since business school,...
A $20 Million Net Worth Should Be Enough To Live Happy & Free
Needless to say, a $20 million net worth is a substantial amount of money. It firmly places you within the top 1% of net worth,...
To Be A Great Athlete Is Prohibitively Expensive For Most
Like most people, I enjoyed watching the Olympics. Some of us might even imagine our children becoming elite athletes one day. Unfortunately, becoming a great...
Rental Property Maintenance With Your Kids Solves Two Problems
If you're a real estate investor with children, you may face two significant challenges. The first challenge is holding onto your rental property for as...
Performance-Based Commission Rates By Top Real Estate Agents
With the real estate industry finally lowering commission rates after August 17, 2024, a battle is brewing among brokerages and agents to win business. For...
Proof The Real Estate Industry Is Finally Lowering Commissions
I recently received an email from an agent at Sotheby’s, a prominent real estate brokerage with 1,115 offices located in 84 countries and territories worldwide,...
The Minimum Investment Amount Where Work Becomes Optional
In a previous post, I discussed the futility of working when your net worth is declining. During a stock market crash or recession, your Return...
The Pointlessness of Working When Your Net Worth Is Declining
The latest stock market correction cost me about five times what I made consulting part-time for four months. If I were smarter, I would have...
Creating Connections To Save Money and Get Better Service
Life is easier when you can make a positive connection with other people. As I discovered recently, creating a connection with your service provider can...
Stock Market Crashes Can Change Your Life For The Better
On July 16, 2024, we had a mini-stock market crash with the S&P 500 declining from 5,667 to 5,186 by August 5, 2024 (-8.5%). The...
How To Decumulate Wealth: A Practical Guide
Starting at age 45 in 2022, I consciously started focusing on decumulating wealth. I realized that my life was likely half over, and I needed...
Mental Health’s Impact On Life Insurance Coverage And Pricing
In today’s world, we are increasingly aware of the challenges that affect our mental health. Many of us experience mental health conditions ourselves or know...
Money Dysmorphia May Be Growing Inside You: Let’s Cure It
Money dysmorphia is a negative and unrealistic perception of one's financial wellness or position. If you have money dysmorphia, you might constantly worry about your...
The Economics Of Being A Childless Cat Lady Or Gentleman
With elections approaching, let the political mudslinging and dirt-digging begin! This time, it’s regarding being childless and loving cats. Republican VP nominee JD Vance said...
Parent’s Existential Crisis: When All Financial Obligations Are Met
After publishing my post, “When To Stop Contributing To A 529 Plan,” I felt a sense of emptiness. For years, I had been trying to...
I Went Back To Work And Could Only Last Four Months
After 12 years of FIRE (financial independence retire early), I went back to work. Unfortunately, I only lasted four months. Here's my story of what...
Why Rental Property Income Is Superior To Stock Dividends
I'm a fan of both stock dividends and rental property income, my two favorite sources of passive / semi-passive income. When younger and less wealthy,...
Not Having Kids Is Your FIRE Super Power: Don’t Blow It!
There's a classic saying, “Youth is wasted on the young.” It's meant to convey that those who are young lack the perspective to appreciate all...
When To Stop Contributing To A 529 Plan To Fully Fund College
Everyone with children should contribute to a 529 plan. It is a tax-efficient way to save for college since none of the gains are taxable...
What A Trump Presidency Means For Your Finances
The failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump reminds us that more important than political bickering is the value of life. I hope there will be...
Being Even Greedier When Others Are Greedy In A Bull Market
We've all heard the phrase, “Be greedy when others are fearful, and fearful when others are greedy.” But what about being even greedier when others...
View Your Tenants As Guardians Of Your Rental Property
If you have a rental property that is generating positive cash flow and is expected to appreciate in value over time, then you must hold...
Don’t Sell Your Rental Property If You Don’t Have To
If you own a rental property and are thinking of selling, don't do it unless you absolutely have to. To build great wealth, aim to...
Having Cash Could Make You Poorer In Many Ways – Be Careful
During a recent liquidity crunch, I kept thinking how nice it would be to have more cash sitting in my bank account. Once I received...
The Grind Back To Financial Independence: Early Stages Complete
In the second half of 2023, I significantly impacted our passive income, causing our household to technically lose its financial independence. Prior to this, we...
The Challenges Of Living And Working In Honolulu, Hawaii
After taking my family on a nine-day vacation to Honolulu, Hawaii, my plan to relocate there is back in the cards! Since 2014, two years...
The Most Important Personal Finance Ratios To Build Wealth
As an investor, understanding financial ratios is important to help assess the current state of a company. For example, we have P/E ratios, debt/equity ratios,...
Buy The Dream Home Now Or Wait For A Better Price
A large part of building wealth involves delaying gratification. Therefore, you might find yourself wondering whether to buy your dream home now or wait for...
Letting An ARM Reset Is Similar To A Free Mortgage Recast
If you bought a home during a high-interest rate environment, it's wise to prepare for either a mortgage refinance or a recast. Interest rates have...
The Perfect House To Raise A Family In A Big City
Since 2003, I've been climbing up the property ladder to find the perfect house in a big city. What I've realized is that there's no...
Don’t Beat Up Your Opponents Too Badly While Smiling
If you want career, financial, and social success, don't beat up your opponents too badly while smiling. This advice might sound odd or even obvious,...
No Rush To Pay Off Your Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Before Reset
During my days of purchasing homes with mortgages, I had a fondness for adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs). The appeal lay in securing a lower interest rate...
From Part-Time To Full-Time Fatherhood: A Tricky Transition
When my son was born in April 2017, I promised to become a full-time father until he turned five. I was so serious about this...
