Despite my extensive experience of 13 years working in international equities, living abroad for the same duration, and visiting approximately 60 countries, I don't allocate much of my investments to international stocks. I believe the risk outweighs the potential reward, especially when there are already numerous lucrative investment opportunities available in the United States. If […] The post Investing In International Stocks Is...
My life has been filled with rejections, and I've finally come to embrace rejection as a natural part of life. To me, being rejected is akin to the urgent need to visit the bathroom after indulging in too much Taco Bell. The discomfort is undeniable at first as your stomach sours from the inside out. […] The post Embrace Rejection! How Getting Denied...
Amidst a recent whirlwind of car maintenance expenses with my trusty nine-year-old Range Rover Sport, I embarked on a quest to find the most budget-friendly car brands for long-term upkeep. With my finances feeling the pinch, I'm on a mission to squirrel away as much cash as possible over the next three years to regain […] The post Cheapest To Most Expensive Car...
Since middle school, I've embraced frugality, largely influenced by my parents' thrifty habits. They drove aging cars, donned the same clothes for decades, and preferred water at restaurants. Naturally, I adopted these practices. Today, I still drive a nine-year-old car, opt to repair rather than replace my belongings, and typically stick to water when dining […] The post Giving A Gift Card Is...
Contrary to popular belief, it's not the Federal Reserve but the bond market that controls mortgage rates. The Federal Reserve regulates the Fed Funds rate, the overnight lending rate for banks, which sits at the shortest end of the yield curve. When the short end of the yield curve rises, it impacts longer duration rates. […] The post Components That Affect Mortgage Rates...
I recently caught up with Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise in person, about the Innovation Fund's latest investments in private AI (artificial intelligence) companies. Since launching the open-ended venture capital fund in 2H 2022, the Innovation Fund has made a series of promising AI investments that I was eager to learn more about, but unable […] The post Investing In Private AI Companies...
Recently, I received a capital distribution from a private real estate fund, and it couldn't have come at a better time. The experience brought me both joy and relief, prompting me to share it in the hope that it might inspire you to invest more for your future. After purchasing a new home in October […] The post Capital Distributions From Private Real...
Unlike buying a primary residence, where I believe you should buy one as soon as you can afford to, purchasing a vacation property is a different matter. Nobody needs to buy a vacation property; it's a luxury expense that everyone can do without. Chances are, you won't use your vacation property enough times a year […] The post Don’t Buy A Vacation Property...
In 2007, I had a dream of taking my future family on a ski vacation. I was an avid snowboarder and my wife enjoyed the tranquility of Lake Tahoe. After receiving a good bonus, I bought a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo at Everline Resort in Palisades. Our son came ten years later, but we didn't go […] The post Family Ski Vacations: The Cost...
Tipping has become increasingly pervasive, leaving many wondering how much to tip without feeling like a miser. To alleviate this dilemma, I've crafted a tipping guide to help you navigate gratuities with confidence. This guide not only suggests appropriate tip amounts but also explains the rationale behind them. In the past, tipping was a discretionary […] The post A Tipping Guide To Counteract...
The rich are frequently criticized for not contributing their fair portion of taxes. However, when examining income taxes, it becomes evident that the wealthy actually contribute more than their fair share. Here's a chart displaying the proportion of income taxes paid by different income groups from 2001 to 2021. In 2001, the top 1% (considered […] The post The Rich Pay More Than...
After delving into the exorbitant prices of new luxury cars, I've come to the realization that a larger segment of the population is purchasing such vehicles than I initially thought. This trend poses a significant problem for those striving for financial freedom, which is why I've come up with the House-To-Car Ratio guide. I see […] The post The Right House-To-Car Ratio For...
During the global financial crisis in 2008 – 2009, I expected the San Francisco Property Assessor Office to automatically lower my property tax bill. After all, home prices had topped out at the end of 2006 and had declined about 5% a year for three consecutive years. Instead of receiving a property tax bill reduction, […] The post Downgrade Your Property Statistics Online...
If you're a book collector, I wanted to give you a heads up that the first print of the first edition of Buy This Not That is almost sold out. My editor at Portfolio Penguin informed me that the second print of the first edition will arrive in their warehouse on April 24, 2024. Subsequently, […] The post Investing In First Print, First...
Education is the key to freedom for all of us. Therefore, I've made the decision to pursue a doctorate degree instead of seeking a fancy tech job. Specifically, I plan to earn a Doctorate in Business Administration with a focus on real estate from UC Berkeley. Considering my MBA from UC Berkeley in 2006, my […] The post Getting A Doctorate Degree Instead...
