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 finances, even if you are doing well for your age. One significant reason for experiencing money dysmorphia is the unhealthy comparison with others facilitated by social media platforms like Instagram, […] The post Money Dysmorphia May Be Growing...
With elections approaching, let the political mudslinging and insults begin! This time, its regarding being childless and loving cats. Republican VP nominee JD Vance said this during an interview with Tucker Carlson: “It doesn't make any sense that we turned our country over to people who don't really have a direct stake in it. All […] The post The Economics Of Being A...
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 find a logical way to decide when to stop saving for my children's college education. When I finally figured out the answer to my financial obligation, I lost some purpose. […] The post A Parent’s Existential Crisis: When...
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 went wrong. I purposefully waited months to release this post to ensure I was thinking logically and not emotionally. From the end of November 2023 through March 2024, I re-entered […] The post Went Back To Work And...
I'm a fan of both stock dividends and rental property income, my two favorite sources of passive income. When younger and less wealthy, rental property income may be preferable. As you age and accumulate wealth, you'll likely appreciate stock dividend income more for its simplicity. However, stock dividend income's main drawback is that it requires […] The post Why Rental Property Income Is...
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 the advantages of youth and thus take it for granted. After more than seven years of being a parent, it is clear to me that not having kids is a […] The post Not Having Kids Is Your...
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 if used for approved college expenses. Today, it costs about $200,000 in total for four years at the most expensive public colleges and about $400,000 for four years at the […] The post When To Stop Contributing To...
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 a coming together of both parties to help heal and strengthen the spirit of the American people. One inch to the right and Trump would probably be dead today. After […] The post What A Trump Presidency Means...
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 are greedy?! As I sat peacefully in the hot tub recently, I began to recollect all the ways I wasn't greedy enough since graduating from college in 1999. If only […] The post Being Even Greedier When Others...
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 onto it for as long as possible. The problem, however, with being a landlord is that you might have tenant issues that make you want to sell. Being a landlord […] The post View Your Tenants As Guardians...
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 own your rental property for as long as possible. As fate would have it, my great tenants of two years and two months gave me their 30-day notice while I […] The post Don’t Sell Your Rental Property...
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 a $106,000 real estate capital distribution, I felt a tremendous relief. But then I was faced with the somewhat stressful decision of how to reinvest it. My private real estate […] The post Having Cash Could Make You...
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 had been financially independent since 2012, when I left my banking job. My goal now is to regain financial independence by December 31, 2027. To achieve this, I need to […] The post The Grind Back To Financial...
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 after retiring from my finance job, I've been contemplating moving back to Honolulu to spend more time with my parents. However, actually making the move has been much harder than […] The post The Challenges Of Living And...
