When I got married, my wife had just graduated with a degree in HR. I was completing an internship between my sophomore and junior years. We were broke. We had a little bit of debt and still needed to pay for school. On our honeymoon we packed a cooler full of soda, ham sandwiches, and … Continue reading Frugality or deprivation?
Principles
How fees can ruin your retirement
The banking and investment worlds are full of fees. I really learned this while working at Wells Fargo. Boy did they charge fees! Some avoidable, some inevitable. Just want a checking account (no savings or credit card)? $10/month fee. Sending a wire transfer? $35 fee. Receiving a wire? $15 fee. Want your credit card to … Continue reading How fees can ruin your retirement
What I wish I knew about money 10 years ago
I'm 31 years old. Still pretty young to consider "retiring" in 5 years, right? Well, if I understood money at age 21 like I do now, I suspect I would be hitting my retirement number in 1-2 years. Reaching financial independence can be simple if you start young. I don't think I made a lot of … Continue reading What I wish I knew about money 10 years ago
When to stop saving and start investing
I've said before that I've always been a saver, but only recently I've started become an investor outside of retirement accounts (IRAs and 401ks). Saving and investing are often used interchangeably, but I get a lot of questions from inexperienced investors on how the two should fit into their lives. Whether or not you hope … Continue reading When to stop saving and start investing
How do I start investing?
When I started working full-time in my early 20s, I had very little financial literacy. Ironically, I was working in a bank, and most colleagues didn't know a whole lot other than "our 401(k) plan is awesome." As I went through the required new hire training courses, the 401(k) section talked heavily about the benefits … Continue reading How do I start investing?
The 4% Rule
If you're ever thinking of retiring, you should familiarize with the 4% rule. The basics of the 4% rule: when you "retire", calculate what's 4% of your nest egg*¹, and withdraw no more than this amount annually (adjust/increase each year for inflation), and your nest egg will*² never be depleted throughout your retirement*³. Why 4%? … Continue reading The 4% Rule
Salary Optional 