News
Entertainment
Science & Technology
Life
Culture & Art
Hobbies
News
Entertainment
Science & Technology
Culture & Art
Hobbies
Not Regularly Checking Your Net Worth Has Some Great Benefits - Financial Samurai
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 least three times a week using Empower’s free app. The only reason I stopped was because I could no longer log in. One day, I was suddenly locked out of
Owner-Occupancy Mortgage Fraud: Benefits, Risks, Workarounds - Financial Samurai
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 two states, within two weeks, while designating both properties as her “primary residence.” If true, it’s a terrible look for someone sitting on the Fed, the very institution tasked with
20-Year Treasury Bonds At 5% Looks Attractive For Retirees - Financial Samurai
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 that’s in bonds. Somewhere between a 60/40 and 70/30 equity/bond split is what I like to maintain at age 48, as a dual-unemployed parent alongside my wife. Given I enjoy
Daddy Day Camp: Worth Trying At Least Once As A FIRE Parent - Financial Samurai
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 kids. Otherwise, you might as well go back to the office and grind under fluorescent lights for 10 hours a day to make that sweet coin. One of the greatest
The Most Common Tax Planning Mistakes For High Earners - Financial Samurai
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 a financial professional to manage your portfolio. You may not be obsessed enough to consistently invest the amount needed to retire comfortably. Offloading the burden of investing frees up your
Stop Investing In Value Stocks Over Growth If You Want To FIRE - Financial Samurai
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 goal was to build as large a capital base as quickly as possible. Once I retired, I could convert these gains into dividend-paying stocks or other income-generating assets to cover
How To Eliminate That Intense Financial FOMO You're Feeling - Financial Samurai
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 more and more relapses. If you’ve found yourself battling the desire for more money than you truly need, this post is for you. Ever since returning to San Francisco from
The Need For Investing Big Money To Make Life-Changing Money - Financial Samurai
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 public equity investment in 1996, I’ve been hooked, wrestling with the constant mental tug-of-war over how to be at peace with my investment decisions. Maybe you fight the same battles.
When Investing Is More Alluring Than Spending, Fight Back Hard! - Financial Samurai
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 wealthy. Are they hanging out with nothing but billionaires? The only other explanation is a scarcity mindset. But I suppose that mindset got them to where they are. They need
Earning Passive Income Requires Optimization And Sacrifice - Financial Samurai
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 exclusion amount and would need to wait at least two more years before I could potentially use the full amount again. Most importantly, I’m on a mission to boost my
The Acceleration Of AI Growth With Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise - Financial Samurai
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, venture capital, and what it really takes to get into the best private company deals. Ben was in San Francisco this summer visiting various portfolio companies and trying to make
The Futility Of Chasing A Hot IPO And What To Do Instead - Financial Samurai
When I worked at Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse, we would occasionally bring a hot IPO deal to market. During the company roadshow, we’d take management around to meet one on one with our largest investors and clients. Sometimes the IPO was so in demand that many clients could not even get a one on
How To Use The Tax-Free Home Sale Exclusion Every Two Years - Financial Samurai
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 those unfamiliar, this powerful rule allows homeowners to exclude up to $250,000 in capital gains if single, or $500,000 if married filing jointly, from the sale of a primary residence—as
The Shocking Power Of Getting A Different Perspective - Financial Samurai
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 get set in our ways and think our approach is the only right way to do things. But I can assure you, you're probably missing something—or could do something a
You Should Love The 529 Plan More After OBBBA Passed - Financial Samurai
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 the time, I was thrilled to do it given a parent's number one responsibility is to provide for their children. Finally, a tax-efficient way to shift some of my assets
The Cost To Remodel A Rundown Two-Bedroom In-Law Unit - Financial Samurai
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 a passion, even though I'm always satisfied after the project is done. The delays, cost overruns, and people management completely bum me out. If you want to save your sanity
What It Takes to Feel Wealthy Today Is Less Than Before - Financial Samurai
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 desires, of course. However, according to the 2025 Charles Schwab Wealth Survey, Americans say it now takes a net worth of $839,000 to feel financially comfortable—up from $778,000 in 2024. More surprisingly, the
How Cultural Differences Can Hurt Your Chances In The Workplace - Financial Samurai
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 American School, and Canadian Academy in Japan, I had classmates from all over the world. With such a diverse student body, there was a natural openness and acceptance of one
The Healing Power of Returning to Your Childhood Home - Financial Samurai
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 my childhood home. The home was built in 1986, when I was nine years old, and I’ve been going back almost every year since. But staying there isn’t just about
The Richest People Are Not Index Fund Fanatics - Why Are You? - Financial Samurai
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 age, consider looking beyond just index funds and index ETFs. Since starting Financial Samurai in 2009, I’ve written extensively about investment strategies, financial independence, and retiring earlier to do what
The Step-Up In Cost Basis And The Estate Tax Threshold - Financial Samurai
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 one day, you find yourself wondering: Will the government take a massive chunk of it anyway? If your estate is well above the federal estate tax exemption threshold — $30 million
In Defense Of Owning A Big Beautiful Home Over A Small One - Financial Samurai
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 homes as “McMansions.” But after spending five weeks living in a much smaller space again, I’ve gained a renewed appreciation for the comfort, privacy, and functionality that a larger home
Low US Household Leverage Bodes Well For The Economy - Financial Samurai
One of the things that gives me great comfort about the health of the U.S. economy is our historically low household leverage (liabilities to net worth). According to the Federal Reserve Board, household leverage is now at an 80-year low—a remarkable sign of financial discipline. So let me be the first to congratulate you for not loading up
The Cost of Supercommuting: Way More Than Just Gas Money - Financial Samurai
A typical supercommuter spends 90 minutes or more one way commuting to work or school. As the cost of living continues to outpace wage growth, supercommuting is growing in popularity. According to a recent U.S. Census Bureau report, an estimated 5 million people are now supercommuters—up from roughly 3.42 million in 2012. I hate long commutes. Taking
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act's (OBBBA) Impact On FIRE Seekers - Financial Samurai
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 bill will add an estimated $3.3 trillion to the budget deficit over the next 10 years. Trump signed the bill the next day on July 4. To help pay for it, OBBBA
Millionaire Migrations: Where Millionaires Are Moving Globally - Financial Samurai
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 are. A lot of us are afraid of change, which is why we stay at jobs we hate and suffer through broken marriages for too long. But how about being
The Dumbbell Investing Strategy: Balancing Risk and Safety - Financial Samurai
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 large losses. It’s a framework that’s helped me stay invested during uncertain times—especially when I felt the urge to hoard cash or sit on the sidelines. If you’re in a situation
En Suite Bathrooms: The Secret to The Perfect Guest-Ready Home - Financial Samurai
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. If you dream of owning a home where friends and family regularly visit—because you genuinely enjoy their company, this post is for you. Not all of us can afford mega-mansions
Why I’ll Never Manage Money for Anyone for Free Again - Financial Samurai
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 Asset Management (GSAM), even though she wasn’t their typical high-net-worth client. The account had been set up through her ex, but since she wanted a clean break, she was ready
Sleep In, Stay Broke: Wake Up Earlier for Financial Success - Financial Samurai
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 also build significant wealth and unlock countless opportunities in life. Conquering the magic of the morning—while most are still asleep—will give you a massive edge. I’m reminded of this truth
Your Perception of War and Death Depends on Your Experiences - Financial Samurai
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 a reduction in weapons of mass destruction. Sadness—because of the likely loss of innocent civilian lives and the heightened danger now facing Americans abroad. I shared these thoughts and feelings
Think In Two Timelines If You Want To Build Greater Wealth - Financial Samurai
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. The first timeline is analyzing what's going on right now. The second timeline is analyzing what could happen in the future, with a consistent spread. It's like having a dual
You Can't Save The World, So Mind Your Own Finances - Financial Samurai
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 were crumbling during the global financial crisis, and I wanted to break free from the corporate grind. So I wrote about how to do just that. But like anything, over
Execution Fear: The Silent Killer of Great Real Estate Deals - Financial Samurai
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 property checks all the boxes. It fits your timeline and lifestyle. You can even picture the steady cash flow hitting your account… Yet you still don’t pull the trigger. It’s
Mommies, Nannies, Au Pairs, and Me: The End Of Being A SAHD - Financial Samurai
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 that the first five years are the most critical for a child’s growth. So I figured, why not spend that time with him? It wasn’t a difficult decision since I
A Terrible Life Insurance Mistake That Cost Me A Fortune - Financial Samurai
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. For five years prior, I had been concerned that I wouldn’t be able to get approved at a reasonable price—all because of a mistake I made by visiting an overzealous
The Best Way To Determine If You Have Enough Money - Financial Samurai
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 it time to shift from chasing excess returns to simply maintaining what you have? There are several ways to approach this question, which I’ll explore in this post. I've come
Descending The Corporate Ladder: A Solution To A Better Life - Financial Samurai
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 something more meaningful? If any of this resonates, don’t quit your job. Instead, it might be time to consider a strategic descent down the corporate ladder to take back control
The Hidden Dangers of Earning Risk-Free Passive Income - Financial Samurai
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 p.m. often. Weekends were another eight hours or so. I knew I couldn’t sustain a traditional 40-year career working those kinds of hours, so I began saving and investing aggressively
The Time To Participate In A No-Spend Challenge Is Now - Financial Samurai
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 lives. The idea is simple: stop spending on non-essentials for a set period and see how much you can save. The more you save (and invest), the sooner you'll achieve