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Trade Wars Could Be What The Housing Market Needs To Heat Up - Financial Samurai
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, including a 10% duty on Canadian energy imports (oil, natural gas, electricity). If these tariffs persist all year without resolution, corporate earnings could take a 2%-3% hit, which means a similar drop in
Federal Government Employees, Take The Severance Package - Financial Samurai
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 Independence Retire Early) is simple: never quit your job—always try to negotiate a severance. If you’re planning to leave anyway, why not attempt to create a win-win scenario and walk
The Case For Open-Ended Venture Capital Funds Over Closed Ones - Financial Samurai
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 funds. Closed-end venture capital funds follow a traditional model: you commit capital, fund capital calls, and rely on the general partners to make great investment choices. I invest up to
Deep Panic Thanks To DeepSeek's Fast, Open-Source AI Model - Financial Samurai
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 startling is the company’s claim that its AI technology was developed for only $5.6 million. This figure has raised eyebrows, especially as companies like OpenAI and Anthropic have spent hundreds
New Book! Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps To Seven Figures - Financial Samurai
Get excited! 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 Figures! If you’ve enjoyed my writing on Financial Samurai over the past 16 years, you’re going to love this book out on May 6, 2025. With over 30
Bought Stock On Margin At A 12.575% Interest Rate And Survived - Financial Samurai
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 to buy stocks is a bad idea. Conversely, I'm not opposed to buying a home on margin, namely through a mortgage, if buying follows a homebuying guideline like the 30/30/3
Why Residential Commercial Real Estate Looks Attractive in 2025 - Financial Samurai
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 high mortgage rates, he's taken a positive view and he shares the main reasons why. Listen to my conversation with Ben by click the play button below or go to
Living Well On $500K A Year: Escaping The Rat Race Faster - Financial Samurai
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 finer things in life. Or so you’d think. But when I dive into the financial lives of high-income households, the reality often doesn’t match the perception. Take, for example, this
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 higher incomes and net worths. For those seeking life insurance coverage, a term life insurance policy is typically the more affordable and simpler choice. Both Sam and I opted for
Calculate Your Excess Investment Returns To Feel Awesome - Financial Samurai
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 a good idea to shift focus to some positives—before they fade as well. Take a moment to calculate your excess investment returns to remind yourself of the good times. When
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 point? If AI is going to take over, why bother trying? Maybe you’ve felt the same way—worried about how to safeguard your future from AI. Or perhaps you’re a parent
Hire A Top-Tier or Average Real Estate Agent at Lower Commission - Financial Samurai
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 a top-tier real estate agent, who charges a higher commission, or opt for an average agent to save on costs. By “top-tier real estate agent,” I’m referring to an agent
Why You Could Make More In Retirement Than While Working - Financial Samurai
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 than while working. As a result, they’re unlikely to pay a higher tax rate in retirement than during their working years. This belief also assumes that tax rates will stay
Feeling Poor As A Child May Help Them Grow Rich In Many Ways - Financial Samurai
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 granted. If this happens, it may feel like a significant failure—not only for your child’s future but also for society, which would have to contend with the consequences of their
2025 Goals And Resolutions: Back To A Simple Retirement Life - Financial Samurai
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 some more! Now that I've shared my 2024 year in review, I wanted to share my goals and resolutions for 2025. Although 2024 was a great year, I still have
2024 Year In Review: A Year Of Transition And Luck - Financial Samurai
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 S&P 500 up ~24% and real estate prices in most of the country continuing to inch higher despite high mortgage rates. Bitcoin investors, gold investors, and venture capital investors have
Best Of Financial Samurai 2024: Favorite Posts And Popular Reads - Financial Samurai
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, my goal was to publish three posts a week for 10 years. I achieved that milestone in July 2019, but much like Forrest Gump, I kept on going. Writing has
Got Downgraded To Economy Class And It Felt Fantastic - Financial Samurai
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 can't stand flying—especially in America—because it feels like something always goes wrong. Just as I shared about my transition of paying 30%–50% more for Economy Plus tickets to Honolulu, Hawaii,
Earn Active Income For Wants, Use Passive Income For Needs - Financial Samurai
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, you might feel a letdown because the toughest financial challenges are behind you. Based on feedback from readers since 2009 and my own experience after leaving work in 2012, I’ve
The Biggest Flex By Men Is Not What You Think - Financial Samurai
'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 example, someone might 'flex' on social media by posting pictures of their new Porsche or sharing stories about their achievements. Personally, I'm not a fan of flexing—what’s the point? It
Cheap, Fun, And Practical Buys With Your Stock Market Returns - Financial Samurai
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 more rewarding way to celebrate is to actually spend some of those phenomenal returns on things that bring joy and fulfillment. Stocks, by themselves, provide no utility. We invest in
The Biggest Financial Misconception About Applying To College - Financial Samurai
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 to college is that you have to be poor or middle class to receive financial aid. The feedback I've received from everybody is that you can earn a multiple-six figure
Capitalizing On The Return To Office: Big City Real Estate Insights - Financial Samurai
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 forecast for 2025 provides valuable context, savvy investors should focus on identifying cities and states with stronger growth potential. After all, outperforming the market is just as important as generating
2025 Housing Price Forecasts: Continued Strong Gains - Financial Samurai
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 positive, with expected gains ranging from -0.4% to 10.8%, and an average of about 3%. The only negative housing price forecast comes from Moody’s, which predicts a slight decline of -0.4% largely
Wealth vs. Morality: The Dilemma of Profiting From Sin - Financial Samurai
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 to overlook the potential harm our work may cause society. Moreover, unless you’re working for free, there’s often a moral trade-off involved—someone or something usually has to bear a cost
Boldin Financial Planner Review: Financial Freedom Made Easier - Financial Samurai
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 writing about Boldin (formerly NewRetirement) in 2020, I’ve seen how much the platform has evolved and expanded its offerings. The world needs a financial planning tool that takes a holistic
Maximizing Tax-Free Income and Capital Gains In Retirement - Financial Samurai
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 be a savvy move, especially if you’re in a mid-to-lower federal income tax bracket, as it allows for tax-free withdrawals in the future. That said, thanks to the latest standard
2025 Wall Street S&P 500 Forecasts Are All Bullish - Uh Oh! - Financial Samurai
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, which is somewhat worrisome. Most firms project the S&P 500 will close 2025 around 6,500—a solid 8.3% gain from the current ~6,000 level. If 2024 ends as expected, with the
How One Lucky Financial Break Can Change Everything For Good - Financial Samurai
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 abilities with good economic times. This overconfidence can lead to poor decisions and increase the likelihood of financial ruin. Since starting Financial Samurai in 2009, I’ve witnessed fortunes rise and fall. Time
The Santa Claus Rally Phenomenon And Its Origins - Financial Samurai
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 the year and the first two trading days of the new year. Historically, the average gain during this seven-day period is around 1.3%. As time has gone on, largely thanks to
Mega Backdoor Roth IRA: Supercharging Your Retirement Savings - Financial Samurai
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 like the Roth IRA. Working in banking, I was already being taxed out the wazoo and had no desire to pay even more. Frankly, I wasn’t even familiar with the
Key Factors To Consider Before Changing Health Insurance Plans - Financial Samurai
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 US and they all will comment about how much better things are abroad versus here. But as most of you would agree, having health insurance is a financial necessity in
Return On Effort (ROE) Is Your Key To Unlocking A Better Life - Financial Samurai
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 get out of your efforts, making it an invaluable framework for decision-making. ROE can also help you better utilize your time by prioritizing tasks and opportunities that yield the greatest
A Net Worth Equal To 25X Expenses Is Not Enough To Retire Early - Financial Samurai
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 worth equal to 25 times your annual expenses, often used as a baseline for achieving financial independence. However, this approach is overly simplistic because it depends on the composition and
The 4% Rule: Clearing Up Misconceptions With Bill Bengen - Financial Samurai
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 for many years and has always been courteous in the comments section when I write about safe withdrawal rates. So, I figured it was time we had a chat to
Uncover Your True Investment Risk Profile: It's Not What You Think - Financial Samurai
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. To my surprise, I uncovered a huge gap between my perceived risk tolerance and the reality of my portfolio. Since leaving work in 2012, I’ve generally seen myself as a
The Power Of Losing: How Setbacks Can Lead To Success - Financial Samurai
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 humiliating. When people stop competing, they can become more fragile over time, to the point where even small setbacks can disrupt their well being. Ironically, the best path to victory
2025 401(k) Contribution Limits: Bigger Savings, Better Retirement - Financial Samurai
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, bringing the combined employee and employer 401(k) contribution limit to $70,000 for 2025. Don’t underestimate the power of employer 401(k) contributions, especially as you advance in your career. As you
Financial Planning Through Changing Presidencies: My Journey - Financial Samurai
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 finances. For most people under 30, a change in leadership might not significantly impact financial planning. In your 20s, you’re often not earning enough or rich enough for a president’s
Four Years Later, You're Likely Way Better Off Than You Think - Financial Samurai
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 always that you’re worse off and that they are the answer to your problems. The Democrat says things went downhill under the Republican, and the Republican says the same about