Have you ever wanted to be a real estate investor? That is buying property and renting it out? Do you ever wonder what real estate investing is like and if it’s something for you? You may have heard about the great things about real estate investing – having someone else pay your mortgage, making money each month, and having an asset that appreciates. Here are downsides to real estate investing. What you don’t hear about are the challenges with real…
When I think about real estate, I think about the home I live in, the home that I purchased for my family, and hopefully a home that it will appreciate in value. Buying a home to live in is an investment. Real estate is one of those assets that typically appreciates in the long run and when you do sell, hopefully you will see a gain. Real estate investing is what I consider a long term investment. When I hear…
Ever wonder what retirement or early retirement looks like? Are you able to take a sabbatical or extended leave to try it out? I have an opportunity right now and let me tell you what I think about it. The government is shutdown and I am a furloughed federal employee. At the time of writing this, it’s been more than 3 weeks that I’ve been furloughed. I’m using this time to see how early retirement would feel like with how…
When you’re young you feel invincible. Nothing can get in your way. You’re young, strong, agile, flexible, and time is on your side. In a blink you’re 20 years old. Another blink you’re 30, then 40, and then 50. Along the way you’ve assumed more responsibilities, maybe started a family, promoted to management at work, became a care taker, volunteered, and so on. Through these decades will you be just as responsible with your health? We put so much effort…
You may have heard that it’s not about how much you make rather it’s about how much you spend. If and when you ever consult with a financial planner, one of the questions you will be asked is how much are your expenses. No matter how much you make, if you spend more than you earn it is more difficult to reach financial independence. Make lowering your expenses a goal. If you have consistent income coming in then that is…
As I get older, and hopefully more wiser, I look back and reflect whether my financial grinding early on was worth it. From my early days when I started working, someone more wiser than me gave me the best advice. It was to maximize my 401K. From this moment and because my paycheck wasn’t that big I had to live minimally while not sacrificing experiences. I could have coasted along by spending on things that would temporarily satisfy my wants…
Sequence of returns…you may have heard of this term but what is it really and why is it important? Sequence of returns refers to the order of your investment returns which means keeping track of every investment from the time you fund it to the time you withdraw from it understanding the gains and the losses you will experience. Buy low sell high is what we strive for but what if you’re in a situation where you bought high and…
Lately, there’s been a lot going on in the news that can feel somewhat chaotic. From the changes in the government to return to office and to inflation ticking higher, how can we find comfort. There are worries of tariffs causing prices to rise. The cost of groceries are going up. Your money isn’t taking you as far as it used to. What can you do to help ease worries through these times of worries? Have a backup plan. A…
Good-bye 2023, Hello 2024. Sometimes I feel that the new year is just a continuation and it really doesn’t feel new. Other times I feel like it’s symbolic to start something new, review your life journey, and make any adjustments. Here’s the plan for 2024. One of the GOAT things to do is to stay consistent. Continuing to practice good financial habits is key and if you can make it a permanent lifestyle, you will reach your financial goals. I…
Each year I look forward to the new year and where I should be focusing my attention. In 2021, I said that I would focus on Tesla even after it had a stock split. Tesla did well. I do believe the electric vehicle industry will continue to be strong so I’m not planning to sell any of my positions in Tesla. I do, however, believe 2022 will bring some volatility. With expected multiple interest rate hikes planned this year, inflation,…