FIRE
FI Number Math: How to Calculate What You Actually Need
25x annual expenses is the headline rule. For anyone retiring before 55, the real number is 30-33x. The difference is healthcare and sequence risk.
Investing, personal finance, wealth building
An educational resource for people who want to invest wisely—without unnecessary complexity or “secret strategies.” The site breaks down the mechanics of investing: index funds, dividend-paying stocks, tax optimization, retirement accounts, and real estate as an investment vehicle.
Coast FIRE
Coast FIRE: Stop Saving at 45, Retire at 60 Anyway
Hit $500,000 at 45 and you can stop contributing entirely. At 7% real return, that becomes $1.5 million at 65. The target number depends on your actual retirement spending.
4% rule
The 4% Rule: Is It Still Safe After 2022-2024
Bill Bengen's original 1994 study used historical data through 1992. After three down years, does $40,000 on $1 million still work? The data says yes, with one adjustment.
turnkey rentals
Turnkey Rentals Through Roofstock: Passive, But Not What You Think
Roofstock sells properties with tenants, managers, and 30-day guarantees. The returns average 6-8%. The hidden costs usually eat 2% of that.
rental property
Rental Property Cash Flow: The 1% Rule Is Dead, What Works Now
The 1% rule failed when rates doubled. Today's deals need cap rates above the mortgage rate plus 2%. Here's how that math plays out in real markets.
house hacking
House Hacking: Turning Your Primary Residence into a Wealth Engine
Buy a duplex with 3.5% down via FHA. Live in one unit. Rent the other. The tenant covers most of your mortgage while you build equity on $400,000 of property.
REIT
Public vs. Private REITs: Why the Private Version Usually Loses
Private non-traded REITs charge 12% in upfront loads and ongoing fees. Public REITs cost 0.12%. The returns are worse, the liquidity is worse, the math is obvious.
REIT
REITs: Real Estate Exposure Without the Landlord Hassle
VNQ holds 160 REITs, yields 4%, and you never fix a toilet. The performance tradeoff vs. direct ownership isn't what most people think it is.
HSA
HSA as a Stealth Retirement Account: The Triple Tax Advantage
Tax-deductible going in. Tax-free growth. Tax-free withdrawals for medical. No other account does all three. The 2026 family limit is $8,550.
municipal bonds
Municipal Bonds: When Tax-Free Income Actually Beats Taxable
A 3% muni yield is a 4.76% taxable equivalent at the 37% bracket. For anyone above the 24% bracket, munis usually win in taxable accounts.
capital gains
The 0% Capital Gains Bracket: How to Harvest Gains Tax-Free
Under $94,050 in taxable income for a couple in 2026: your capital gains rate is 0%. Early retirees harvest gains tax-free every year for a decade.
capital gains
Long-Term vs. Short-Term Capital Gains: The 12-Month Rule That Saves Thousands
Sell at 364 days: taxed at 37%. Sell at 366 days: taxed at 20%. That's $17,000 on a $100,000 gain — for two days of patience.