Explore every episode of the podcast The Financial Samurai Podcast

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you’re enjoying the time off and doing some reflecting. I’ve returned to San Francisco after eight days of being in Oahu and am ready to relax some more!

Here are some quick thoughts about what to expect in 2025 for the stock market, real estate market, and Financial Samurai. 

Mentioned posts:

2025 Wall Street S&P 500 Forecasts Are All Bullish – Uh Oh!

2025 Housing Price Forecasts: Continued Strong Gains

2025 Goals And Resolutions: Back To Simple Retirement Living

2024 Year In Review: A Year Of Transition And Luck

The Best Of Financial Samurai 2024: Favorite Posts And Popular Reads

30/30/3 Home Buying Rule To Follow

Join 60,000+ other readers achieving financial sooner by subscribing to my free weekly newsletter here. 

I speak to high school principal, John Durante, about his latest book, Straight From The Admissions Office. We also talk in depth about how high school students can boost their chances of getting into a top college. 

John has interviewed hundreds of college admissions officers on his podcast, The College Admissions Process Podcast, and plans to interview hundreds more!

If you have any questions you’d like John  to cover on future episodes, or any comments you’d like to share, please email him at: collegeadmissionstalk@gmail.com And don’t forget to visit his website at www.collegeadmissionstalk.com

More resources:

Monica Romero Matthews - Facebook Group:

Scholarship Help & College Talk for Parents 

https://how2winscholarships.com

 

 

I recently spoke with Steve Chen, founder of Boldin (formerly NewRetirement), about common concerns retirees face. Boldin stands out as the most comprehensive DIY financial planning software I’ve encountered. It goes beyond analyzing stocks and bonds, incorporating other investments to optimize your net worth. Boldin also helps address key financial goals like buying a house, saving for college, planning for retirement, and more.

You can start with Boldin’s Basic Planner for free—it’s far more detailed than a typical retirement calculator.

For just $120 a year, you can upgrade to PlannerPlus, unlocking its full potential. It’s a fraction of the cost of hiring a financial advisor, and you can access it anytime without additional fees. Most importantly, PlannerPlus provides peace of mind, actionable insights, and the tools to grow your wealth far beyond the cost of the software.

For more information, see my post on Financial Samurai: Boldin Financial Planner Review: A Game-Changer For Financial Independence

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 clear up some misconceptions.

For those unfamiliar, the 4% Rule, developed by Bill in the 1990s, suggests that traditional retirees (around age 65) can safely withdraw 4% of their retirement portfolio in the first year—adjusted for inflation in subsequent years—without running out of money over a 30-year period.

Misconceptions About The 4% Rule Cleared Up By Bill Bengen

Here’s what I learned from Bill that helped clarify the 4% Rule:

1. Not a Hard “Rule”: Bill considers the 4% Rule more of a guideline than a strict rule. He encourages flexibility with withdrawal rates, though it’s often treated as a rigid rule in the public eye.
2. 4% Isn’t Actually Aggressive: Contrary to popular belief, Bill’s data shows that 4% is actually conservative. In his study of 400 retirees since 1926, only one retiree (who retired in 1968) had to stick to a 4% rate to avoid running out of money. The rest withdrew an average of 7% without depleting their portfolios.
3. Adjusting for Inflation: The 4% Rule isn’t static; it adjusts with inflation. For instance, if you start with a $1 million portfolio and withdraw $40,000 one year, you would adjust that amount by inflation the next year to $44,000. This means your withdrawals fluctuate with your financial needs and economic conditions.

You can e-mail bill at Bill@begenfs.com if you have any questions. 

Posts mentioned:

Misconceptions About The 4% Rule With Bill Bengen

The Proper Safe Withdrawal Rate

Finishing Rich In A Low Return Stock Market Environment

If you enjoyed this episode please rate, share, and susbscribe. Every review means a lot as every episode takes hours to record, edit, and produce. Thank you!

To expedite your journey to financial freedom, join over 60,000 others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter. Financial Samurai is among the largest independently-owned personal finance websites, established in 2009.

Donald Trump will be the 47th President of the United States, this time with JD Vance as his Vice President. Let’s explore how this new Trump presidency might impact your finances.

We’ll look at how Trump’s policies could affect stocks, real estate, bonds, venture capital, and even our careers. Overall, Trump's return is generally seen as positive for investors.

However, since investing in risk assets always carries uncertainty, it's essential to align your investments with your personal goals and risk tolerance.

Related posts:

What Trump Means For Your Finances

Financial Planning Through Changing Presidencies

Being Even Greedier While Others Are Greedy

Stock Market Performance Under A Democratic Or Republican Presidents

Suggestions:

If you’re looking to diversify your investments beyond stocks, check out Fundrise. Fundrise manages over $3 billion in private real estate investments, with a primary focus on the Sunbelt region, where valuations are generally lower and yields tend to be higher.

As the Fed enters a multi-year cycle of interest rate cuts and with Trump as president, real estate demand may increase in the coming years. Given Trump’s background and success in real estate, I wouldn’t be surprised if he introduces buyer incentives and policies to support heartland regions, which were key in his election victory.

I’ve personally invested over $270,000 with Fundrise, and they are a long-time sponsor of Financial Samurai.

Finally, you can join 60,000+ readers and sign up for my free weekly newsletter here.

 

 

Investing in alternative assets has become an increasingly popular way to diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds. Wine and whiskey, in particular, are gaining traction due to their potential for strong returns, resilience during economic downturns, and rising demand.

In this episode, I speak to Anthony Zhang, CEO and Founder of Vinovest, a platform that enables individuals to invest in fine wine and whiskey. We'll talk about why wine and whiskey have performed well and why they are a growing asset class. 

I also talk to Anthony Zhang about bringing awareness to spinal cord injuries, after his own accident, and how we can help. 

If you'd like to explore Vinovest's offerings, you can sign up here. 

Related post: Sip, Savor, Profit: Investing In Fine Wine And Whiskey

******

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, share, and review. Every podcast takes hours to produce. Your support means a lot!

Finally, if you want to achieve financial freedom sooner, join 60,000+ readers and sign up for my free weekly newsletter. Everything I write is based off firsthand experience because money is too important to be left up to pontification.

If you have children, you likely want to provide them with the best education possible, which may include helping them get into a top college. Along the way, you may come across college consulting services and wonder how beneficial they really are.

In today's episode, I speak with Alice Chen, Founder of BrightStory Admission Consulting, to find out more about the service. 

Alice is a daughter of immigrants and grew up in the Boston area. Alice’s father was a research scientist and her mother an auditor, so Alice grew up thinking that those who studied and worked the hardest would succeed.

But after attending Stanford and working in TV journalism, Alice quickly learned that IQ was not the most important factor for workplace (and life) success.

Alice created BrightStory to offer the mentoring she wishes she had as a teen. Alice also created Happy Asian Woman, a newsletter focused on wellness and living a meaningful life, and she incorporates these values into her coaching work.

*****

If you enjoyed this podcast, I'd appreciate a share and a positive review. It helps keep me motivated to finding new guests to share with all of you. Every podcast takes hours to record and produce.

To expedite your journey to financial freedom, join over 60,000 others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter. Financial Samurai is among the largest independently-owned personal finance websites, established in 2009.

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Related posts:

The Wide Implications Of The College Admissions Scandal

An Asian American's View On Affirmative Action

Is Private K-12 Worth It?

What If You Go To Harvard And End Up A Nobody?

After four years, the Federal Reserve has finally cut the Fed Funds rate by 50 basis points, bringing the target range to 4.75% - 5%.

Expectations point to another 50 basis points in cuts for 2024 and a total of 100 basis points by 2025. Fed Chair Powell remains optimistic, stating the economy is 'very solid' and sees no elevated risk of a downturn.

In this episode, I'll break down what this rate cut means for real estate, stocks, and—most importantly—your retirement, focusing on the impact to your safe withdrawal rate.

Get A Free Financial Checkup Of Your Investment Portfolio

If you have over $250,000 in investable assets, take advantage and schedule an appointment with an Empower financial advisor here. Complete your two video calls with the advisor before October 31, 2024, and you'll receive a free $100 Visa gift card. 

After a great run in stocks, another recession could hit. It's always a good idea to get a second opinion about how your investments are positioned, especially from a professional who sees other people in your situation all the time. 

Related posts:

Maximizing Real Estate Returns In A Multi-Year Interest Rate Cut Cycle

Increasing The Safe Withdrawal Rate For Retirement At The WRONG Time

Join 60,000+ others and subscribe to the free weekly Financial Samurai newsletter here. This way, you'll never miss a thing. 

I speak to Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise about investing in real estate during a multi-year rate cut environment. With the Federal Reserve finally cutting rates in September 2024 after raising them in 2022, real estate should have a nice tailwind for a couple of years. 

Main Theme: Interest rates are the most significant driver of real estate prices, surpassing operational improvements. Apartments are likely to benefit the most by the end of 2025.

Diversify Your Real Estate Investments 

If you're considering investing in private real estate, take a look at Fundrise. They manage private real estate funds focused on the Sunbelt region, where valuations are lower, and yields are higher. Fundrise specializes in residential and industrial real estate, offering investors diversification and passive income potential.

Currently, Fundrise manages over $3 billion for nearly 400,000 investors. I've personally invested over $270,000 with Fundrise, and they’ve been a proud sponsor of Financial Samurai for years.

Related post: Maximizing Real Estate Returns In A Rate Cut Environment

Join 65,000 others and subscribe to the free weekly financial Samurai newsletter here. 

I speak with Khe Hy, who spent 15 years on Wall Street and became one of the youngest Managing Directors at BlackRock at just 31. He earned up to $2 million a year—then he quit!

His journey mirrors mine in many ways, though he earned significantly more. I thought it would be fascinating to understand why he chose to walk away from such wealth.

Could you give up $1-2 million a year in your mid-to-late 30s? I don't think I could. But then again, I sometimes forget just how miserable and unhealthy I felt working on Wall Street.

He now spends time with his family, writing his Radreads newsletter and recording The Examined Life podcast.

→ The RadReads email newsletter and blog
http://radreads.co/join

→ The Examined Life Podcast
https://pod.link/1692585605

If you enjoyed this conservationed, I'd love a share and a positive review. Every review counts!

Special Promo: Get A Free Financial Checkup

For those with over $250,000 in investable assets who want a free financial checkup, you can schedule an appointment with an Empower financial advisor here (https://www.financialsamurai.com/advisor). If you complete your two video calls with the advisor before October 31, 2024, you'll receive a free $100 Visa gift card.

With stock market volatility returning and a potential recession on the horizon, it’s wise to get a second opinion from a professional. Illuminate financial blindspots you don't know you have and better optimize your finances. The last thing you want is to be misallocated relative to your financial goals and risk tolerance. When you lose money, you ultimately lose precious time. 

Again, you can schedule your free financial consultation here. If you do not see a link copy and paste this URL in your browser: https://www.financialsamurai.com/advisor

The statement is provided to you by Financial Samurai (“Promoter”) who has entered into a written referral agreement with Empower Advisory Group, LLC (“EAG”). Click here to learn more.

Regards,

Sam

You can join 60,000+ others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter here. Financial Samurai began in 2009 with the goal of helping readers achieve financial freedom sooner, rather than later. 

After 15 years of experimenting with and living an early retirement lifestyle, I've developed my Minimum Investment Threshold Formula to help determine when you can finally break free from a suboptimal job.

Once you reach this threshold, you'll have the option to find a more fulfilling job that pays less, take a sabbatical, go back to school, stay at home to raise your children, or even retire

Related post: The Minimum Investment Threshold Where Work Becomes Optional 

Recommended Resources:

Read How to Engineer Your Layoff to learn more about negotiating a severance package. When it's time to leave that dreadful job behind, try to negotiate a severance package instead of simply quitting. Since you planned to quit anyway, negotiating a severance only has upside. You could receive a severance check, subsidized healthcare, unvested stock and cash, job search assistance, and more. Plus, you'll likely be eligible for unemployment benefits, which aren't available to those who quit.

To build wealth through real estate, check out Fundrise. Thanks to 11 rate hikes since 2022, there are now more commercial real estate opportunities. With interest rates heading down, pent-up demand for real estate may be unleashed, potentially boosting prices in the future. Since real estate has lagged behind stocks since 2022, I expect its performance to catch up over time.

To achieve financial freedom sooner, join 60,000+ others and sign up for my free weekly newsletter.

In this episode, I speak to Jo Piazza, bestselling author of The Sicilian Inheritance, podcaster, and award-winning journalist. We discuss tradwives and its financial and social implications. 

Given that Financial Samurai is about achieving financial freedom sooner, being financially dependent on someone as an adult is the exact opposite of what I want for readers.

A tradwife typically denotes a woman who believes in and practices traditional gender roles and marriages. Some may choose to take on a homemaking role within their marriage or leave their careers to focus on meeting their family's needs at home.

According to Google Trends, online searches for the term "tradwife" began to rise in popularity around mid-2018 and reached high levels during the early 2020s.

If you enjoyed this podcast episode, please rate, review, share and subscribe. It helps us grow.

Related posts:

Financial Dependence Is the Worst

Not Having Kids Is Your FIRE Super Power

To increase your chances of achieveing financial independence sooner, join 60,000+ others and subscribe to the Financial Samurai newsletter. 

I've decided that my Home-To-Car Ratio guide is the most important pesonal finance guide for everyone to fall. After all, everybody needs a place to live, real estate is the best asset to build wealth for the average person, and America has a love affair with cars.

My Home-To-Car Ratio guide helps personal finance enthusiasts reduce their car spending and maximize their house spending in a practical way. By following my guide, more people will build more wealth than those who don't!

See: The Right House-To-Car Ratio For Financial Freedom

Real Estate Investing Suggestion

To invest in private real estate, take a look at Fundrise, my favorite private real estate investing platform. Fundrise was founded in 2012 and manages over $3.3 billion with over 500,000 investors. The firm focuses on residential and industrial properties in the Sunbelt, where valuations are lower and cap rates are higher. Take advantage of the demographic shift to lower-cost areas of the country. 

Personally, I've invested $954,000 in private real estate since 2016 to diversify my exposure and earn more passive income. I've invested six figures in Fundrise's Flagship Fund and Fundrise is a sponsor of Financial Samurai. 

Join 70,000 others and sign up for my weekly financial freedom newsletter here. If you do, you'll improve your chances of building more wealth. 

 

I catch up with Andre Nader, ex-Facebook employee about what he's been up to one year after leaving his day job. 

We talk about being a stay-at-home dad, the temptation of going back to work, buying property in San Francisco, and his FAANG FIRE newsletter he publishes twice a month. It is the only newsletter I've read that helps tech workers achieve financial independence. 

If you enjoy this episode please rate and review! It helps us grow. Please also share the episode to those who you think would find it useful. 

Regards,

Sam

You can join 60,000+ others and sign up for my free weekly newsletter here. 

I spoke to my wife about how my saver's mindset naturally kicked in after purchasing our new house in October 2023. Our liquidity was tight, and we were literally living paycheck to paycheck for six months. This is when my frugal gene kicked in and made me lock down expenses.

This experience taught me that experiencing financial difficulty often triggers a saver's mindset. The key is to maintain this saver's mindset at all times, not just when you're in a crunch.

Articles Referenced:

Embrace Living Paycheck To Paycheck For A Better Life

Why Earning Less Passive Income Has Changed My Life For The Better

Three Sneaky Expenses That Are Ruining Your Budget

Recommendations

Real estate is my favorite asset class for most people to build long-term wealth. It's important to invest your savings to try and beat inflation.

If you'd like to invest in real estate without a mortgage, check out Fundrise, my favorite private real estate platform. The investment minimum is only $10 to help you diversify and earn more passive income. 

Financial Samurai is a six-figure investor in Fundrise funds and Fundrise is an investor in Financial Samurai. 

Join 70,000 others and subscribe to my free weekly newsletter. You'll increase your chances of achieving financial freedom sooner if you do. 

 

 

Property bidding wars are back, despite persistently high mortgage rates, due to the strength of the economy and the stock market. This episode discusses why people are getting into bidding wars and the best time of the year to buy a house. 

Articles referenced:

Understanding Why People Getting Into Property Bidding Wars

Analyzing Housing Price Dynamics: Helping Buyers Buy At The Best Time

Real estate is my favorite asset class for most people to build long-term wealth. If you'd like to invest in real estate without a mortgage, check out Fundrise, my favorite private real estate platform. The investment minimum is only $10 to help you diversify and earn more passive income. 

Financial Samurai is a six-figure investor in Fundrise funds and Fundrise is an investor in Financial Samurai. 

Join 70,000 others and subscribe to my free weekly newsletter. You'll increase your chances of achieving financial freedom sooner if you do. 

I talk to Emily Luk, Co-Founder and CEO of Plenty, a wealth platform for today's modern couples about her career path from VC, to joining a big startup, to creating her own startup. I wanted to now why she lifted a cushy job with good pay.

If you're a couple interested in a great tool to manage your finances together, check out Plenty. They've got a great cash flow tool that enables individual, joint, and private money management. Plenty also offers Direct Indexing investment at a low cost. 

I've personally met the team multiple times in their offices in San Francisco as I consulted for them. 

If you've enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Every episode takes hours to produce and every review means a lot.

Thanks!

Sam

For the longest time, I've wondered the following about some men:

• Why claim to be retired while having a working spouse?
• Why work so many hours after having a newborn?
• Why leave your family when your children are still young and need fathers the most?

Doing these things didn't make much sense to me until I had an epiphany: every person has a different inherent desire to provide thanks to biology. And given biology is innate, we cannot help the way we are! 

Read: A Provider's Clock For Men Is Similar To A Biological Clock For Women

For those of you with children and/or debt, it's imperative to get an affordable term life insurance policy to protect your loved ones. Take a look at Policygenius, an insurance market place that will offer affordable life insurance quotes in one place with no obligations. 

My wife and I got matching 20-year term policies during the pandemic and felt an enormous sense of relief. 

Thank you for your shares and reviews of this podcast. They help keep me recording! Sign up for my free weekly newsletter to never miss a thing. - Sam

In this episode, I catch up with Ben Miller, Co-founder and CEO of Fundrise about artificial intelligence and the latest investments by the  Innovation Fund.

We discuss how company valuations are calculated in the fund, a defense AI investment, and so much more. 

The Innovation Fund is an open-ended venture capital fund with only a $10 minimum. You can see what the fund is investing in before you decide to invest and how much. Unlike traditional closed-end venture capital funds, you can gain liquidity if you want in one quarter.

Check out the Innovation Fund here. Financial Samurai is an investor in Fundrise and Fundrise is a long-time sponsor of Financial Samurai. 

Personally, I'm bullish on artificial intelligence and will be building $500,000 worth of exposure to AI companies and funds that invest in artificial intelligence over the next five years. In 20 years, I don't want my children asking me why I didn't invest in AI near the beginning. 

Related post: Artificial Intelligence: How To Protect Yourself And Benefit Financially 

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

To achieve financial independence sooner, Join 60,000+ others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share, rate, and review. Every review means a lot as each episode takes hours to produce. 

I speak with Colleen Kong-Savage about becoming a children's book illustrator and author, as well as a freelance graphic designer while living in expensive New York City.

Colleen has a new book out entitled Piano Wants To Play. It is a wonderful book for children and adults of all ages who appreciate music. It is also a touching story about rekindling the joy we had as children.

Colleen has been a long-time illustrator for Financial Samurai, creating all of the custom Samurai-themed graphics, including the logo and the Financial Samurai mask.

As you may know, it can be challenging to make a living as a creative professional. Therefore, I'm proud to support Colleen's endeavors.

If you're looking to support artists, the best way to do so is to purchase their work and hiring them. Please consider purchasing a copy of Piano Wants To Play and visiting Colleen's website at ckongsavage.com.

If you want to learn more about being a children's author and illustrator, you can check out the resources at www.highlightsfoundation.org and www.scbwi.org.

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd appreciate a review and a share!

To Your Financial Freedom,

Sam

Every residential real estate investor and homeowner is richer after the National Association Of Realtors settled its price fixing lawsuit.

I know many real estate agents, realtors, and brokerages are upset with the ruling. However, the decision was decided quickly by a jury of our peers. The money that would have went into the real estate industry's pockets are now going back into the homeowners' and investors' pockets. 

See:

Why Every Residential Real Estate Investor And Homeowner Is Richer

Busting The Real Estate Cartel With Attorney Mike Ketchmark

Recommendations

Check out Fundrise, my favorite private real estate platform with over $3.3 billion under management for 500,000+ investors. With mortgage rates coming down and the stock market strong, the demand for real estate is building. 

Fundrise predominantly invests in residential and industrial real estate in the Sunbelt region, where valuations are lower and yields are higher. I believe there is a multi-decade demographic shift towards lower-cost areas of the country thanks to technology. 

Financial Samurai is an investor in Fundrise funds and Fundrise is a long-time sponsor of Financial Samurai. 

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

To achieve financial freedom sooner, join 60,000+ others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share, rate, and review. Every review means a lot as each episode takes hours to produce. 

The most expensive cities in America include cities like New York City, San Francisco, and San Jose. However, these expensive cities could actually be the cheapest due to all the income and investment opportunities. Let's explore the reasons why.

Related post: Income Required To Afford A Typical Home In The Top 50 Cities

Recommendations

1) Check out Fundrise, my favorite private real estate platform with over $3.3 billion under management for 500,000+ investors. With mortgage rates coming down and the stock market strong, the demand for real estate is building. 

2) To invest in artificial intelligence and other private growth companies, check out the open-ended Innovation Fund. You can see what the fund invests in before you invest and how much. The investment minimum is only $10. 

Financial Samurai is an investor in Fundrise funds and Fundrise is a long-time sponsor of Financial Samurai. 

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

To achieve financial freedom sooner, join 60,000+ others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share, rate, and review. Every review means a lot as each episode takes hours to produce. 

In this episode, I talk to my wife about what it's nice to own the nicest home we can afford five months after moving in. Although I am no happier, I do feel more satisfied. 

Related post: Climbed To The Top Of The Property Ladder 

Recommendations

1) Check out Fundrise, my favorite private real estate platform with over $3.3 billion under management for 500,000+ investors. With mortgage rates coming down and the stock market strong, the demand for real estate is building. 

2) To invest in artificial intelligence and other private growth companies, check out the open-ended Innovation Fund. You can see what the fund invests in before you invest and how much. The investment minimum is only $10. 

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

Join 60,000+ others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share, rate, and review. Every review means a lot as each episode takes hours to produce. 

In this episode, I speak with Kathy Fang, star of the Food Network's Chef Dynasty, as well as owner of Fang Restaurant, one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in San Francisco. 

We talk about what it was like making a reality TV show, running a restaurant, expansion potential, and raising a family in San Francisco on chef hours. 

You can find Kathy on Instagram @ChefKathyFang and on her website at KathyFang.com. 

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd appreciate a review, share, and subscribe. Every episode takes hours to produce.

To achieve financial freedom sooner, join 60,000+ others and subscribe to the Financial Samurai newsletter here.

Financial Samurai began in 2009 and is one of the largest independently-owned personal finance sites with one million pageviews a month. Visit the site here. 

Since 2009, when I began Financial Samurai, I've noticed some people are too afraid to invest or get easily shaken out whenever there is economic or stock market turbulence. Then, these investors get left behind as the economyc, stock market, real estate market, and other markets eventually recovery.

To help you overcome your fear of investing, I suggest coming up with an investment thesis. An investment thesis is your north star and will help you hold strong during difficult times.

For more details, see the post: An Investment Thesis Is The Key To Making More Money Long Term

Investing Thesis For 2024 And Beyond

1) A recovery in the real estate market as it plays catchup to the stock market. Check out Fundrise, my favorite private real estate platform with over $3.3 billion under management for 500,000+ investors. 

2) A boom in artificial intelligence that will boost profits and economic growth. To invest in AI and other private growth companies, check out the open-ended Innovation Fund. You can see what the fund invests in before you invest and how much.

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

Join 60,000+ others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share, rate, and review. Every review means a lot as each episode takes hours to produce. 

 

I talk to Emily Luk, Co-Founder and CEO of Plenty, a wealth platform for today's modern couples.

Due to career aspirations, higher education, and the rising cost of living, couples are taking longer to get married and have children. In addition, couples are also building more wealth on their own before getting married. 

Plenty is based in San Francisco, California and will launch its platform by April 1, 2024. You can get on the waitlist or join now, depending on when you listen to this episode. 

You can also subscribe to the Plenty newsletter and read the Plenty blog if you care about couples issues such as getting married, buying a house, starting a family, saving for college and more. 

If you've enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Every episode takes hours to produce and every review means a lot.

Thanks!

Sam

I speak with Noah Kagan about being one of the first employees at Facebook and Mint, not making the megabucks, and then turning into a successful entrepreneur with AppSumo. 

Noah's new book is called Million Dollar Weekend by my same publisher, Portfolio Penguin. You can find Noah on Twitter and YouTube. 

Related posts on entrepreneurship:

How Much Entrepreneurship Income Is Needed To Replace Your Day Job Income

What If You Take A Leap Of Faith And Your Dreams Don't Come True

The Lifestyle Business Or The Big Payout

Support Financial Samurai

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd appreciate a subscribe, share, and review. Every review counts!

You can join 60,000+ others and subscribe to the Financial Samurai newsletter here. 

In this episode, I speak to Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise about his change in outlook for the real estate market in 2024 and beyond.

He believes October 2023 was the bottom and we're going up from here. 

In this episode we explore several key topics:

1. The reasoning behind Ben's belief that October 2023 marked the bottom, and the less obvious indicators supporting this perspective.
2. The motivation behind selling during this period, just after reaching the presumed bottom.
3. The possibility of using one fund's cash to support a deal in which another fund is investing.
4. Ben's insights on investing in office properties at significant discounts.
5. Drawing parallels between e-commerce and the work-from-home trend, highlighting the potential permanent increase in the value of residential properties.
6. Emphasizing the importance of investing in alignment with macroeconomic tailwinds, not headwinds.
7. Discussing the anticipated percentage upside in institutional real estate prices for 2024.
8. Exploring the methodology for calculating the Net Asset Value (NAV) of specific properties within the fund.
9. Recognizing the non-linear nature of significant changes and the importance of staying invested to benefit from high catalyst moments.
10. Reflecting on Ray Dalio's perspective – "I'd rather be approximately right than precisely wrong" – especially in the context of predicting year-end interest rates.
11. Considering the viewpoint that a recession might be bullish for real estate due to the potential rapid and extensive decline in interest rates.

If you want to dollar-cost-average into a Fundrise fund, you can do so by clicking here. The investment minimum is $10. Financial Samurai is an investor in Fundrise and Fundrise is a long-time sponsor of Financial Samurai. 

Happy 2024 everyone!

Here are some of our goals and financial predictions for 2024. Overall, we're optimistic about the year.

Related posts:

2024 S&P 500 Forecasts

2024 Housing Price Forecasts

2024 Financial Samurai Goals

Explaining All The Surprise Capital Calls

Investing In 2024

If you'd like to invest in the rebound in real estate in 2024, check out Fundrise, my favorite private real estate platform with over $3.3 billion under management for 500,000+ investors. 

To invest in AI and other private growth companies, check out the open-ended Innovation Fund. You can see what the fund invests in before you invest and how much.  

Sydney and I review 2023 and discuss the importance of intrinsic motivation to keep going. Be aware of only chasing extrinsic motivators, like money, fame, and promotions, to achieve your results. If you do, chances are high you'll burn out quicker than expected.

We'd love a share and a review of the podcast. Each episode takes at least two hours to produce. 

Related post:

2023 Financial Samurai Year In Review: More Failes Than Wins

The Best Posts And Podcasts On Financial Samurai 2023

To Succeed, Intrinsic Rewards Must Dominate Extrinsic Rewards

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

Join 60,000+ others and subscribe to my free weekly newsletter. This way you always stay on top of the most important events in the stock market, real estate market, and everything personal finance. 

Pick up a copy of my WSJ bestseller, Buy This Not That. As a first edition, first print with some typos, it could be a valuable collector's item in the future. 

 

I speak to Sydney, my wife, about the idea of sending our children to Community College instead of directly to a four-year state or private university. The benefits are many, including less stress and more fun!

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe!

Posts mentioned:

Community College May Be The Way: How I Plan To Spend $1.5 Million

Median Income Earned By Ivy League Graduates

Keep In Touch With Financial Samurai

Join 60,000+ others and subscribe to my free weekly newsletter. This way you always stay on top of the most important events in the stock market, real estate market, and everything personal finance. 

This episode is sponsored by Danielson Legal, which provides top tier intellectual property legal services for the greatest value proposition available in the market.

Their attorneys have formidable experience and expertise from practicing at the highest levels of the profession—from the top law firms in Boston to publicly traded corporate legal departments.

Episode Synopsis

If you retire early, chances are high you will have an itch to return to work within a year or two.

Only after publishing my post, Why It's So Hard To Stay Retired After Retiring Early, did I discover the one solution that will help folks continue to stay out of the work force.

I then went deeper and wrote the post, Why It's So Hard To Leave San Francisco Now. When there's so much going on in the city by the bay today, you can't help but want to stay. 

If you enjoyed this episode please rate, review, share, and subscribe! Every review counts. 

Suggestions

If you're looking to invest in artificial intelligence companies, take a look at the Fundrise Innovation Fund. It has democratized access to investing in private growth companies with only a $10 minimum. 

Join 60,000+ others and subscribe to the Financial Samurai newsletter. 

I speak to my friend and 4-time NBA champ, Shaun Livingston about his journey from high school basketball prodigy to winning multiple championships with the Golden State Warriors. 

If you're an NBA fan or a professional sports fan, you're going to love this episode.

Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast. Every review means a lot!

Related Financial Samurai posts:

Where Are All The Adult Athletes? Sports And Your Career

The Secret To Your Success: 10 Years Of Unwavering Commitment 

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

Join 60,000+ others and subscribe to my free weekly newsletter. This way you always stay on top of the most important events in the stock market, real estate market, and everything personal finance. 

This episode is sponsored by Danielson Legal, which provides top tier intellectual property legal services for the greatest value proposition available in the market. Their attorneys have formidable experience and expertise from practicing at the highest levels of the profession—from the top law firms in Boston to publicly traded corporate legal departments.

Episode Synopsis

Supposedly by the time our children turn 19, we will have spent 80% - 90% of the time we will ever spend with them. But that statistic is ridiculous if we make the effort.

Let's talk about something absurd, like relocating to where our adult children are once we are retired. 

Posts mentioned:

Having Absurd Dreams Is OK Because Sometimes They Come True

The Pandemic Was An Experience In Hedging Your Life

Keep In Touch With Financial Samurai

Pick up a copy of How To Engineer Your Layoff. It will teach you how to negotiate a severance package so you can spend more time with your children or do what you want. Use the code “saveten” at checkout to save $10.

Join 60,000+ others and subscribe to my free weekly newsletter. This way you always stay on top of the most important events in the stock market, real estate market, and everything personal finance. 

After the real estate industry was found guilty of collusion by a Missouri jury, I spoke to lead trial lawyer, Mike Ketchmark about how the entire process came about. 

If you're into real estate, thinking of selling or buying a home, or are curious about how lawyers get compensated, you're going to love this episode!

Related posts:

Real Estate Collusion Revealed! Misaligned Commission Incentives

Real Estate Alternative

If you're looking to invest in private growth companies, take a look at the Fundrise Innovation Fund. Roughly 35% of its investments are currently in AI-related companies, which is likely the revolutionary technology over the coming decade. 

This episode is sponsored by Danielson Legal, which provides top tier intellectual property legal services for the greatest value proposition available in the market. Their attorneys have formidable experience and expertise from practicing at the highest levels of the profession—from the top law firms in Boston to publicly traded corporate legal departments.

Show notes:

We know the median American household has a net worth of about $193,000 and the average American household has a net worth of $1.06 million. But what about the top 1% of American households? 

If you want to beat out 99% of Americans, this is how large your net worth should be by age, at a minimum! Is the grind worth it since 99% will fail? I’m not sure that it is. Let's discuss.

Related post: Top 1% Net Worth By Age

Keep In Touch With Financial Samurai

Join 60,000+ others and subscribe to my free weekly newsletter. This way you always stay on top of the most important events in the stock market, real estate market, and everything personal finance. 

After a couple of months, I was able to successfully convince my wife to upgrade homes! But now that she's on board, I'm afraid to move forward. 

I'm afraid because it's scarier to buy a home when demand is down. There's a comfort in buying when everybody else wants to buy.

But I think I'm mostly afraid of buying because I had to convince my wife. As a result, if anything unfortunate happens after we move, I will feel guilty and to blame. 

If you are thinking of making a big move where you and your partner are not 100% alilgned, perhaps this episode will spur you to communicate more about your fears and worries. 

Posts mentioned:

5 Ways To Overcome Emotional Attachment To Buy A New Home

30/30/3-5 Rule For Home Buying

Income And Net Worth Requirements To Buy A Home At All Price Points

Recommendations

To invest in real estate more strategically and passively, check out Fundrise. Fundrise manages over $3.3 billion, mostly in residential and industrial real estate in the Sunbelt. The spreading out of America is going to be a multi-decade trend. FS is an investor and affiliate partner of Fundrise. 

Join 60,000+ others and subscribe to my free weekly newsletter. This way you always stay on top of the most important events in the stock market, real estate market, and everything personal finance. 

Congrats! The average American household is now a millionaire according to the latest Federal Reserve Consumer Finance Survey. It's good to be average! Alas, the median American household is not a millionaire, which is a better reflection of the average American! 

Related posts: 

The Average American Household Is Now A Millionaire

The 30/30/3-5 Homebuying Rule

What Millionaires Do:

1) Invest in stocks 

2) Participate in their retirement plans

3) Invest in real estate

4) Start and invest in private companies

Investment mention: The Fundrise Innovation Fund that invests in private growth companies in AI, fintech, proptech, and more. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe! Every review makes a difference.

Join 60,000+ others and sign up for my free weekly newsletter so you never miss a thing. You can also get every post I publish immediately in your inbox by signing up here. 

I talk to Roger Lee, Co-Founder of Human Interest, a YC-backed private company that offers 401(k) plans to small businesses. Human Interest raised $200 million in a Series D round in August 2022 valuing the company at $1 billion. Roughly 80% of small businesses with under 100 people don't have 401(k)s.

We talk about how Roger got into Harvard, why he decided to become an entrepreneur instead of go into the management consulting or finance world, AI, and more. 

You can learn about Roger's other companies here:

Comprehensive.io (payments startup)

Layoffs.fyi (layoff tracker in the tech industry)

Related posts on Financial Samurai:

Net Worth Compositions By Levels Of Wealth: Build A Business Already

The Top 10 Reasons To Start An Online Business Today

Reflections On Making Money Online Since 2009

Career Advice For Those Wanting To Join A Startup

 

Keep In Touch With Financial Samurai

Join 60,000+ others and sign up for my free weekly newsletter so you never miss a thing. You can also get every post I publish immediately in your inbox by signing up here. 

If you want to leave your day job, learn how to negotiate a severance with my bestselling ebook, How To Engineer Your Layoff: Make A Small Fortune By Saying Goodbye. Use the code "saveten" to save $10 at checkout. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, I'd appreciate a great review and a share with your friends!

I speak to Eric Rosenberg, a long-time blogging buddy, about his journey from corporate employee to freelance writer, podcaster, and web designer. Eric has three children and lives in expensive Southern California. Yet, he's able to provide for his family on his freelance income alone. 

If you've ever wanted to become a freelancer and make side money or full-time freelancer money, this is your show! You can find out more about Eric at Eric.money. 

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

Join 60,000+ others and sign up for my free weekly newsletter so you never miss a thing. You can also get every post I publish immediately in your inbox by signing up here. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, I'd appreciate a great review and a share with your friends! Every review means a lot. 

 

I figured out how to cure those afflicted with entitlement mentality! Once cured, I'm positive most will be happier and richer over their lifetimes. 

Because for the longest time it boggled my mind how wealthy, privileged people could feel so entitled instead of so grateful.

Posts mentioned:

Entitlement Mentality Is A Sneaky Wealth Destroyer

How To Calculate The Value Of A College Degree

Investor Virtue Signaling In A Capitalist Country Is Fascinating

Support Financial Samurai

Join 60,000+ others and sign up for my free weekly newsletter so you never miss a thing. You can also get every post I publish immediately in your inbox by signing up here. 

If you want to leave your day job, learn how to negotiate a severance with my bestselling ebook, How To Engineer Your Layoff: Make A Small Fortune By Saying Goodbye. Use the code "saveten" to save $10 at checkout. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, I'd appreciate a great review and a share with your friends!

I speak to doctor Daniel Shin about his journey to being a urologist in Southern California to leaving behind his $600,000 job and moving to Memphis, Tennessee. We talk about doctor burnout, entrepreneurship, family, and real estate. 

You can find out more about Daniel at The Darwinian Doctor (https://thedarwiniandoctor.com) and on his TikTok page at (https://www.tiktok.com/@thedarwiniandoctor?lang=en)

Real Estate Recommendation

Check out Fundrise, a premier private real estate platform if you want to invest in real estate passively. Fundrise mainly invests in residential and industrial properties in the Sunbelt, where yields are higher and valuations are lower.

Related Financial Samurai Posts:

Don't Make $400,000 A Year: Look At How GS Analysts Suffer

Thinking About Getting A PhD? Not Sure If It's Worth It

20 Best Side Hustles To Make Extra Money

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

Join 60,000+ others and sign up for my free weekly newsletter so you never miss a thing. You can also get every post I publish immediately in your inbox by signing up here. 

If you enjoy this episode, please share, rate, and subscribe. It helps the FS podcast grow!

 

 

I speak to Farnoosh Torabi, host of the So Money podcast and author of her new book, A Health State Of Panic about fear. Specifically, we discuss how we all have fear and how we can harness it to build more wealth and have more purposeful lives. 

We also discuss parenthood, how to live a successful life, and how to be more inclusive of different voices in the personal finance field and elsewhere. 

Please share, rate, and review if you enjoyed the episode!

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

Join 60,000+ others and subscribe to my free weekly newsletter. This way you always stay on top of the most important events in the stock market, real estate market, and everything personal finance. 

 

 

 

I speak to Ben Miller, Co-Founder and CEO of Fundrise about why his company started a new tech Innovation Fund. We explore why Ben thinks his firm has a competitive advantage, the most promising areas where the fund is investing, and the mechanics of investing in a private venture fund by Fundrise.

For more, read my Fundrise Innovation Fund Review post. 

To invest in the Innovation Fund, with an investment minimum of only $10, CLICK HERE.

Fundrise is a long time sponsor of Financial Samurai. In 2016, I recognized Fundrise's investment thesis of investing in heartland real estate was exactly like mine. So we formed a business partnership that has now lasted for years.  

I speak with Brad Stulberg, author of Master of Change, about how to do just that in this chaotic, stressful, and every-changing world. Brad also wrote The Practice Of Groundedness, which I found particularly helpful during the pandemic. 

For those who wish to feel a little less stress, a little more calm, and a lot more confident about tackling change, this episode is for you.

Please rate, review, share, and subscribe! Every review means a lot.

Support Financial Samurai

Join 60,000+ others and sign up for my free weekly newsletter so you never miss a thing. You can also get every post I publish immediately in your inbox by signing up here. 

Financial Samurai began in 2009 and is one of the largest independently-owned personal finance sites in the world with over 1 million visitors a month. Sam is one of the pioneers of the modern-day FIRE movement. 

If you want to leave your day job, learn how to negotiate a severance with my bestselling ebook, How To Engineer Your Layoff: Make A Small Fortune By Saying Goodbye. Use the code "saveten" to save $10 at checkout. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, I'd appreciate a great review and a share with your friends!

My wife and I talk about how shockingly low the median 401(k) balances are by generation. We also discuss why we think this is the case and why there is likely no retirement crisis in America. 

Financial Samurai Posts:

401(k) Balances By Generation

How To Calculate the Value Of Your Pension

The 60-Day Rollover Rule

The Right Ratio Between Income And Distribution

Recommendations

Diversify into real estate more strategically and passively with Fundrise. Fundrise manages over $3.3 billion, mostly in residential and industrial real estate in the Sunbelt. The spreading out of America is going to be a multi-decade trend. FS is an investor and affiliate partner of Fundrise. 

Sign up for Empower, the best free online financial tool to manage your 401(k). With Empower, you can x-ray your 401(k) portfolio for excessive fees, track your net worth, and better plan for your retirement.

I've been using Empower to track my net worth since 2012. The more you can stay on top of your finances, the better you can optimize your finances. Both Fundrise and Empower are affiliate partners.

Join 60,000+ others and subscribe to my free weekly newsletter. This way you always stay on top of the most important events in the stock market, real estate market, and everything personal finance. 

I speak to Srinivas Rao host and founder of The Unmistakable Creative Podcast, where he has interviewed over 1,000 thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and creatives. He is also the creator of the Maximize Your Output course, which helps individuals optimize their workflow and productivity. Srinivas is passionate about helping others achieve their creative goals and has authored several books, including the Wall Street Journal bestseller, "The Art of Being Unmistakable."     Podcast

• The Unmistakable Creative Podcast

  Books

• An Audience of One: Reclaiming Creativity for It's Own Sake
• Unmistakable: Why Only is Better Than Best

  Free Resources

• Maximize Your Output Youtube Channel- Knowledge Management Tutorials
• The Ultimate Guide to building a Second Brain With Mem
• How to Take Smart Notes E-Course

  Course

• Maximize Your Output with Mem

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

Join 60,000+ others and sign up for my free weekly newsletter so you never miss a thing. You can also get every post I publish immediately in your inbox by signing up here. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, I'd appreciate a great review and a share with your friends!

Buying a home with contingencies is rare during housing bull markets. But as higher mortgage rates dampen investor demand, being able to put in contingencies before buying a home is now more possible.

Let me share with you why buying a home with contingencies can make you lots of money. It will also make you feel better in the process!

Relevant posts: 

Buying A Home With Contingencies Is Like Getting A Free Call Option

How To Invest Your Down Payment If You Are Planning To Buy A Home

Real Estate Recommendation

Check out Fundrise, a premier private real estate platform if you want to invest in real estate passively. Fundrise mainly invests in residential and industrial properties in the Sunbelt, where yields are higher and valuations are lower.

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

Join 60,000+ others and sign up for my free weekly newsletter so you never miss a thing. You can also get every post I publish immediately in your inbox by signing up here. 

If you enjoy this episode, please share, rate, and subscribe. It helps the FS podcast grow!

 

In this episode, I speak to Chad Carson about his new book, The Small And Mighty Real Estate Investor. Chad played linebacker for Clemson University and decided to dive deep into real estate as a career.

To buy the book, click here (BiggerPockets) or above and use the discount count SAMURAI to save 10%. It's an incredibly thorough book if you ever wanted to start building your real estate empire. 

You can also buy the book on Amazon if you missed the initial promotion on Biggerpockets in the link above.

Keep In Touch With Financial Samurai

Join 60,000+ others and subscribe to my free weekly newsletter. This way you always stay on top of the most important events in the stock market, real estate market, and everything personal finance. 

To invest in real estate more strategically and passively, check out Fundrise. Fundrise manages over $5 billion, mostly in residential and industrial real estate in the Sunbelt. The spreading out of America is going to be a multi-decade trend. 

I speak to Charlie Albright about his journey from being a pianist since three-and-a-half, to graduating Harvard and Juliard, to playing at some of the biggest venues in the world as a concert pianist. 

Please visit his website https://www.charliealbright.com to connect, learn, and book. I saw Charlie perform live and it was a magical experience.

Charlie also was kind enough to record an amazing improvision of a lullaby I wrote called, Cutie Baby. You can hear my version and his piano version. https://www.financialsamurai.com/cutie-baby-a-samurai-lullaby/

Finally, Charlie provided his thoughts on creativity and how to be more creative in my post, How To Be More Creative. https://www.financialsamurai.com/how-to-be-more-creative/

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

Join 60,000+ others and sign up for my free weekly newsletter so you never miss a thing. You can also get every post I publish immediately in your inbox by signing up here. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, I'd appreciate a great review and a share with your friends!