As we wrap up 2024, it’s time to spotlight the most effective posts from Monetary Samurai this 12 months. After I began Monetary Samurai in July 2009, my objective was to publish three posts every week for 10 years. I achieved that milestone in July 2019, however very like Forrest Gump, I saved on going.
Writing has at all times been my inventive outlet, bringing me pleasure and objective. Now, as a father to 2 younger youngsters (5 and seven.5), my objective is to maintain writing till they flip 18 in 2037. I hope that by demonstrating self-discipline and focus by my work, they’ll be impressed to take their teachers severely. Life will throw setbacks our approach, and excuses will at all times be simple to seek out, but when we hold going, it is onerous to fail.
Since 2009, my North Star has been serving to as many individuals as doable obtain monetary freedom sooner. Monetary confidence not solely results in happier and kinder people but additionally strengthens households and improves society as a complete. Listening to from readers who’ve been positively impacted by Monetary Samurai is at all times extremely rewarding and retains me motivated to proceed this work.
Subscribe without cost:You possibly can obtain my posts as quickly as they’re printed by signing up here. I additionally write a free weekly newsletter sharing my real-time ideas on the inventory market, actual property, economic system, and different monetary subjects of curiosity
12 Favourite Monetary Samurai Posts For 2024
I like writing about real-life points and challenges. Every little thing I write is predicated on firsthand experiences, with the hope of elucidating blind spots and fixing issues. I additionally get pleasure from sharing stunning realizations about cash that you simply may not have thought of earlier than. Lastly, participating in courteous debates and listening to reader views makes writing for Monetary Samurai enjoyable.
Out of the 156 posts I’ve written in 2024, these are a few of my favorites in no explicit order. Monetary Samurai has acquired over 12 million web page views in 2024 and has been featured in virtually all the main media retailers. If you have not learn a few of these posts earlier than, I hope you’ll and share your ideas. There’s at all times one thing new to be taught!
1) Blew Up My Passive Income and Am No Longer Financially Independent
This put up outlined Monetary Samurai’s tone and route in 2024. I revealed that we’re not financially impartial based mostly on my definition: passive revenue protecting desired dwelling bills. Whereas some readers choose utilizing the 25X bills or 20X gross income definitions, I’ve stayed according to this definition since 2009.
Changing the definition of FIRE to suit your monetary progress will be harmful. It breeds complacency and will result in poor monetary choices. For example, following Coast FIRE can be misleading if you happen to’re not real looking about its limitations. Keep disciplined and keep away from self-delusion.
2) Why Retiring Early Is Obviously Better Than Retiring Rich
Since 2009, one among my objectives has been to assist readers construct wealth whereas avoiding the lure of endlessly chasing extra. It’s a troublesome steadiness, particularly after years of ingrained saving and investing habits. The “one more year syndrome” can get to the most effective of us!
In case your job not excites you, take into account retiring early. The additional cash you would possibly accumulate usually isn’t definitely worth the alternative value of time misplaced. Retiring early doesn’t imply monetary spoil—it offers you the liberty to discover different passions or just take a much-needed break.
3) The Minimum Investment Amount Where Work Becomes Optional
To reply the age-old query, “How a lot is sufficient?” I launched the Minimal Funding Threshold Formulation. This components takes the inverse of the historic return in your property and multiplies it by your gross annual revenue.
Reaching this threshold means your investments have a excessive probability of producing returns equal to or larger than your wage, releasing you to discover different alternatives, take a sabbatical, or retire early.
4) Careful Giving Up Your Career to Be a Stay-at-Home Parent
As a stay-at-home mother or father for over seven years, I needed to share some recommendation for these contemplating the identical path. It’s simple to prioritize your youngster over your profession, nevertheless it’s not at all times the most effective determination for everybody.
This put up explores methods to strike a steadiness between fulfilling your parental position and sustaining your private objectives. Each household is totally different, however I advocate for a balanced method fairly than going to extremes.
5) Went Back to Work and Could Only Last Four Months
With my daughter beginning full-time college in September 2024, I made a decision to reenter the workforce part-time in late 2023. My objective was to contribute to constructing a fintech startup whereas sustaining a purposeful 20-hour workweek. I anticipated having extra free time along with her at school and noticed this as a chance to fill the eventual void. Plus, I needed to rebuild liquidity after buying a brand new house.
Nonetheless, actuality didn’t align with my expectations. The part-time position rapidly encroached on time with my daughter, who had Tuesdays and Thursdays off. This imbalance felt unsuitable, and by March 2024, I made the choice to step away.
6) A Vacation Spending Guide: The True Cost Is More Than You Think
Speaking to fellow dad and mom, I spotted many don’t comply with the identical private finance rules we talk about right here. For example, one household spent a staggering quantity on a Hawaiian trip.
This impressed me to create a information for trip spending that balances enjoyable with monetary accountability. It’s a framework that can assist you get pleasure from holidays with out risking monetary pressure afterward.
7) The Financial Doom You Read and See Is Probably Not Real
Doom and gloom dominate the monetary media as a result of negativity sells. However if you happen to go searching—packed eating places, bustling roads—it’s clear the U.S. client is doing properly.
This put up, written in June 2024, is a reminder to deal with what’s really taking place round you and to keep away from being swayed by fixed bearish predictions. Getting gaslit into pondering the world is coming to the top is just not the best way to constructing wealth.
8) The Right House-to-Car Ratio for Financial Freedom
I like easy monetary ratios, and this one blends my automotive and home-buying guidelines right into a easy guideline for monetary freedom seekers. It builds on my 1/10th Rule for car purchases and my 30/30/3 Rule for home buying.
Following these ratios will help you steadiness two main bills—housing and transportation—whereas sustaining monetary stability. Given nearly all of individuals drive and all people wants a spot to reside, the house-to-car ratio stands out as the most pertinent ratio of all.
9) Obtaining a Top 1% Net Worth Is Easier Than Ever
Knight Frank’s report confirmed {that a} prime 1% internet price is surprisingly decrease than many people anticipated. This put up explores the concept that wealth isn’t at all times about numbers however about feeling financially safe and in a position to reside the life you need.
10) Climbed to the Top of the Property Ladder and Feel No Happier
Watch out getting what you need. In case you do not handle your expectations, it’s possible you’ll be upset. After 20 years of climbing the property ladder, I purchased what I assumed was my dream house. It had everything I wanted: a view, an outsized lot, and an incredible location.
But, I didn’t really feel happier after the acquisition. As an alternative, I felt anxious about my diminished liquidity and skilled a “trough of sorrow” after attaining this long-term objective. This put up is a mirrored image on discovering steadiness and avoiding the lure of at all times chasing extra.
11) A $20 Million Net Worth Should Be Enough To Live Happy And Free
This was a enjoyable exploration of assorted households with over $20 million in internet price—a sum that may appear mind-boggling to some. But, with sufficient time, compounding, and a little bit of luck, attaining a $20 million internet price is feasible.
You would possibly assume everybody with $20+ million feels pleased and free, however as this text reveals, that’s not at all times the case. Irrespective of how a lot wealth we accumulate, all of us face ongoing challenges in life.
12) Reducing The Traditional Retirement Age From 65 To 55 Works
The normal retirement age has been 65 for many years. Nonetheless, after my dialog with Invoice Bengen, the daddy of the 4% Rule, I’ve concluded that America might cut back the normal retirement age to 55!
Saving 10 years of labor for over 100 million working Individuals can be a monumental shift. If everybody believed this was achievable, it might grow to be one of many biggest drivers of happiness and objective in our nation’s historical past. Learn the put up and hearken to our dialog to determine for your self.
Different Well-liked Posts On Monetary Samurai For 2024
As at all times, thanks for studying and supporting Monetary Samurai! I hope you’ve got discovered these posts to be instructional and entertaining. On the finish of the day, I solely need to write what I need to learn.
Bear in mind, there isn’t any single proper strategy to method private finance. There are lots of methods to get to your objectives. Preserve an open thoughts about totally different concepts and ideas as you pursue your monetary independence journey.
When you have any recommendations for brand spanking new put up subjects for 2025, I am at all times open to new concepts! Right here can also be my personal 2024 year in review, however transition 12 months.
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You possibly can obtain my posts as quickly as they’re printed by signing up here. I additionally write a free weekly newsletter sharing my real-time ideas on the inventory market, actual property, economic system, and different monetary subjects of curiosity. I am assured that if you happen to subscribe, you may keep engaged and obtain monetary independence sooner.
In case you get pleasure from listening to podcasts, I produce a number of every month on Apple and Spotify. In these podcasts, you may hear extra nuanced insights on a few of my hottest subjects. I additionally interview consultants and fascinating individuals of their respective fields who share their knowledge.
Try my Top Financial Products web page, the place I spotlight all of the instruments and investments I take advantage of to construct larger monetary safety. In case you’re new to Monetary Samurai, please learn my About web page. I spent 13 years working in funding banking, completed my MBA in 2006, and started this web site in July 2009 as a strategy to make sense of the worldwide monetary disaster.
