After multiple rounds of interviews and writing tests, on May 31, 2012 I received a letter to work for my current employer. The letter outlined salary, healthcare, and other expected benefits, but one benefit stood out to me. “After a year’s tenure, the organization will provide an employer-sponsored SEP-IRA account (currently set at 10% of […]
I was sitting at the dinner table with my buddy Nick in Colorado last month. He was telling me a story about the stellar sales year of one of his direct reports. Lets call him Tim. His base salary was around $60,000 per year. The bonus from his terrific sales numbers was $50,000. That’s a […]
Financial independence is achieved through low spending and high saving. Indeed the two concepts are expressly linked. After spending is under control, the next step is figuring out how to save. Sorting the innumerable investment options can be overwhelming. With everything from stocks, to real estate, and even crypto currencies (please don’t invest in crypto […]
I’m amazed at how quickly the world of software and online services transitioned to the subscription model. Long gone are the days when a consumer could purchase a shrink wrapped computer program and use it until his computer was obsolete. Once applied only to mail order steaks and newspapers, subscriptions have become a huge boon […]
A major component of the Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) lifestyle is a focus on reducing debt to zero, saving 50 percent or more of post-tax earnings, and limiting expenses. Discipline over time instills the second two components as an everyday part of life. But for me, the debt component is frequently in my thoughts. Specifically, […]
Food is one of the top spending categories. The average millennial spends more on food each month than they do on retirement saving. Thats not surprising. It is consumed several times a day, is a mechanism to socialize with colleagues and friends, and it plays a big role in everyday life. But food is a […]
Last week I met with a group of former U.S. Senators traveling to Beijing to meet with the Chinese government. Our discussion focused on the US-China commercial relationship and bilateral trade negotiations. At one point I argued that the US trade deficit with China—of which reduction is a priority for president Trump—was a poor metric […]
Side hustles are great because with time and effort they can grow into a sustainable business. That DJ side hustleyou started because you liked music can lead you to connections with other DJs and a following of dedicated fans. Next thing you know, you’re renting out empty warehouses, inviting your DJ pals to town, and charging […]
The sharing economy is the core of many side hustles today. One that that brings in revenue in exchange for borrowing your extra space is Airbnb. It is easy to sign up as a host, and it turns into a low maintenance side hustle with a high return on investment. Where I live in China, […]
After I purchased my first real estate investment property I figured I should get my act together and actually understand how to make money on real estate investing. That led me on a search for book recommendations. After reading four or five, I wanted to write brief summary of my favorite three, with three takeaways […]
