Jordan

Jordan has been studying personal finance and financial sustainability strategies for years. His specific focuses are finding a balance between responsible spending and living life to the fullest, as well as strategies for pursuing the goal of early retirement. Jordan loves high adventure activities and sharing his findings with others.

The Importance of a Cash Cushion

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The economy was great going in to corona It seems like it was just yesterday that everyone was driving to work, rush hour was in full effect, and everything was functioning like normal. The economy was doing great, unemployment was at a low point, and everyone was planning their summer vacations. Now the streets are … Keep Reading

Money is Just a Game (Money Mindset)

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A Tough Subject to Write on I wrestled with whether or not to write this article for a long while. I was worried that it might come off as insensitive given the number of people living in squalor and not by choice. Who am I to talk so lightly about money when I have been … Keep Reading

Low-Cost ETFs: An Explainer

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Investing in financial instruments used to be an expensive endeavor. First, you’d go to a stockbroker with a pile of cash and hand it over to them. Then they’d either farm it out to a mutual fund or act as an intermediary for you, carrying out trades on the financial markets – charging fees, of … Keep Reading

Solo 401(k) vs SEP IRA

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Chances are if you’re reading this you are one of two types of people. You’re either someone who is considering becoming a contractor, has just accepted a job as a contractor, or are just starting a job as a contractor and want to know what your options for retirement accounts are. If that’s the case, … Keep Reading

A coronavirus Thought Experiment #10

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Background Like many of the readers on this site I’ve spent the vast majority of my time on my fire journey lurking and reading instead of creating content, so it should come as no surprise that I have a few blogs that I read for ideas, inspiration, and to learn. Personally I prefer the smaller … Keep Reading

Cooking Your Own Food for Big Savings

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Why Everyone Should Cook This should be a no brainer and probably shouldn’t need so much attention but unfortunately, it does. This is arguably the simplest and most implementable of all the saving strategies. However, the population of the United States continues to cook less, eat out more, and overspend on food as a whole, … Keep Reading

An Introduction to the 3 Fund Portfolio

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VTSAX is my favorite investment vehicle. Whenever a friend or coworkers asks how to get started investing in stocks, the first piece of advice I will typically give is “put your money in VTSAX!” This is a pretty common piece of advice in the investing community. This advice is widespread because it’s good advice for investors just starting out. However, it doesn’t necessarily constitute a full investing strategy. This is especially true as your accounts start to grow. Let’s do an analysis to see where this advice holds merit and where it is lacking.

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Background on the 3 Fund Portfolio

The 3 fund portfolio is a book that I am taking from the bogle heads forum. the name bogle heads refers to the investing enthusiasts that can be found on their website. However, the name itself is a reference to John “Jack” Bogle, the founder and chief executive of The Vanguard Group, and creator of the first index fund.

The basic idea of the three fund portfolio is to allocate your money between three major index funds, VTSAX, VBTLX, and VTIAX. The ratio you allocate to each fund changes based on market conditions and your personal risk tolerance. These funds are all owned by Vanguard. However, other brokerages will have the same types of funds, which I will cover in a different article.

VTSAX is my favorite investment vehicle. Whenever a friend or coworkers asks how to get started investing in stocks, the first piece of advice I will typically give is “put your money in VTSAX!” This is a pretty common piece of advice in the investing community. This advice is widespread because it’s good advice for investors just starting out. However, it doesn’t necessarily constitute a full investing strategy. This is especially true as your accounts start to grow. Let’s do an analysis to see where this advice holds merit and where it is lacking.

Keep Reading

How to Embrace Frugal Living

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Living Frugally isn’t easy. However, if you are truly determined to make the switch, you are sure to find it rewarding! You’re going to have to cut back on expenses, move some money around, and acclimate to a different “normal.” Take it slow, make baby steps, and never doubt your progress. Have patience with both with yourself and the process, and you’ll be living a happy and frugal life in no time!

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