By: Laura Walton AFC® You wouldn’t expect Bob Swift to send out the typical holiday letter – oh no! Not only does he have fun with it but it’s the Swift family budget…from 1992. Fun aside, the charitable contributions line prompts me to remind you that you can choose to re-direct tax dollars owed to…
By: Laura Walton AFC® In recent blogs I’ve discussed the FIRE movement (Financial Independence Retire Early) and the potential pitfalls of early retirement. Left unaddressed is how to pull it off – does it take a big income? or monk-like frugality?? Here’s how one 3rd DecadeTM graduate is knocking it out of the park. For simplicity’s sake,…
By: Laura Walton AFC® I’d estimate that about 30% of the participants in the 3rd DecadeTM program would like to retire early whether that means age 60, 50 or even 40. But, is the dream better than the reality? San Dogan, founder of the website Financial Samurai, retired at 34 and his is a cautionary tale. About…
By: Laura Walton AFC® Financial Independence/Retire Early – how is this possible? Suze Orman says FI/RE “…is the biggest mistake, financially speaking, you will ever, ever make in your lifetime.” Mr. Money Mustache counters “as soon as you stop making excuses for why these ideas can’t possibly work for you, you can start actually doing them and seeing the…
By: Laura Walton AFC® Lucky are the few whose work is their passion. Know anyone who wanted to be, let’s say, a nurse when they grew up, became a nurse and lived (and worked) happily ever after? Similarly, lucky are the few who find meaning in their work, no matter what work they do. How…
By: Laura Walton AFC® Yes, there really is a Camp Mustache! This financial getaway attracts those who are super interested in saving, investing and retiring early a la Mr. Money Mustache. Two graduates of our 3rd DecadeTM program attended Camp Mustache – here’s their story: “Our journey into Mustachianism started many years ago. What’s Mustachianism? It’s “a…
By: Laura Walton AFC® There are lots of great stories about paying off debt. The one below is the personal story of Hadley Malcolm, who happens to also be a personal finance reporter covering consumer banking and young finance. It’s inspiring and reminds us that good financial management is about making tough choices. I’ve learned…
By: Laura Walton AFC® What are your priorities when looking for a job and would you believe that 4 of the 10 “best places to find a job in 2018” are in Arizona? A recent Bank of America survey uncovered some interesting differences between the generations when asked about their priorities in job hunting. Everyone ranked pay first, of…
By: Laura Walton AFC® The REI promotion asked “What’s your but?” Our excuses for not being active might sound like this: “but it’s too early, too late, too hot, too cold…” and I get it. My perception of getting out for a hike is often that it’s going to be any one of these things…
By: Laura Walton AFC® Do you track your net worth? It’s a great way to measure financial health and progress. We update net worth statements each time we meet with 3rd Decade clients and when I noticed that one couple’s net worth had gone from -$18k to +$128k in just under two years, I was curious…