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Unlock Early Retirement: The Overlooked ‘Rule of 55’
For many, the dream of retirement conjures images of freedom, less stress, and more time for what truly matters. My research consistently shows a sig…
The Best “Early Retirement” Strategy 99% of Investors Ignore
Want to retire early? What about early retirement AND making millions of dollars tax-free? Only one real estate investing strategy gives you the abil…
Ask HTM: Early Retirement Target Date Funds, Frugal Personal Hygiene, & Coercive House Painting – E…
Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don’t just stand on the sidelines- if you have a quest…
May 2025 FIRE Update
Hey Everyone! Did you have a good month? May was another hectic month at the RB40 household. I felt like I was a full-time chauffeur for the family. …
The “Set It and Forget It” Path to FIRE by Your 40s
If you invest consistently, reaching FIRE (financial independence, retire early) by your mid-40s is absolutely possible. These two financial-freedom-…
Four Tips to Avoid FIRE Burnout
Becoming a FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) fanatic comes with a few key stages—and I want to offer some advice for the most grueling one …
No, Taxes Won’t Derail Your FIRE: Here’s What You’ll Really Pay in Retirement
Taxes in retirement have been called a “silent wealth killer” for those pursuing FIRE—but does the data tell a different story? If you’re worried abo…
13 Years After Early Retirement
Hey everyone! It’s been 13 years since I retired from my engineering career. Wow, has it really been that long? Hard to believe, but it’s true.…
Three Things I Learned About the FIRE Community While Hosting a FIRE Cruise
I went to my first FIRE meet-up in 2018 in Denver, Colorado. It was so amazing to meet like-minded people and learn a lot about what people felt was …
JL Collins: The “Simple” Path to Wealth, FIRE, and Stress-Free Investing
The Simple Path to Wealth is arguably the most influential book in the FIRE movement. JL Collins, its author, is revered among early retirees as one …
Health Issues Or A Disability May Force You To Retire Early: Prepare Accordingly
Before I retired from finance in 2012, I struggled with chronic back pain, sciatica, and TMJ. The stress was so overwhelming, I even paid a dentist $…
How to Create Huge Tax Savings Funding Your Kid’s College (& FIRE on Time!)
Paying for college is one of the biggest financial hurdles families face—even as you’re chasing or approaching FIRE. What’s the smartest way to save …
I Retired Early in My 40s WITHOUT Withdrawing from My Portfolio! | Life After FIRE
You CAN retire early in just ten years IF you save and invest enough. Fortunately, your retirement expenses may be less than you think. Chris Luger, …
The 4% “Rule” is Wrong for FIRE—Here’s a Better Alternative
For decades, the 4% rule has been the calculation every FIRE chaser has used to determine when they can retire early—risk-free. The math is simple: h…
April 2025 FIRE Update
Hey Everyone! Did you have a good month? April was a hectic month at the RB40 household. RB40Jr was busy with school, debate, Ultimate Frisbee, marti…
What A Recession Is Like For Early Retirees: The Good And Bad
If we're not already in a recession, we may soon enter one due to aggressive trade policies that are fueling tremendous uncertainty. As companies and…
How to Build (and Enjoy) Your “Dream” Life in Early Retirement | Life After FIRE
What if you reached financial independence…before knowing what it was? That’s what happened to Chris Rusin. After discovering the FIRE movement and s…
The Single Biggest Risk That Could Stop Your Early Retirement (& How to Dodge It)
You’re part of the FIRE movement (financial independence, retire early) so you can quit your job, have complete time freedom, and truly enjoy your li…
FIRE in San Francisco: Updated Projections After Taxes, Social Security, and Housing Scenarios
I received many questions after concluding in my post “How Much is Enough to FIRE in San Francisco” that $5,654,000 was enough to cover m…
We Paid Off $500K in Debt: Now We’re on Track to Retire (Early) in Our 50s
Fear that early retirement is out of the question because you have too much debt? It’s not game over. Whether you’re debt-free or still chipping away…