I am a bit behind you since my oldest is 11, 2nd 9 and 3rd 7years, but with cub scouts they all have savings accounts and we (I try to expaln) these things, and they appear to be picking it up. Ghana Their interests are not your interest. I sent it on to my three boys.they also have heard much of the same advice all their lives, and thank you for putting it in a nice, numbered, detailed format! Im brand new to your blog and all having to do with the financial world other than staying debt free and living within my means. Or even Vanguard? When you were jobless for 3 years did you sell shares or did you live off of cash? and the taxman cometh. I think our greatest leaders throughout history were hunters capable of thinking and moving quickly from one thought to another. This summer she plans to get a job as a bartender. I know they change their ownership frequently but many of what they own are dividend aristocrats. Czech Republic Most folks will disagree with my stance on home ownership. But then I thought about it. Everyones sitch is different, for sure. Knowing you, your boys and how you raised them theyll be just fine and can likely teach us a thing of two. Personally, Im pretty flexible with my own withdrawal rate, but then Im very comfortable with a reduction in lifestyle if things move against me. Sounds like you are on a great path. Since our kids really have no use for the liquidity of savings accounts or CDs, we would love to get their money in stocks. Great advice, particularly , Avoid fiscally irresponsible people. Just found your blog and was mesmerized. I dont take credit, either, for her beauty, charm, smarts, etc., but I do take credit for not teaching her well about money. This is quite similar to what we setup, but with the ETF version (VTI). Also with regard to VTSAX, do you suggest reinvesting dividends during the wealth building phase? Appreciate your blog and just ordered your book. You are one of the most astute finacial guys I know. I am 57, and at this very late stage of life I have 40.000 dollars to begin investing. You will hear occasionally how actively managed funds beat index funds. For your Roth question, if you havent already, check out: https://jlcollinsnh.com/2012/05/30/stocks-part-viii-the-401k-403b-ira-roth-buckets/. As the rest of the world woke up on Wednesday tofresh all-time highsfor U.S. stocks, it was only natural for a wave of jealousy to spill forth. Gross or net, the important thing is as much as possible if FI is important to you. In the one area I actively tried to influence her, I failed miserably. Cheers! How should we think about certain non-US stock markets, some which are materially below their all time highs reached years ago (Shanghai Composite still 50% below 2007 high and Japans Topix 45% below 1989 high). -Some 5 year CDs that comprise a few years of birthday gifts As I grow; as I watch my daughter and son grow; as I remember the few, calmly stated facts my father has expressed to me, and by my mother, in her way; as I listen to my wife; and as I read your most excellent blog: you have explained mastery of money sure is important if only to make sure we leave someone behind, someone made in our own image, to continue the good things we strive for thats what its finally all about, right? https://jlcollinsnh.com/2012/05/26/mr-money-mustache/. Both she and I have worked/not-worked throughout our lives. Stocks -- Part IV: The Big Ugly Event, Deflation and a bit on Inflation. Told you Im an idiot that learns quickly Im totally debt free, no mortgage. Please pass my kudos on to your dad. Really enjoyed it, it further reinforced my decision to keep renting. Thanks for the addendum. Its greatly appreciated from a true newbie like me. Or should I just sit tight until I can get my balance up to $10,000 and get the VTSAX? Ireland I wouldnt worry about it. The road to Zanzibar sometimes goes thru Ecuador Chainsaws, Elm Trees and paying for College, Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat, Top Ten reasons your future is so bright it hurts my eyes to look at it, The Most Dangerous Words Your Customer Can Say, Why I cant pick winning stocks, and you cant either. Ive been reading your blog for the past 3 hours and was wondering if you could help provide some direction for my situation. You dont have to go to 100% if you like the future prospects of Australia. Since VTSMX/VTSAX is for the long-haul, should I go ahead and start a Roth IRA or put my $6k into a fund thats more liquidatable and just keep saving? With the exception of a year working a 9 to 5 in the US, A year volunteeering on a organic farm,and Graduate School. Since money is the single most powerful tool we have for navigating this complex world we've created, understanding it is critical. complicated, of course, pays Wall Street better. This physically hurts me. Check out the conversations here: Early Retirement Extremeand Mr. Money Mustache. My kids, whether on their own or through the efforst of my wife and I, do well with their emotions and behavior. We also promise other support such as cell phone on family plan through this time, car insurance starting at 18 through age 22 (if at all), room and board at home as long as they are good roomates and wish to do so. Thats 5k per year. Even better: Buy more shares. As I say to my own daughter, your futures so bright it hurt my eyes to look at it. I understand the benefits of frugality. Hello Mr. Collins: Ive learned more about finances here than from my parents, high school, and college combined. Just inked a contract for my next book, and I want you to be a part of it! http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/on-retirement/2010/12/16/3-risks-of-purchasing-a-fixed-annuity See blurb from Bloomberg today: It might prompt us to do another spending audit to figure out whether or not we want to get even more aggressive. Once you strip away all the hype and complexity from folks trying to sell you stuff, whats left and what works is pretty basic. We are looking for strategies for good growth in this money (since birth to leaving our house could represent a lot of investment growth time if they were putting this money away during their adult or working lives). UN-earned income. Explore more Frequently bought together + + Total price: Fortunately, I have them already written: Ive done more research since I invested in VTSAX, and it seems like opening an IRA and focusing on maxing it out in the next year is a great idea, then focusing back on my taxable account. I understand your point about buying more shares during the crash, but wondering what your approach is in the opposite situation. Id like to start him off with $250-500 and go from there, but I dont know where the best place would be. Great resource. Hope they dont give you too much grief on the way out. Been eyeing my monthly spending/budget and trying to keep the goal of saving (net/take home) at 65%; took your advise about donating to charity in creative ways (aside from money) including volunteering time and contributing personal possession from downsizing efforts. 4:21-6:09 The philosophy of financial independence. When our daughter was young we opened up a VTSAX account for her. In short, I dont believe timing the market is possible. The author of "The Simple Path to Wealth: Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life", Mr. Collins offers easy-to-understand, effective guidance and resources to understand investing with confidence. Stocks -- Part XIII: The 4% rule, withdrawal rates and how much can I spend anyway? While in the IRA it grows tax free. I found it through MMM. But like the stock market, investing in a home isnt a question of timing. Gold star! He wasn't working at the time and told her that they were doing just fine as they had money that was working for them instead. While who they are it is obvious after the fact, it is impossible to know who it will be out of the thousands trying at the start. It gives me hope that I can influence my quality of life with the decision to invest. Thanks. yes, thanks! Right now as Im working it makes sense to just let interest roll back into more growth but when I am at 25x income saved, Im probably ready to live off that interest. . And God saying, Ah, man. Sales, inventory, plants, equipemnt, brands et all. They decided to get serious about their savings goals and committed to building a portfolio of at least $1 million by February 2017, 1,500 days later, in order to retire at age 43. I have an experiment that I have been piecing together and will know in 13 years how it turns out. Second, one of the benefits of this is you are also learning to live on less. I am going to take your advice on board wholeheartedly and stop squandering my wage on consumerism while Im still relatively young. Yikes! With this in mind, I would move the accounts ASAP if there is no or minimal tax hit. I am 27 and dont have much experience in personal finance. Personally I quickly learned that the work in my career was much more enjoyable to, and easier for, me than the work on my properties. I am very interested in hearing from those who have taken the theoretical SWR and put it into practice. (We do things a bit, but not much, differently)Now, if I can just get her to read it.. Addendum 1: The case study: putting-the-simple-path-to-wealth-into-action. So to apply it to your personal situation you want to take your projected annual returns for your RE holdings and see how they compare to 8%. He longed to tell him all the reasons for the things hed done Congratulations on your progress so far. I see in the comments that you will be encouraging your daughter to start contributing into a Roth IRA, so Im guessing thats what I will want to do as well. Your advice is perfect but hard to follow emotionally by most. It will look normal. When you factor in extra fees and interest, maintaining debt balances long-term will set you up to enjoy less freedom. Where do I see VTSAXs performance? I truly want to be financially free. How I learned to stop worrying about the Fiscal Cliff and you can too. The chance to grow for decades tax free and be withdrawn tax free is almost priceless! Apr 4. Is there a reason that I should switch my ETF to the Investor share mutual fund? When you get to the Vanguard page for it youll see it is available as Investor Shares (and as an ETF). Heres how Ive found the time: https://jlcollinsnh.com/2011/06/03/my-short-attention-span/ Hit the link for VTSAX. I remember my first job when they offered me $$s to invest at 22 to be able to spend them at 59 1/2. Very rare is the manager who can consistently outperform the index. Five years before their second year, do it again. This post is excellent! Hi Jim, I saw your name on MMM and thought Id give you a shot. Her work has been featured on LendingTree, CreditSesame, and Barclaycard. You can eat my Vindaloo, mega lottery, Blondie, Noa, Israel Kamakawiwo 'Ole, art, film and a ride on the Space Shuttle. Id rather start earning money instead of living off of my dearly beloved parents. Read reviews and buy Pathfinders - by Jl Collins (Hardcover) at Target. 2. At 44 currently, when I think about VTSAX dividends and getting to financial freedom, should I be thinking broadly across both my VTSAX holdings (my Rollover IRA plus my after-tax personal account)? So i want to make the most out of this experience. Finally, remember this is for my 19-year-old and other young folks with decades ahead of them. Ideally Id like to have ROTH and regular 401K and max them both out yearly if possible. Please read the Stock Series here: https://jlcollinsnh.com/stock-series/, and especially this post: https://jlcollinsnh.com/2013/12/05/stocks-part-xx-early-retirement-withdrawal-strategies-and-roth-conversion-ladders-from-a-mad-fientist/, Doing so will both put your mind at ease and introduce you the the strategies youll need. http://blog.famzoo.com/2011/04/pave-road-to-retirement-for-your.html. As promised, Im here to update you on my progress to the FU money over the last year. The insurance company she brought the annuity from has it and they are never going to give it back. Great article and even greater follow-up discussions. At first, all those mortgage loans at once scares me but my neighbor will be having a nice retirement in his late 50s when money will be working for him while he manages the rentals. 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