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Micro-retirements aren’t a shortcut to FIRE

“Micro-retirement? I thought that was a vacation?” Well, yes…and no. A micro-retirement is an extended, unpaid career break taken years ... Read more

From the Floor to the Blog: What a Decade of FIRE Taught a Hospitalist

There’s a particular kind of whiplash I used to feel that I don’t think medical textbooks can quantify. I’d finish ... Read more

The FIRE Guide to America’s Healthcare System (2026)

Originally published on Millennial Revolution. The Wanderer retired from his engineering job at a major Silicon Valley semiconductor company at ... Read more

Gen Z is Giving Up On The American Dream and Your FIRE Goals Just Got More Urgent

We’ve all been feeling something in the air, recently. But unlike Millennials and Gen X who try to maintain the ... Read more

The FIRE Guide to America’s Health Care System (2026)

The most common question I get when being interviewed about FIRE is “What about health care?” It’s a big, scary question. Health care costs in America, if not managed properly, can easily run into ten...

The Dumbbell FIRE Investing Method To Safely Build Max Wealth

FIRE is ultimately about being set for life. You build a portfolio big enough to cover your expenses, and then your one job is to not blow it up. But here's the tension worth talking more about. The m...

The FIRE is Gone

Hello friends. I hope you’re enjoying the summer break as much as my son is. RB40Jr just wrapped up an incredibly busy freshman year of high school. Now, his main ... Read more The post The FIRE is Go...

Purpose Is Not Enough in Retirement. You Need Fulfillment.

So many people say you just need purpose. I hear this all the time. You just need a purpose. Find your purpose and you will be fine. That sounds good. It is also too simple. As the guy in the room who...

Your ZIP Code Is a Bigger FIRE Lever Than Your Savings Rate

Geographic Arbitrage is the most underrated risk-management tool in early retirement, and could help you shave years off your FI journey! Read more → The post Your ZIP Code Is a Bigger FIRE Lever Than...

The Delicate Art of Firing Your Financial Adviser, Even When They Are a Friend

If your portfolio has been underperforming, you might need to fire your adviser. That gets tricky if you share a friend group.

Distribution May Be The Last Moat: 17 Years Of Financial Samurai

Back in 2012, the year I left banking and three years after I started Financial Samurai, I had a choice: run a lifestyle business or build a venture-backed company. I chose the lifestyle business. Aft...

I Built the FAANG FIRE Bundle I Wish I Had

FAANG FIRE Extra Guac bundle now includes over $1,200 in FIRE tools and 1:1 coaching, including ProjectionLab, Sequence, Mezzi, Silvia, Lunch Money, and a 30-minute call with Andre.

How Overworking Can Ruin Your FIRE Goals

The tragedy of modern ambition is that exhaustion is a badge of honor. Workaholism is mistaken for virtue, and overworking ... Read more

A FIRE Investor With No Paycheck Cannot Afford to Be Too Wrong

I get investments wrong all the time. Losing money is part of the process to financial independence. But after I FIRE'd in 2012, the math changed. With no paycheck to bail me out, I could no longer af...

Being Useful is More Attractive Than Being Rich

I recently saw this Reddit post about a man who retired early (FIRE) only to be called a “loser” by his wife ... Read more

Why Every Rich Person I Know Still Has Life Insurance

Here's something I've noticed: the loudest voices arguing against life insurance after financial independence almost always come from people who aren't financially independent yet and don't have kids....

How are FIRE adherents making out?

We check in on some champions of early retirement nearing their own finish line of financial independence. The post How are FIRE adherents making out? appeared first on MoneySense.

The Multi-Million Dollar Home That Ate Your FIRE Number

The main reason I can't convince anyone in real life to FIRE is the desire for more. The moment you hit a $1 million net worth, you start dreaming of $5 million. Get to $5 million and suddenly $10 mil...

Failing to Convince Anyone in Real Life to FIRE Despite Big Gains

The problem with writing about FIRE since 2009 is that I've become completely sold on the lifestyle. I know how good freedom feels, so I have a natural tendency to want everyone to achieve it too. I'm...

The Best FIRE Software Just Got Even Better

The best financial planning software for FIRE just got even better! Check out the incredible new features that have changed how I invest! Read more → The post The Best FIRE Software Just Got Even Bett...

I pulled the trigger, July 3rd will be my last day.

I just informed my manager that I'll be retiring July 3rd. Pretty exciting. The plan has been afoot for a while now, but I needed to let them know. I've tested the numbers, I've created my fund for th...

What FIRE People Won’t Tell You

I’m back on the BiggerPockets Money podcast this week with Mindy! So exciting! For me at least. I enjoy podcasting and look forward to recording more when the F.O.O.L.I.S.H. Project is over. What FIRE...

How I Bought A Lot Of Houses Despite Making Less Than $50k

I often get asked how I was able to buy so many houses with such low income. I bought my first house in my early 20s while unemployed. Since then, I’ve purchased over a dozen more with a total of $800...

How To Convince Yourself To Invest Aggressively For A Better Tomorrow

One of the key ways to FIRE is to save and invest aggressively. You've forecasted your misery, therefore, you know that by the time your misery becomes a reality, you'll have invested enough money to ...

Dual Physician Households and FIRE Planning – How You Can Have Your Cake (And Eat It Too)

Dual-physician households want for nothing. In the eyes of the observer, they’ve won the lottery of life. A combined household ... Read more

Did AI Kill Coast FIRE?

Picture this: You’re in your mid-40s and you’ve just quit your stressful corporate job. You’ve set aside enough money to ... Read more

FIRE Psychology During a Stock Market and Economic Downturn

As someone who's been writing about FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) since 2009 and actually leaving full-time work for good in 2012, it's been quite an interesting ride. For the most part, ...

Q1 2026 FIRE Update

Hey Everyone! I’m still here. The Retire by 40 blog is on life support, but I’m committed to posting at least once per month this year. Did you know Retire ... Read more The post Q1 2026 FIRE Update a...

Yes, you can rent with kids!

From JL: Turns out you can still travel, even with a kid. Who knew? Certainly not their detractors. For years they confidently said, “You can only travel as you do, and be FIRE’d, because you don’t ha...

Millionaire Librarian: Retire Early Without the Six-Figure Salary

Can you retire early if you are a parent and don’t have a six-figure salary? It’s a question the FIRE community gets often. Well, today we’re going to meet a reader who worked as a librarian, has a to...

The FIRE Movement Is So Back Thanks To AI Disruption

From 2009, when I started writing about FIRE, until now, the FIRE movement has had a great run. It was born out of the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, when hundreds of thousands of people were losi...

Plan your 2026: Triple Paychecks & Contribution Limits

Happy 2026! Get the updated FAANG FIRE Cheat Sheet with new 401k limits ($24.5k), tax brackets, and triple paycheck dates.

Investment Outlook For Public And Private Stocks In 2026

As a FIRE parents raising two children in San Francisco, we rely heavily on our investments to remain free. If we significantly misjudge returns, we increase the probability of having to go back to wo...

Forget FIRE: Why ‘FILE’ Is the Smarter Move for Child-Free DINKs

How shifting from "Retiring Early" to "Living Early" allows child-free adults to enjoy their wealth while they’re still young enough to use it.

The Third Rule Of Financial Independence Could Also Be Your Biggest Regret

As someone who has been writing about financial independence and escaping corporate America since 2009, I’ve developed several rules that serve as the backbone for achieving FIRE and staying free. The...