QA12: Will A Life Of Financial Independence Meet Expectations?

We’re back to the digital mailbag to answer your questions!

For this week:

  • An update on markets and our personal finance situation
  • The role of dividends in growth and withdrawal assumptions
  • Expectations vs reality on a life of financial independence
  • Our experience with health insurance without employer-sponsored plans
  • Real estate investing: an update on our experiences and economics as remote landlords
  • Health insurance considerations for long-term travel
  • Short- to medium-term savings goals (like a house) versus saving for retirement
  • Loss of purpose without a traditional job
  • So much more!

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Previous Q&A Posts

Your Questions Answered: Volume One

Your Questions Answered: Volume Two

Your Questions Answered: Volume 3 (Podcast)

Your Questions Answered: Volume 4 (Podcast)

Your Questions Answered: Volume 5 (Podcast)

Your Questions Answered: Volume 6 (Podcast)

QA7: Financial Freedom Fast-Tracks and Climbing Plateau Busters (Podcast)

QA8: What If We Run Out of Water? (Podcast)

QA9: What is the Point of Financial Optimization? (Podcast)

QA10: Bear Markets and Bank Failures (Podcast)

QA11: Laying It Out in Simple Terms (Podcast)

Q1: What’s the latest on markets and your financial situation since you left your corporate career? (00:02:38)

The Great Comfort of Longevity in the Stock Market

What Comes After a Good Year in the Stock Market? (Ben Carlson, A Wealth of Common Sense)

Frugalprofessor.com for detailed monthly personal finance reports of a family of seven.

Q2: Expectations versus experiences on the financially independent life (00:16:33)

How to Discover Your Own Taste (The Ezra Klein Show, Apple Podcasts). Spotify Link Here.

Thinking, Fast and Slow (Daniel Kahneman)

Q3: Could you provide an update on your experiences and costs with ACA (Obamacare) insurance? (00:27:42)

How to Have Negative Health Insurance Costs

kff.org ACA subsidy/premium calculator

More healthcare posts here.

Q4: I’d like to hear any details you’re willing to share on your remote landlord experience (00:39:36)

This Just In: The Real Cost of Home Ownership

EP 72: Dr. Jim Dahle of the White Coat Investor on Building the Ideal Life

More real estate posts here.

Q5: My partner and I are taking a sabbatical! What should we do about insurance? (00:50:30)

EP 44: Earning to Buy Time with Meghan and Jeff (A Way to FI)

EP 64: Jeff and Priti Wright: You Might Need a Sabbatical

More healthcare posts here.

Q6: How do I prioritize retirement savings against saving for short- to medium-term savings goals, like buying a house? (00:56:20)

2024 ordinary and long-term capital gains tax rates. Tax brackets. Clipping Chains

The CC Family Investing Strategy, Part 1: Philosophy and Asset Allocation

The CC Family Investing Strategy, Part 2: Where Exactly Is Our Money?

Should I Buy a Home? Part 2: Opportunity Cost

More investing and housing posts here.

Q7: Why are we so concerned about the loss of purpose when we stop working a traditional job? (01:04:31)

Facing the Rest of the World with a Nontraditional Lifestyle


Remember, the best laid plans mean nothing if you can’t take action today. Have questions? Need some feedback? Hit us up on the contact page.

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