investing Archives - Page 2 of 9

April 17, 2023May 5, 2023

The Great Comfort of Longevity in the Stock Market

Since the financial crisis of 2008, two dominant views on stock market investing have emerged:

Stock market investing is volatile and risky, akin to gambling.
Stock market investing is reliable and free money.

The Great Recession produced a decline in overall equity values in the range of 50%+ from 2007 to early 2009. The event created a lasting and widespread change in mindsets around personal finance, even what it means to be securely middle class. However, for those that stayed the course, the subsequent Great Bull Market produced exorbitant wealth for almost anyone investing in almost anything.

If there’s a lesson to be learned here, it’s that market growth and declines are cyclical. These cycles are influenced by a complex blend of fiscal policy, business practices, and perhaps most important of all—animal spirits: human behavior and emotion. To balance risk and reward, one should invest broadly in the market as a whole and increase the investing timeline. The latter in particular is easier said than done. In this post today, we quantify the power of longevity in the market. We have reason to rejoice, so long as we can hang on!

April 10, 2023April 9, 2023

What You Need to Know About Financial Advisors with Chris Mamula

Today on episode 60 I’m pleased to welcome back Chris Mamula, who you may recall from episode 3. Chris is a writer, author, and partner at CanIRetireYet.com, who achieved financial independence at age 41 to pursue a life centered around family and the outdoors.

Beginning in early 2022, in search of a new challenge, Chris completed the education and exam necessary to become a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Two questions emerge from this development:

Why would someone who theoretically doesn’t need to work begin a new career?
How can someone who harbors admittedly dogmatic views against the financial advice industry find a comfortable home working in this field?

Today we discuss the different kinds of financial advisors, the nature of complex incentives in professional financial advice, Chris’s recommended approach to choosing a financial advisor, and so much more about behavior, psychology, and the tangled emotions of money management.

March 27, 2023March 27, 2023

Brent Barghahn: Real Estate Investing and the Future of Home Ownership

Today on episode 59 I’m pleased to host Brent Barghahn, a 29-year-old elite climber who used real estate investment as a way to effectively “retire” from his career as an engineer in the outdoor industry in his late twenties.

Brent and I discussed a fascinating reality on the idea of dream jobs, the growing trend of short-duration careers (and what that means for society), and of course many details on Brent’s path to financial strength and community building through his preferred method of real estate investment. Of course, though, I wanted to discuss the stark differences in today’s high interest rate and sky-high price environment, which has changed markedly in the last year. It begs the question: can someone still be successful as a real estate investor today? I have my concerns, so we aired out some of them in today’s episode.

Finally, we take an interesting look at the realities of full-time climbing and why Brent has found he needs more. Also, Brent and I admittedly harbor negative sentiments on the world of social media, especially in climbing. What narratives and stories are being missed by the modern form of shallow media consumption?

March 20, 2023March 19, 2023

QA10: Bear Markets and Bank Failures

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

For this week:

Are new investors part of an “unlucky cohort” that won’t achieve financial independence in the often-cited timelines?
Is it worth it to hire a tax professional? And if so, how should I find one?
Can you help me understand all these confusing public sector retirement accounts?
Should I do a Roth conversion now or just make a contribution to a Roth IRA?
Thoughts on the recent bank runs and instability in financial markets
So much more!

January 30, 2023January 31, 2023

Lee Cujes: No Free Lunch on the Life We Really Want

Today on episode 53 I’m pleased to welcome back Lee Cujes, this time as a podcast guest. Some of you may recall the written interview with Lee back in late 2020. Lee is an elite Australian climber and route developer, with multiple 5.13+ and 5.14 first ascents to his name. But most importantly as it relates to this platform, Lee has managed to climb and develop routes continuously while carving a unique career niche and embracing a long-term investing strategy, an approach that provides the ultimate work and life balance.

January 2, 2023January 1, 2023

Joy and Tyler Black on Career, Money Mindsets, and Parenting

Today’s guests on episode 51 are Joy and Tyler Black. Many of you may be familiar with Joy, who has rapidly built a successful online business as a coach for pregnant and postpartum rock climbers. If you follow Joy on Instagram, you know her as a fun-loving and engaging mother of three, with a reputation for solid technical and personal coaching. Tyler on the other hand, is not a climber at all. He’s a biologist with a contrasting, yet highly complementary personality. In that way, they make for fantastic interview subjects on the discussion of relationships, money, career, and parenting.

December 19, 2022December 18, 2022

QA9: What Is the Point of Financial Optimization?

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

For this week:

Hot Seat Questions: My favorite blogs, podcasts, articles, and books. Musings on my biggest financial mistakes and the advice I’d give my younger self.
How do my wife and I keep meaning and purpose in our lives without traditional careers?
To sell or not to sell a home that was purchased in 2021
How to sell investments and minimize taxes
The proper hierarchy of investment accounts
Roth vs Traditional 401(k): Which is better?
I-Bonds: Should we be buying more?
Saving strategies for a home down payment
Receiving inheritance in a foreign currency
Critical nuance on withdrawal strategies in a high inflation/poor market return environment
So much more!

October 3, 2022October 2, 2022

QA8: What If We Run Out of Water?

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

For this week:

Thoughts on the bear market
Getting invested with a Health Savings Account
Paying for education with retirement accounts
My philosophy on rest from climbing
How to develop financial mentorship in the climbing community
Travel and rescue insurance ideas
Determining a cost-effective approach to climbing destinations
Should I open an IRA if my employer doesn’t offer a 401(k) match?
How to not get wrecked moving from sport climbing or bouldering to trad climbing
The risks of owning property in an area that could be running out of water
Getting a home loan with inconsistent income history

September 19, 2022September 18, 2022

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

Today’s guests on episode 44 are Meghan and Jeff, two Colorado climbers who are at very different positions on the spectrum of financial independence. Jeff achieved financial independence along with his wife, Rose, over four years ago. Meghan, along with her husband, were inspired to get serious about their personal finances after meeting and learning from Jeff and Rose. Jeff and Meghan now write about their experiences and learnings at awaytofi.com.

Today we discuss their different origin stories, long-term goals, and shed some light on the fraught balance between work, money, family, and the seemingly elusive control of our time.

June 21, 2022June 20, 2022

Your Questions Answered: Volume 6

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

In this Q&A episode we take a hard look at inflation, the reality of a bear market, tactics for balancing a career and climbing, saving for a home down payment, my dream interviews, the pros and cons of maxing out retirement plans, cryptocurrency, financial advisors, and traveling the world for cheap. And of course, so much more.