A friend recently shared the parable of the businessman and the fisherman with me. If you’ve never heard it, the story goes something like this: A wealthy businessman comes across a fisherman relaxing after the day’s catch. The businessman asks why he isn’t out catching more fish. The fisherman explains that he has already caught […]
The Wealth Of “Enough” Read More »
For decades, the financial industry has pushed a dangerous lie: that wealth is built through discipline, patience, diversification, and decades of consistent investing. Fortunately, nobody has time for that anymore. The truly sophisticated investor knows the shortest path to financial freedom is hearing about an investment from a guy you’ve never met on the internet
Getting Rich Slowly is for Losers Read More »
I recently had the opportunity to give a retirement seminar to a group of hospital employees here locally. We spent time talking through what I believe are the five most important things people should focus on in the five years before retirement. One thing I mentioned during the talk is that some people spend more
The 5 Things You Must Do in the 5 Years Before You Retire Read More »
Perhaps my favorite book of all time is Extreme Ownership: How US Navy SEALS Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. It’s one of the most impactful books I’ve ever read. So much so that I read through it and discussed it with my older kids when they were 10, 8, and 6.
What Jocko Has to Say About Retirement Read More »
Breaking News! I’ve actually discovered the two best ways to avoid taxes entirely! First option: make no money. None. Zero. Retire to a cabin, grow your own food, and transact exclusively in bartered zucchini. The IRS tends to lose interest when there’s nothing to report. Second option: just don’t pay them and see what happens.
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This is a true story involving someone I care about. Certain details have been changed or intentionally left vague to protect their privacy. She was sharp. Independent. Organized. The kind of person who knew where every bill was, managed her own finances, and took pride in not needing help. That’s why it worked. The call
Why Smart, Independent People Get Scammed Read More »
There’s a part of retirement planning that no spreadsheet can fix, and it’s probably the biggest challenge people face. It isn’t investment strategy or tax planning or market volatility. The real hurdle is simple. You’ve spent forty years saving. Now you’re supposed to turn around and start spending. The Challenge of Uncomfortable Emotions People picture
The Biggest Challenge in Retirement: When Saving Becomes the Problem Read More »
Like many of you, I have been a victim of procrastination…ok, obviously victim is not the right word. Though typically my procrastination is not financial procrastination, on occasion that type sneaks into my personal life too. There have been times where I have struggled to prioritize my time appropriately. I have been guilty of putting
Financial Procrastination: Tips to Help You Break Free Read More »
I still remember the first time I decided to tithe. I was in college, making just over minimum wage, paying for school myself, and—no surprise here—living with a negative net worth. At the time, the idea of giving 10% sounded like something people with real jobs did. I was just trying to buy gas and
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When I started out in financial services, I worked nearly a decade as a captive agent for the Knights of Columbus. That meant I represented only their products — fixed life insurance and annuities. Today, at QED Wealth Solutions, I work independently as a financial planner. Insurance is still part of the work I do,
Captive vs. Independent: What I Learned From My Time on Each Side Read More »