Joyful New Yr everybody! I hope you’re having fun with the day without work and doing a little reflecting. I’ve returned to San Francisco and am able to loosen up some extra!
Now that I’ve shared my 2024 yr in evaluation, I wished to share my targets and resolutions for 2025. Though 2024 was an excellent yr, I nonetheless have many areas of enchancment.
I executed most of my 2024 targets, however did not do the next:
- Produce 36 podcasts (I solely produced 30)
- Assist my spouse get a job (I could not as a result of she did not need one, so I went out and acquired one)
- Write a brand new lullaby for my daughter after writing Cutie Child for my son (forgot about this one, however I nonetheless can do it)
My theme for 2024 was “One final yr of intense focus.” I wrote in my 2024 targets submit:
Fatigue has set in, paying homage to 2011 once I contemplated leaving funding banking for good. That burnout prompted a much-needed change of tempo. Mockingly, a day job is way simpler than being a stay-at-home dad or mum!
Maybe it is a mid-life disaster at 46, the place I sense my physique slowing down, and time is slipping away quicker than ever. The urgency to maximise the remaining years of sturdy well being is palpable. I am unsure how for much longer I can hold this tempo, therefore my theme.
Theme for 2025: Return to Easy Residing
I need to return to the fundamentals of dwelling a easy, early retirement way of life. Sitting on a seaside in Laie, Oahu, reflecting on the yr, I used to be reminded of what a very good life means to me: well being, freedom, household, and associates. Riches, fame, or standing weren’t high of thoughts.
One of many nice issues about Hawaii is that each one seashores are public. Even the poorest individual can get pleasure from the identical shoreline as a billionaire with an oceanfront mansion. As I walked alongside the seaside at 8 a.m. in December, carrying simply shorts, I thought of how unbelievable it was to bask within the free heat of the solar.
Sharing the expertise with excited youngsters dancing round and a loving spouse made it all of the extra particular. I didn’t want some huge cash to be blissful.
Nonetheless, returning to a easy life gained’t come with out effort. To reside by my theme for 2025, my #1 objective is the next:
Major 2025 Purpose: Stay Unemployed / Semi-Retired
After attempting part-time consulting for 4 months, I spotted how a lot I dislike conferences, commuting, and being advised what to do. Whereas it was worthwhile to see firsthand how onerous individuals within the startup world work, I’ve confirmed that it’s not the correct match for me at this stage in my life.
The one manner I would return to work is that if I acquired an distinctive supply from a promising AI firm, with vital autonomy and large upside. However I assign solely a 1% probability of that taking place since unicorns aren’t actual. To get one thing nice, you have to exit and take it.
With my liquidity again to comfy ranges, I’ve determined to cease trying to find employment altogether. Staying unemployed / semi-retired simplifies my life. The one conferences I’ll attend are those I select—maybe one or two calls every week at most.
Sure, incomes some huge cash and gaining standing in society will be interesting. Nonetheless, I’m decided to beat again these wishes so I will be as free as doable. With out the obligations of labor, I’ll have extra time to put in writing, play sports activities, train, and spend uninterrupted moments with my household.
Household Targets for 2025
Household will all the time be my high precedence for so long as I reside. Fatherhood, which started for me in 2017, continues to be a comparatively new journey and probably the most difficult position to navigate. I’m dedicated to doing my finest to foster a robust, wholesome relationship with my youngsters as they develop.
I’ve come to see that a few of the most troubled individuals I’ve encountered skilled above-average ranges of childhood trauma, which incorporates neglect, emotional and bodily abuse, accidents, rancorous divorces, loss of life of a dad or mum, and dependancy. I do know this as a result of I’ve had the privilege of getting tens of 1000’s of parents from all walks of life touch upon Monetary Samurai since 2009. And a few of them have opened up about their backgrounds.
My objective is to reduce such wounds for my youngsters whereas maximizing unconditional love, studying, and pleasure of their lives.
1) Spend extra time touring now that each youngsters are over 5
I’ve all the time disliked flying, particularly with younger youngsters who’re unruly and gained’t keep in mind their travels. However now that each of my youngsters are over 5, they’re potty-trained and principally self-sufficient. Better of all, they’re at an age the place they’ll truly keep in mind the journeys we take, making the expertise way more rewarding.
For 2025, I plan to do no less than two of those journeys:
- Spend a month in Honolulu whereas they attend summer season faculty.
- Keep in Taipei for a month and attend Mandarin immersion summer season faculty, and if that goes properly, take an journey to Beijing for a few weeks.
- Go to Tahoe for no less than 5 nights through the winter so the children can get higher at snowboarding
I grew up dwelling in Zambia, the Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia earlier than coming to America for highschool. Later, I spent 13 years working in worldwide equities, which had me continually touring.
I’d like my youngsters to journey to allow them to expertise totally different cultures, develop a better appreciation for what they’ve, and develop into higher communicators.
2) Learn with the children for no less than quarter-hour a day, 5 days every week
Certainly one of my targets is to domesticate a love of studying in my youngsters. Step one is studying to them persistently, no less than 5 days every week. Subsequent, I’d like them to learn to me for quarter-hour every day, 5 days every week. Lastly, I need to discover books they genuinely get pleasure from, so that they’ll need to learn independently.
Rising up, I cherished studying Hardy Boys and The Nice Mind collection. However once I transitioned to Select Your Personal Journey books, my mother wouldn’t let me learn them. That restriction killed my pleasure for studying; I rebelled by refusing to learn what I may have for some time.
To encourage my youngsters to get pleasure from studying, I’ll lead by instance and browse extra myself. As soon as they get pleasure from studying on their very own, they’ll study an limitless quantity of issues.
3) Train the children find out how to play pickleball
The aftercare pickleball classes at their faculty stuffed up rapidly, and personal classes value $140 per hour. As a 4.5-level pickleball participant with persistence and three years of instructing highschool tennis, I’ve determined to show them myself. I’ve already taught them find out how to bike and swim, so this will likely be one other enjoyable ability so as to add.
Pickleball is simpler for younger youngsters to choose up than tennis and needs to be extra enjoyable. As soon as they’ve realized the fundamentals, I’ll train them tennis as properly. I don’t count on them to develop into nice athletes or win faculty scholarships. Nonetheless, figuring out find out how to play a sport could make life extra satisfying and social. I plan to spend 30–60 minutes each weekend training pickleball with my youngsters.
Taking part in softball through the pandemic for 3 years lifted my spirits. It additionally launched me to new associates, together with some I now play poker with commonly.
4) Volunteer six instances at my youngsters’ faculty
Being a part of a neighborhood is fantastic. In 2024, I totally loved volunteering at my youngsters’s faculty. It was rewarding to see my youngsters through the day, join with different mother and father, and get to know the employees. I feel my youngsters will admire seeing their dad shock them occasionally as properly, and maybe instill in them the spirit of volunteering sooner or later.
Private Targets for 2025
If I can do two or three issues properly a yr, I really feel it is a good yr. I made probably the most of my last yr as a stay-at-home father in 2024, whereas specializing in strengthening our funds. Now that each youngsters are in class full-time, I now not establish as a stay-at-home dad or mum. Shifting ahead, I’ll embrace my identification as a author.
1) Market my new e book—and check out to not stress about its efficiency
After over two years of onerous work, I’m thrilled to launch my second e book with Portfolio Penguin in Might 2025. Like my first e book, Purchase This Not That, it focuses on private finance. I’ll share all the main points by March 2025.
With Purchase This Not That, I poured lots of power into making it a bestseller—and succeeded. It’s satisfying to know I’ll all the time be a nationwide bestselling writer. Nonetheless, the relentless advertising took a toll on my happiness, as I a lot want writing to selling.
This time, I’ll nonetheless take part in podcasts and interviews to debate the e book, as it’s my dedication to Portfolio Penguin, however my principal focus will likely be having fun with the method. Making a nationwide bestseller listing is now not a objective.
I’ve discovered peace within the mindset of: “If you wish to learn the e book to enhance your monetary life, unbelievable! If not, that’s high quality too.” This strategy has labored properly for Monetary Samurai, the place I keep away from heavy social media or advertising and write just because I get pleasure from it.
Nonetheless, selling a e book whereas sustaining a low-key way of life is a contradictory act. Threading this needle will likely be a tough problem.
2) Shield my 1:30 PM–3 PM nap window
Few issues deliver me extra pleasure than a correct nap after lunch. Whether or not it’s half-hour or a wonderful hour-long snooze, naps recharge me. For them to be actually efficient, I would like no less than a 1.5-hour window—this eliminates stress about oversleeping or speeding to go to sleep.
In 2024, I overbooked this time slot with actions like tennis, pickleball, and lengthy lunches. Whereas satisfying, they typically left me squeezing in brief naps after 3:30 PM, which threw off my evenings and bedtime. Frankly, 2024 was overwhelming from an actions standpoint and I need to do much less.
Naps enhance my power for the afternoon and night with my youngsters, increase my temper, and improve creativity. Plus, research counsel napping lowers blood stress, reduces coronary heart illness threat, and slows mind getting old. Who wouldn’t need these advantages?
In 2025, except I’ve slept in or it’s an unmissable reunion, my 1:30 PM–3 PM window will likely be sacred nap time.
3) Carry weights no less than as soon as every week for 45 minutes
Power coaching must develop into a constant a part of my routine. My objective is to carry weights no less than as soon as every week for 45 minutes, specializing in constructing my shoulders, chest, and again.
Though I’d wish to carry two or 3 times every week, I believe I’ll be too drained after classes to completely have interaction with my youngsters or play sports activities. For now, as soon as every week is a manageable place to begin alongside my common tennis and pickleball schedule. If I succeed, lifting weights 52 instances in 2025 will likely be eight instances greater than I did in 2024.
4) Be OK with the occasional tardiness
Certainly one of my largest pet peeves is being late. It’s disrespectful to the individual ready and infrequently results in pointless stress and hazard, particularly when speeding by means of site visitors to make up for misplaced time. It can be a waste of cash in case you’re paying for a time-limited exercise or lesson.
I feel this aversion to tardiness is hardwired into me. My father, probably influenced by his army background, was all the time punctual. Throughout my 13 years in finance, internet hosting numerous analyst, administration, and shopper conferences strengthened the behavior—being late was merely not an possibility when so many individuals trusted me. If I ever was late, it felt deeply embarrassing.
Sadly, this obsession with punctuality has brought about some pressure with my spouse. My objective now’s to be extra relaxed about occasional tardiness. I’ll additionally step as much as assist get the children prepared, so we will keep away from speeding as a lot as doable.
As an illustration, I initially aimed to get the children to high school on time 100% of the yr. I drive 95% of the time so the final mile accountability is on me. This objective mirrors my decade-long obsession with writing three posts every week on Monetary Samurai—a stretch objective that, in hindsight, isn’t vital.
After studying that some households have 20–40 tardies yearly with none penalties, I’ve determined to ease up. Permitting for a late day as soon as a month serves as a wholesome pressure-release valve for all of us. And if we occur to be late a second time in a month, no large deal!
5) Write shorter, extra lifestyle-focused posts on Monetary Samurai
I tend to dive deep into matters, typically writing posts exceeding 2,000 phrases (this submit is 3,350 phrases). Whereas I get pleasure from being thorough, I acknowledge that spotlight spans are shrinking. Readers admire concise, punchy content material that will get to the purpose. Plus, longer articles take extra time, which matches towards my theme for the yr of enjoyable extra.
In 2025, my objective is to put in writing posts averaging 1,250 phrases. This shift will enable me to ship worth extra rapidly whereas nonetheless sustaining my voice. Shorter posts will even be simpler for readers to digest, making the content material extra partaking total.
I’m additionally dropping my inflexible dedication to publishing three posts every week. As a substitute, I’ll write at any time when I need, to ease the stress I placed on myself.
Particular Monetary Targets for 2025
Since Monetary Samurai is a private finance website, let me share three key private finance targets that align with my need to simplify life.
1) Promote a Rental Property
Earlier than 2023, I promised myself I wouldn’t purchase one other rental property—and technically, I stored that promise. Nonetheless, as a substitute of promoting my earlier residence, I selected to hire it out for money circulate after blowing up $150,000 of passive revenue.
I stay bullish on San Francisco actual property, because of the tech and AI increase producing immense wealth for tens of 1000’s of individuals. We’ve additionally acquired a brand new mayor who ought to cut back authorities corruption and enhance insurance policies for its residents.
Nonetheless, after a yr of renting out the property, the tenants have given discover, and I’ve determined to not seek for new ones. With the NASDAQ up ~30% in 2024, I’m optimistic that the Spring 2025 Bay Space housing market will likely be robust. Moreover, I’ve observed extra flexibility from actual property brokers providing performance-based fee constructions.
Consequently, I plan to promote this stunning ocean-view property, which I bought in mid-2020, in 2025. The timing feels proper to simplify my life. Promoting the property additionally offers a possibility to earn as much as $500,000 in tax-free earnings, as I’ve lived in it for no less than two out of the previous 5 years.
Mockingly, proudly owning a fourth rental property in San Francisco for a yr was comparatively hassle-free. The one challenge was a kitchen faucet restore—probably brought on by the tenant yanking out the nozzle and breaking the hose. Nonetheless, I had envisioned maintaining this residence, which we loved through the pandemic, till my youngsters had been grown.
Too unhealthy for them the older I get, the much less I need to handle properties.
2) Reinvest 80% of on-line “humorous cash” into threat belongings
My love affair with actual property began in 2003 once I reinvested 100% of my dot-com bubble beneficial properties right into a San Francisco apartment. Whereas the primary web bubble popped, my apartment’s worth held regular and even grew.
Equally, I view on-line revenue as “humorous cash” as a result of I’d fortunately write free of charge. Additional, I’m unsure the revenue will final. This mindset motivates me to reinvest a lot of the internet earnings into belongings that generate passive revenue. I am additionally OK to take extra threat with this revenue as a result of it would not appear actual, not like my arduous day job revenue in banking.
Nonetheless, I additionally need to get pleasure from life over the following three years. That’s why I plan to allocate 20% of this revenue to cowl the hole between my bills and present passive revenue. The remaining 80% will likely be reinvested.
With some luck and disciplined investing, I hope to hit my goal of a further $80,000 in passive revenue or a further $2 million in investments by December 31, 2027.
3) Make investments $100,000 every in industrial actual property and AI firms
I don’t need to rely solely on luck to get me to my targets. Strategic allocation is vital.
If I efficiently promote my San Francisco rental, I count on to internet between $1.2M–$1.6M after taxes, commissions, charges, prep work, and mortgage payoff. With these proceeds, I plan to reinvest:
- $100,000 in industrial actual property: This aligns with the asset class I’m exiting however permits me to diversify into absolutely passive actual property investments. Business actual property has lagged shares since 2023, however traditionally, the 2 asset lessons are correlated. I imagine it’s due for a rebound.
- $100,000 in non-public AI firms: I imagine within the AI motion and wish publicity to its potential progress. My time working at a startup confirmed me how onerous and quick these firms transfer. Since non-public firms keep non-public longer now, investing early presents the possibility to seize vital upside. The extra I put money into synthetic intelligence, the much less concern I’ve for my youngsters’s futures.
With $1M –$1.4M remaining, I’ll probably:
- Allocate a 70% to the S&P 500 and tech shares I’ve held for over a decade. My reasoning: If I’m not prepared to promote these holdings, I needs to be prepared to purchase them. Ideally, I’ll make investments after a market dip as soon as the home sale closes.
- Make investments 30% in Treasury bonds, particularly if the 10-year yield stays above 4.5%.
- Possibly I’ll YOLO and purchase a brand new automobile too
As soon as the sale is finalized, I’ll write an in depth submit on how I plan to allocate the proceeds.
4) Construct My Kids’s Funding Accounts
Investing for my youngsters seems like beginning a brand new recreation with the benefit of a long time of expertise and information. Past their UGMA accounts, I need to concentrate on constructing their Roth IRAs as properly. Their 529 accounts are at ranges the place I now not need to aggressively contribute to them.
Since their earnings are minimal, their revenue will fall properly beneath the usual deduction for 2025, which is $15,000. This implies their earned revenue gained’t be topic to taxes. A sensible revenue goal can be $7,000, matching the Roth IRA contribution restrict for 2025. What a profit to have the ability to contribute tax-free revenue and let it develop tax-free and be withdrawn tax-free.
The objective isn’t simply to assist them earn cash in a tax-efficient manner for future monetary safety. Extra importantly, it’s about instilling a robust work ethic and instructing them how saving and investing work. These classes will lay the inspiration for good private finance habits, making them self-sufficient adults. When that day comes, their mom and I can breathe a bit of simpler!
A Return to Simple Residing in 2025 For Positive
I’ll flip 48 in June 2025, which is beginning to really feel outdated. It’s a very good reminder to decelerate and savor life, particularly now that we’ve “run up the rating” throughout this unbelievable bull market.
My hope is that the great instances proceed, permitting me to achieve my monetary goal by December 31, 2027, whereas additionally spending and giving extra freely. Nonetheless, even when the market doesn’t cooperate, I plan to remain unemployed. At this stage, attempting to offset funding losses with lively revenue feels futile.
I’ve simply 11 and 13 extra years, respectively, till my son and daughter might depart the home doubtlessly for good. I do know this time will fly by, so I’m decided to take advantage of it.
Right here’s to a satisfying and affluent 2025!
Readers, what are a few of your targets and resolutions for the yr? Be a part of 60,000+ others reaching monetary freedom sooner and join my free weekly publication right here.
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