Blissful New Yr everybody! I hope you’re having fun with the day off and doing a little reflecting. I’ve returned to San Francisco and am able to chill out some extra!
Now that I’ve shared my 2024 12 months in evaluation, I needed to share my objectives and resolutions for 2025. Though 2024 was an important 12 months, I nonetheless have many areas of enchancment.
My theme for 2024 was “One final 12 months of intense focus.” I wrote in my 2024 objectives submit:
Fatigue has set in, paying homage to 2011 after I contemplated leaving funding banking for good. That burnout prompted a much-needed change of tempo. Sarcastically, a day job is far 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 strong well being is palpable. I am undecided how for much longer I can preserve this tempo, therefore my theme.
I executed most of my 2024 objectives, however didn’t 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 bought 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)
Theme for 2025: Return to Easy Dwelling
I need to return to the fundamentals of dwelling a easy, early retirement life-style. Sitting on a seashore in Laie, Oahu, reflecting on the 12 months, I used to be reminded of what life means to me: well being, freedom, household, and mates. Riches, fame, or standing weren’t prime of thoughts.
One of many nice issues about Hawaii is that every one seashores are public. Even the poorest particular person can take pleasure in the identical shoreline as a billionaire with an oceanfront mansion. As I walked alongside the seashore at 8 a.m. in December, sporting simply shorts, I considered 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 glad.
Nonetheless, returning to a easy life gained’t come with out effort. To stay by my theme for 2025, my #1 aim is the next:
Predominant 2025 Aim: Stay Unemployed / Semi-Retired
After making an attempt part-time consulting for 4 months, I spotted how a lot I dislike conferences, commuting, and being instructed what to do. Whereas it was helpful to see firsthand how exhausting individuals within the startup world work, I’ve confirmed that it’s not the fitting match for me at this stage in my life.
The one method I might return to work is that if I bought an distinctive supply from a promising AI firm, with vital autonomy and large upside. However I assign solely a 1% likelihood of that occuring since unicorns aren’t actual. To get one thing nice, you have to exit and take it.
With my liquidity again to snug 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 may be interesting. Nonetheless, I’m decided to beat again these wishes so I may be as free as doable. With out the obligations of labor, I’ll have extra time to write down, play sports activities, train, and spend uninterrupted moments with my household.
Household Objectives for 2025
Household will at all times be my prime precedence for so long as I stay. Fatherhood, which started for me in 2017, remains to be a comparatively new journey and essentially the most difficult position to navigate. I’m dedicated to doing my greatest to foster a robust, wholesome relationship with my youngsters as they develop.
I’ve come to see that a number 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 habit. I do know this as a result of I’ve had the privilege of getting tens of hundreds of oldsters from all walks of life touch upon Monetary Samurai since 2009. And a few of them have opened up about their backgrounds.
My aim 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 at all times disliked flying, particularly with younger youngsters who’re unruly and gained’t bear 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 bear in mind the journeys we take, making the expertise far more rewarding.
For 2025, I plan to do at the least two of those journeys:
- Spend a month in Honolulu whereas they attend summer time college.
- Keep in Taipei for a month and attend Mandarin immersion summer time college, and if that goes effectively, take an journey to Beijing for a few weeks.
- Go to Tahoe for at the least 5 nights throughout the winter so the youngsters 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 consistently touring.
I’d like my youngsters to journey to allow them to expertise totally different cultures, develop a higher appreciation for what they’ve, and develop into higher communicators.
2) Learn with the youngsters for at the least quarter-hour a day, 5 days every week
Considered one of my objectives is to domesticate a love of studying in my youngsters. Step one is studying to them persistently, at the least 5 days every week. Subsequent, I’d like them to learn to me for quarter-hour each day, 5 days every week. Lastly, I need to discover books they genuinely take pleasure in, in order that they’ll need to learn independently.
Rising up, I cherished studying Hardy Boys and The Nice Mind sequence. However after 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 might have for some time.
To encourage my youngsters to take pleasure in studying, I’ll lead by instance and skim extra myself. As soon as they take pleasure in studying on their very own, they will study an countless quantity of issues.
3) Educate the youngsters the best way to play pickleball
The aftercare pickleball periods at their college stuffed up rapidly, and personal classes price $140 per hour. As a 4.5-level pickleball participant with endurance and three years of instructing highschool tennis, I’ve determined to show them myself. I’ve already taught them the best way to bike and swim, so this will probably be one other enjoyable talent so as to add.
Pickleball is less complicated for younger youngsters to choose up than tennis and must be extra enjoyable. As soon as they’ve discovered the fundamentals, I’ll train them tennis as effectively. I don’t count on them to develop into nice athletes or win faculty scholarships. Nonetheless, realizing the best way to play a sport could make life extra pleasurable and social. I plan to spend 30–60 minutes each weekend practising pickleball with my youngsters.
Enjoying softball throughout the pandemic for 3 years lifted my spirits. It additionally launched me to new mates, together with some I now play poker with frequently.
4) Volunteer six occasions at my youngsters’ college
Being a part of a neighborhood is great. In 2024, I completely loved volunteering at my youngsters’s college. It was rewarding to see my youngsters throughout the day, join with different mother and father, and get to know the workers. I feel my youngsters will recognize seeing their dad shock them now and again as effectively, and maybe instill in them the spirit of volunteering sooner or later.
Private Objectives for 2025
If I can do two or three issues effectively a 12 months, I really feel it is a good 12 months. I made essentially the most of my remaining 12 months 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 take a look at to not stress about its efficiency
After over two years of exhausting work, I’m thrilled to launch my second e-book with Portfolio Penguin in Could 2025. Like my first e-book, Purchase This Not That, it focuses on private finance. I’ll share all the small print by March 2025.
With Purchase This Not That, I poured loads of power into making it a bestseller—and succeeded. It’s satisfying to know I’ll at all times be a nationwide bestselling creator. Nonetheless, the relentless advertising took a toll on my happiness, as I a lot choose 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 fundamental focus will probably be having fun with the method. Making a nationwide bestseller checklist is now not a aim.
I’ve discovered peace within the mindset of: “If you wish to learn the e-book to enhance your monetary life, implausible! If not, that’s superb too.” This method has labored effectively for Monetary Samurai, the place I keep away from heavy social media or advertising and write just because I take pleasure in it.
Nonetheless, selling a e-book whereas sustaining a low-key life-style is a contradictory act. Threading this needle will probably be a troublesome 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 want at the least 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 pleasurable, they typically left me squeezing briefly naps after 3:30 PM, which threw off my evenings and bedtime.
Naps enhance my power for the afternoon and night with my youngsters, increase my temper, and improve creativity. Plus, research recommend napping lowers blood strain, reduces coronary heart illness threat, and slows mind growing older. 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 probably be sacred nap time.
3) Raise weights at the least as soon as every week for 45 minutes
Energy coaching must develop into a constant a part of my routine. My aim is to carry weights at the least as soon as every week for 45 minutes, specializing in constructing my shoulders, chest, and again.
Though I’d prefer to carry two or 3 times every week, I believe I’ll be too drained after periods to totally interact 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 occasions in 2025 will probably be eight occasions greater than I did in 2024.
4) Be OK with the occasional tardiness
Considered one of my largest pet peeves is being late. It’s disrespectful to the particular person ready and sometimes results in pointless stress and hazard, particularly when speeding via visitors to make up for misplaced time. It can be a waste of cash if you happen to’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 at all times punctual. Throughout my 13 years in finance, internet hosting numerous analyst, administration, and consumer conferences bolstered the behavior—being late was merely not an choice when so many individuals relied on me. If I ever was late, it felt deeply embarrassing.
Sadly, this obsession with punctuality has prompted some stress with my spouse. My aim now could be to be extra relaxed about occasional tardiness. I’ll additionally step as much as assist get the youngsters prepared, so we will keep away from speeding as a lot as doable.
For example, I initially aimed to get the youngsters to high school on time 100% of the 12 months. I drive 95% of the time so the final mile duty is on me. This aim mirrors my decade-long obsession with writing three posts every week on Monetary Samurai—a stretch aim that, in hindsight, isn’t essential.
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 huge deal!
5) Write shorter, extra lifestyle-focused posts on Monetary Samurai
I tend to dive deep into subjects, typically writing posts exceeding 2,000 phrases (this submit is 3,350 phrases). Whereas I take pleasure in being thorough, I acknowledge that focus spans are shrinking. Readers recognize concise, punchy content material that will get to the purpose. Plus, longer articles take extra time, which works towards my theme for the 12 months of enjoyable extra.
In 2025, my aim is to write down posts averaging 1,250 phrases. This shift will permit me to ship worth extra rapidly whereas nonetheless sustaining my voice. Shorter posts may 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 an alternative, I’ll write at any time when I would like, to ease the strain I placed on myself.
Particular Monetary Objectives for 2025
Since Monetary Samurai is a private finance website, let me share three key private finance objectives 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 saved that promise. Nonetheless, as an alternative of promoting my earlier house, I selected to lease it out for money movement, house value appreciation, and expectations fee charges would come down. I stay bullish on San Francisco actual property, due to the tech and AI growth producing immense wealth for tens of hundreds of individuals.
Nonetheless, after a 12 months 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 probably be sturdy. Moreover, I’ve seen extra flexibility from actual property brokers providing performance-based fee buildings.
In consequence, I plan to promote this lovely 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 at the least two out of the previous 5 years.
Sarcastically, proudly owning a fourth rental property in San Francisco for a 12 months was comparatively hassle-free. The one challenge was a kitchen faucet restore—probably attributable to the tenant yanking out the nozzle and breaking the hose. Nonetheless, I had envisioned conserving this house, which we loved throughout the pandemic, till my youngsters have been grown.
That dream, nevertheless, doesn’t outweigh the continued property taxes, upkeep prices, and the hassle required to search out tenants. 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 after I reinvested 100% of my dot-com bubble beneficial properties right into a San Francisco condominium. Whereas the primary web bubble popped, my condominium’s worth held regular and even grew.
Equally, I view on-line revenue as “humorous cash” as a result of I’d fortunately write totally free,. Additional, I’m undecided the revenue will final. This mindset motivates me to reinvest most of this income into belongings that generate passive revenue. I am additionally glad take extra threat with this revenue as a result of it would not appear actual, in contrast to my arduous day job revenue in banking.
Nonetheless, I additionally need to take pleasure in life over the subsequent 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 probably 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 business actual property and AI corporations
I don’t need to rely solely on luck to get me to my objectives. Strategic allocation is essential.
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 business actual property: This aligns with the asset class I’m exiting however permits me to diversify into totally passive actual property investments. Business actual property has lagged shares since 2023, however traditionally, the 2 asset courses are correlated. I consider it’s due for a rebound.
- $100,000 in non-public AI corporations: I consider within the AI motion and need publicity to its potential development. My time working at a startup confirmed me how exhausting and quick these corporations transfer. Since non-public corporations keep non-public longer now, investing early affords the possibility to seize vital upside. The extra I spend money on 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 must 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%.
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 appears like beginning a brand new sport with the benefit of many years of expertise and information. Past their UGMA accounts, I need to deal with constructing their Roth IRAs as effectively. Their 529 accounts are at ranges the place I now not need to aggressively contribute tot hem.
Since their earnings are minimal, their revenue will fall effectively under the usual deduction for 2025, which is $15,000. This implies their earned revenue gained’t be topic to taxes. A sensible revenue goal could 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 aim isn’t simply to assist them earn cash in a tax-efficient method for future monetary safety. Extra importantly, it’s about instilling a sturdy work ethic and instructing them how saving and investing work. These classes will lay the muse for good private finance habits, making them self-sufficient adults. When that day comes, their mom and I can breathe a little bit simpler!
A Return to Straightforward Dwelling in 2025 For Positive
I’ll flip 48 in June 2025, which is beginning to really feel outdated. It’s 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 occasions proceed, permitting me to succeed in 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, making an attempt to offset funding losses with lively revenue feels futile.
I’ve simply 11 and 13 extra years, respectively, till my son and daughter might go away the home probably for good. I do know this time will fly by, so I’m decided to profit from it.
Right here’s to a satisfying and affluent 2025!
Readers, what are a few of your objectives and resolutions for the 12 months? Be a part of 60,000+ others reaching monetary freedom sooner and join my free weekly publication right here.
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