Glad New Yr everybody! I hope you’re having fun with the day off and performing some reflecting. I’ve returned to San Francisco and am able to calm down some extra!
Now that I’ve shared my 2024 12 months in evaluation, I needed to share my targets and resolutions for 2025. Though 2024 was a fantastic 12 months, I nonetheless have many areas of enchancment.
I executed most of my 2024 targets, 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 received 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 12 months of intense focus.” I wrote in my 2024 targets publish:
Fatigue has set in, harking back 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 guardian!
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.
Theme for 2025: Return to Easy Dwelling
I wish to return to the fundamentals of dwelling a easy, early retirement life-style. Sitting on a seaside in Laie, Oahu, reflecting on the 12 months, I used to be reminded of what an excellent 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 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 kids 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 dwell by my theme for 2025, my #1 purpose is the next:
Principal 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 instructed what to do. Whereas it was worthwhile to see firsthand how exhausting folks 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 manner I would return to work is that if I received an distinctive supply from a promising AI firm, with important autonomy and large upside. However I assign solely a 1% probability 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 comfy ranges, I’ve determined to cease looking for 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 potential. 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 all the time be my prime precedence for so long as I dwell. 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 powerful, wholesome relationship with my kids as they develop.
I’ve come to see that a few of the most troubled folks I’ve encountered skilled above-average ranges of childhood trauma, which incorporates neglect, emotional and bodily abuse, accidents, rancorous divorces, dying of a guardian, 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 purpose is to attenuate 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 kids are over 5, they’re potty-trained and largely 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 far more rewarding.
For 2025, I plan to do a minimum of two of those journeys:
- Spend a month in Honolulu whereas they attend summer season college.
- Keep in Taipei for a month and attend Mandarin immersion summer season college, and if that goes effectively, take an journey to Beijing for a few weeks.
- Go to Tahoe for a minimum of 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 continuously touring.
I’d like my kids to journey to allow them to expertise totally different cultures, develop a better appreciation for what they’ve, and grow to be higher communicators.
2) Learn with the children for a minimum of 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 constantly, a minimum of 5 days every week. Subsequent, I’d like them to learn to me for quarter-hour each day, 5 days every week. Lastly, I wish to discover books they genuinely get pleasure from, in order that they’ll wish to learn independently.
Rising up, I liked studying Hardy Boys and The Nice Mind sequence. 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 skim extra myself. As soon as they get pleasure from studying on their very own, they’ll be taught an limitless quantity of issues.
3) Educate the children tips on how to play pickleball
The aftercare pickleball periods at their college stuffed up rapidly, and personal classes value $140 per hour. As a 4.5-level pickleball participant with persistence and three years of educating highschool tennis, I’ve determined to show them myself. I’ve already taught them tips on how to bike and swim, so this can be one other enjoyable ability so as to add.
Pickleball is simpler for younger youngsters to select up than tennis and must be extra enjoyable. As soon as they’ve discovered the fundamentals, I’ll educate them tennis as effectively. I don’t count on them to grow to be nice athletes or win faculty scholarships. Nonetheless, figuring out tips on how to play a sport could make life extra pleasurable and social. I plan to spend 30–60 minutes each weekend working towards pickleball with my youngsters.
Enjoying softball through the pandemic for 3 years lifted my spirits. It additionally launched me to new mates, together with some I now play poker with often.
4) Volunteer six occasions at my youngsters’ college
Being a part of a neighborhood is fantastic. In 2024, I totally loved volunteering at my kids’s college. 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 respect seeing their dad shock them from time to time 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 probably 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 not establish as a stay-at-home guardian. Transferring ahead, I’ll embrace my id as a author.
1) Market my new ebook—and check out to not stress about its efficiency
After over two years of exhausting work, I’m thrilled to launch my second ebook with Portfolio Penguin in Might 2025. Like my first ebook, 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 numerous power into making it a bestseller—and succeeded. It’s satisfying to know I’ll all the time be a nationwide bestselling creator. Nonetheless, the relentless advertising took a toll on my happiness, as I a lot favor writing to selling.
This time, I’ll nonetheless take part in podcasts and interviews to debate the ebook, as it’s my dedication to Portfolio Penguin, however my principal focus can be having fun with the method. Making a nationwide bestseller checklist is not a purpose.
I’ve discovered peace within the mindset of: “If you wish to learn the ebook to enhance your monetary life, implausible! If not, that’s effective too.” This strategy has labored effectively 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 ebook whereas sustaining a low-key life-style is a contradictory act. Threading this needle can be a tough problem.
2) Defend 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 an excellent hour-long snooze, naps recharge me. For them to be actually efficient, I would like a minimum of 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 usually left me squeezing briefly naps after 3:30 PM, which threw off my evenings and bedtime. Frankly, 2024 was overwhelming from an actions standpoint and I wish to do much less.
Naps enhance my power for the afternoon and night with my youngsters, enhance 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, until I’ve slept in or it’s an unmissable reunion, my 1:30 PM–3 PM window can be sacred nap time.
3) Elevate weights a minimum of as soon as every week for 45 minutes
Power coaching must grow to be a constant a part of my routine. My purpose is to carry weights a minimum of 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 think I’ll be too drained after periods to completely have interaction with my youngsters or play sports activities. For now, as soon as every week is a manageable start line alongside my common tennis and pickleball schedule. If I succeed, lifting weights 52 occasions in 2025 can be eight occasions 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 sometimes 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, possible influenced by his navy background, was all the time punctual. Throughout my 13 years in finance, internet hosting numerous analyst, administration, and consumer conferences strengthened the behavior—being late was merely not an possibility when so many individuals relied on me. If I ever was late, it felt deeply embarrassing.
Sadly, this obsession with punctuality has triggered some pressure with my spouse. My purpose now could be 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 potential.
For example, I initially aimed to get the children to high school on time 100% of the 12 months. I drive 95% of the time so the final mile accountability is on me. This purpose mirrors my decade-long obsession with writing three posts every week on Monetary Samurai—a stretch purpose that, in hindsight, isn’t crucial.
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 massive deal!
5) Write shorter, extra lifestyle-focused posts on Monetary Samurai
I generally tend to dive deep into subjects, usually writing posts exceeding 2,000 phrases (this publish is 3,350 phrases). Whereas I get pleasure from being thorough, I acknowledge that focus spans are shrinking. Readers respect concise, punchy content material that will get to the purpose. Plus, longer articles take extra time, which fits towards my theme for the 12 months of stress-free extra.
In 2025, my purpose 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 participating general.
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 web site, let me share three key private finance targets that align with my want 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 hire it out for money stream after blowing up $150,000 of passive revenue.
I stay bullish on San Francisco actual property, due to the tech and AI growth producing immense wealth for tens of hundreds of individuals. We’ve additionally received a brand new mayor who ought to scale back authorities corruption and enhance insurance policies for its residents.
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 can be sturdy. Moreover, I’ve observed 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 gives a possibility to earn as much as $500,000 in tax-free earnings, as I’ve lived in it for a minimum of two out of the previous 5 years.
Mockingly, proudly owning a fourth rental property in San Francisco for a 12 months was comparatively hassle-free. The one subject was a kitchen faucet restore—possible attributable to the tenant yanking out the nozzle and breaking the hose. Nonetheless, I had envisioned protecting this house, which we loved through the pandemic, till my youngsters had been grown.
Too dangerous for them the older I get, the much less I wish to handle properties.
2) Reinvest 80% of on-line “humorous cash” into threat property
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 rental. Whereas the primary web bubble popped, my rental’s worth held regular and even grew.
Equally, I view on-line revenue as “humorous cash” as a result of I’d fortunately write without spending a dime. Additional, I’m undecided the revenue will final. This mindset motivates me to reinvest a lot of the internet earnings into property that generate passive revenue. I am additionally OK to take extra threat with this revenue as a result of it does not appear actual, in contrast to my arduous day job revenue in banking.
Nonetheless, I additionally wish 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% can be reinvested.
With some luck and disciplined investing, I hope to hit my goal of an extra $80,000 in passive revenue or an extra $2 million in investments by December 31, 2027.
3) Make investments $100,000 every in business actual property and AI firms
I don’t wish 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 business 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 development. My time working at a startup confirmed me how exhausting and quick these firms transfer. Since non-public firms keep non-public longer now, investing early provides the possibility to seize important upside. The extra I put money into synthetic intelligence, the much less concern I’ve for my kids’s futures.
With $1M –$1.4M remaining, I’ll possible:
- Allocate a 70% to the S&P 500 and tech shares I’ve held for over a decade. My reasoning: If I’m not keen to promote these holdings, I must be keen 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 publish on how I plan to allocate the proceeds.
4) Construct My Kids’s Funding Accounts
Investing for my kids appears like beginning a brand new recreation with the benefit of a long time of expertise and information. Past their UGMA accounts, I wish to deal with constructing their Roth IRAs as effectively. Their 529 accounts are at ranges the place I not wish to aggressively contribute to them.
Since their earnings are minimal, their revenue will fall effectively 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 purpose isn’t simply to assist them earn cash in a tax-efficient manner for future monetary safety. Extra importantly, it’s about instilling a sturdy work ethic and educating 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 Straightforward Dwelling in 2025 For Certain
I’ll flip 48 in June 2025, which is beginning to really feel previous. It’s an excellent 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 nice occasions 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 12 months? Be part of 60,000+ others attaining monetary freedom sooner and join my free weekly e-newsletter right here.
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