FIRE stands for "Financial Independence, Retire Early." It is a movement or lifestyle choice that aims to allow individuals to retire much earlier than the typical retirement age by saving and investing a significant portion of their income and living frugally. The goal of FIRE is to achieve financial independence, which is defined as having enough passive income or assets to cover one's living expenses without the need to work for pay.
Showing 50 results of 223
Back in 2009 (a year when retirement wasn't even on the horizon) I visited the first ever Durham Lumiere Festival. It left quite an impression, not least of the Son et Lumiere depicting the history of...
Some people hear me say I’m a third-generation self-made millionaire and a third-generation early retiree, and they instantly question it. They assume I had a head start. They assume “self...
A lot of people have strong opinions about paying off a mortgage early. Some argue it’s always the smartest move, others insist you should keep the loan and invest instead. The noise gets loud, ...
Hey Everyone! Oh wow, it’s November already. The leaves are turning, and it’s a beautiful day in Portland. We had a rainstorm yesterday, but the sun is out today. Ahh, ... Read more The po...
It’s a raging bull market, and I’ll confess, I’m a little annoyed I don’t have a large paycheck anymore to take advantage of more investment opportunities. Every day, I see peo...
I retired at 42. That was four years ago. A reader from my (forever free) newsletter recently asked me: “What do your income streams look like?” It’s a fair question. Most people exp...
Dear Kristy, I just wanted to say that you have truly changed my life… Messages like this make my ears perk up. Despite having last heard from this particular reader about a decade ago, I remem...
A fellow FIRE blogger, MrNomadNumbers, came to visit us in Valencia recently and showed me some AI capabilities that blew my mind. Before he retired, he was a software developer, like us, so he knows ...
I used to be thrifty but not financial literate. This is my journey to learning about money and why, in retrospect, it was so vital. The post What’s Your Motivational Fire Toward Financial Liter...
Hey Everyone! It’s October and the days are getting shorter in Portland. This year is a bit crazier than usual because the troops are massing in “war-ravaged” Portland. I haven&rsquo...
This FIRE experiment has been quite a ride. Through the ups and downs, I’ve documented our investing journey on this blog so that anyone can see how a portfolio like the one we taught in the Inv...
The precious metals market is experiencing a historic rally that’s catching the attention of savvy investors. As of early October ... Read more...
Most people stay with the wrong financial advisor far too long: out of loyalty, inertia, or fear of starting over. But the cost of sticking with the wrong person can be measured in dollars, stress, an...
In 2020, during the heart of the COVID pandemic, I remember listening to a FIRE-focused podcast hosted by two people who claimed to be financially independent and retired early. Even though it’s...
Even with the money to retire early, FIRE clients often face unexpected challenges. Advisors say mindset — more than finances — is often the real hurdle....
Test your knowledge of the different types of FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) with this short quiz....
The other evening, my wife and I went to a school reception held for parents and alumni who donated at least a certain amount in the calendar school year. It was a warm, intimate gathering where we mi...
A 401(k) isn't the only way to fire up your savings. There are other tax-smart ways to build a nest egg, including these three out-of-the-box moves used by the richest retirees....
If you want to FIRE, one of my regrets was pulling the ripcord too early at age 34 in 2012. Even though I started writing about FIRE in 2009 with the launch of Financial Samurai—trying to uncove...
Hey Everyone! It’s September, and the long days of summer are almost gone. RB40Jr started high school, and he seems to be enjoying it. He is taking Physics, Advanced Algebra, ... Read more The p...
At Physician on FIRE, we’re constantly seeking resources and strategies to reach FIRE. This week, we’re thrilled to share a ... Read more...
For all that we talk about FIRE and how it’s the way to secure a financially sound future early in ... Read more...
If you decide to forsake making maximum money to become a FIRE parent or stay-at-home parent, then you had best spend more time with your kids. Otherwise, you might as well go back to the office and g...
As a kid, when I first learned about the butterfly’s life cycle, I was instantly fascinated. Not because of the ... Read more...
Since writing about FIRE in 2009, I’ve favored investing in growth stocks over value stocks. As someone who wanted to retire early from finance, my goal was to build as large a capital base as q...
FIRECracker is a world-travelling early retiree. She used to live in one of the most expensive cities in Canada, but ... Read more...
You can have all of the money in the world, but it means nothing if you don’t have your health. Warren Buffett drove this point home at the first Berkshire Hathaway meeting I attended over 10 ye...
They say parenting lets you relive your childhood. Great, if you had an awesome one. Not so great if you didn’t. Mine nearly made me swear off having kids forever. It wasn’t just the yelli...
The Not Advice Podcast is live! I’m co-hosting with Brent Sullivan (Tax Alpha Insider) to nerd out on RSUs, equity comp, FIRE, and more. Episode 2 streams Thursday, August 7th at 11am PT on Link...
Hey Everyone! I am back from my California road trip. We had a blast visiting friends and family. We also explored the Central Coast and the Sequoia National Park. Mrs. ... Read more The post July 202...
From all of us at FAANG FIRE, we wanted to wish you and your loved ones a heartfelt Happy Triple Paycheck Month....
Hope you’re all having a good summer and not drowning in sweat like we are. When we’re not out at community pools or chasing our toddler around at playgrounds, we managed to find the time ...
If you’ve been reading about financial independence for a while, you’ve likely seen that the topic is getting more popular lately. Although FIRE (Financial Independence / Retire Early) is ...
It’s been a while since I posted a new Financial Independence Podcastepisode but I’m excited to share one with you today! Mr. and Mrs. 1500 from 1500Days.com joined me live at FinConin Dal...
I have some big news… I am now a British citizen! In honor of finally getting my UK passport, and therefore completing this long journey to citizenship, I am releasing my UK FIRE episode. Barne...
Last year, I published an interview with one of my favorite financial writers, Morgan Housel. You may remember that the interview was recorded as part of a Bogleheads meeting and the interview was act...
In his June 25, 2025 Kitces.com post, Adam Van Deusen encouraged financial advisors to help their clients understand when they may have enough retirement savings to “Coast-Fire” and keep w...
On July 3, the House narrowly passed theOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)with a 218–214 vote. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bill will add an estimated$3.3 ...
A FAANG-focused breakdown of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). What actually changes for high earners, W2 employees, and FIRE planners....
I started going fishing every few days after I was laid off 2 years ago. It was a great way to get outside and clear my head. It was one of the things I built my day around. Take my daughter to school...
Physician pay is squeezed from every direction. Much of what determines our compensation is completely out of our control. The ... Read more...
My previous post really caught fire, and I think it led to some good discussions. I felt it was important to follow up. My wife and I had a great discussion last night. Although she didn’t come ...
In my 30s and 40s, I didn’t wait to enjoy life—I took planned breaks from work to spend real time with my family. I called it “REO” (Retire Early & Often). The idea was to ...
FIRE vs. Fat FIRE: Which Path Are You Really On (and Does It Even Matter Anymore?) TL;DR: FIRE Isn’t a ... Read more...
It has been more than 2 years since my last post.  Maybe more importantly in round numbers it has also now been around 18 years since I started on my FIRE journey, 16 years since I started th...
Hey Everyone! Did you have a good month? May was another hectic month at the RB40 household. I felt like I was a full-time chauffeur for the family. There was ... Read more The post May 2025 FIRE Upda...
Most of us aren’t afraid of work. Sure, we no longer glamorize the nonstop grind, but we still love to ... Read more...
I haven’t been paying attention to this blog much because I’ve had a lot going on. Summer is almost here and we’ve already had loads of visitors come through town. One of the great t...
My economic and market outlook: We will avoid a recession, inflation will further moderate, and the USA will win the trade war. Relax! The FIRE movement will be just fine. The post Market Musings: Rec...
Hey Everyone! Did you have a good month? April was a hectic month at the RB40 household. RB40Jr was busy with school, debate, Ultimate Frisbee, martial arts, and socializing with ... Read more The pos...