Completely happy New Yr everybody! I hope you’re having fun with the break day 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 year in review, I wished to share my targets and resolutions for 2025. Though 2024 was an excellent 12 months, 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 received one)
- Write a brand new lullaby for my daughter after writing Cutie Baby 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 goals post:
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 far 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 sooner than ever. The urgency to maximise the remaining years of sturdy well being is palpable. I am undecided 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 lifestyle. Sitting on a seaside in Laie, Oahu, reflecting on the 12 months, I used to be reminded of what a superb life means to me: well being, freedom, household, and buddies. 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 joyful.
Nevertheless, returning to a easy life received’t come with out effort. To reside by my theme for 2025, my #1 objective is the next:
Important 2025 Objective: Stay Unemployed / Semi-Retired
After making an attempt part-time consulting for four months, I noticed how a lot I dislike conferences, commuting, and being instructed what to do. Whereas it was precious to see firsthand how laborious folks within the startup world work, I’ve confirmed that it’s not the best match for me at this stage in my life.
The one method I might return to work is that if I received an distinctive provide from a promising AI firm, with important autonomy and large upside. However I assign solely a 1% likelihood 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 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 per week at most.
Sure, incomes some huge cash and gaining status in society could be interesting. Nevertheless, I’m decided to beat again these needs so I could be as free as attainable. 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 Objectives 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 essentially the most difficult function 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 among 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 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 received’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 rather more rewarding.
For 2025, I plan to do not less than 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 properly, take an journey to Beijing for a few weeks.
- Go to Tahoe for not less than 5 nights through 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 completely different cultures, develop a better appreciation for what they’ve, and develop into higher communicators.
2) Learn with the youngsters for not less than quarter-hour a day, 5 days per week
Considered one of my targets is to domesticate a love of studying in my youngsters. Step one is studying to them persistently, not less than 5 days per week. Subsequent, I’d like them to learn to me for quarter-hour each day, 5 days per week. Lastly, I need to discover books they genuinely get pleasure from, in order that they’ll need 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 browse extra myself. As soon as they get pleasure from studying on their very own, they will study an infinite quantity of issues.
3) Train the youngsters methods to play pickleball
The aftercare pickleball periods at their college stuffed up shortly, 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 methods to bike and swim, so this can be one other enjoyable talent so as to add.
Pickleball is less complicated for younger youngsters to select up than tennis and must be extra enjoyable. As soon as they’ve realized the fundamentals, I’ll train them tennis as properly. I don’t anticipate them to develop into great athletes or win college scholarships. Nevertheless, figuring out methods to play a sport could make life extra fulfilling and social. I plan to spend 30–60 minutes each weekend working towards pickleball with my youngsters.
Taking part in softball through the pandemic for 3 years lifted my spirits. It additionally launched me to new buddies, together with some I now play poker with repeatedly.
4) Volunteer six occasions at my youngsters’ college
Being a part of a neighborhood is fantastic. In 2024, I completely loved volunteering at my youngsters’s college. It was rewarding to see my youngsters through the day, join with different dad and mom, and get to know the employees. I feel my youngsters will admire seeing their dad shock them once in a while as properly, and maybe instill in them the spirit of volunteering sooner or later.
Private Objectives for 2025
If I can do two or three issues properly 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 at school full-time, I now not establish as a stay-at-home guardian. Shifting ahead, I’ll embrace my identification as a author.
1) Market my new guide—and check out to not stress about its efficiency
After over two years of laborious work, I’m thrilled to launch my second guide with Portfolio Penguin in Might 2025. Like my first guide, Purchase This Not That, it focuses on private finance. I’ll share all the small print by March 2025.
With Buy This Not That, I poured plenty of power into making it a bestseller—and succeeded. It’s satisfying to know I’ll all the time be a nationwide bestselling creator. Nevertheless, 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 guide, as it’s my dedication to Portfolio Penguin, however my important focus can be having fun with the method. Making a nationwide bestseller checklist is now not a objective.
I’ve discovered peace within the mindset of: “If you wish to learn the guide to enhance your monetary life, implausible! If not, that’s tremendous too.” This method 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.
Nevertheless, selling a guide whereas sustaining a low-key life-style is a contradictory act. Threading this needle can be a troublesome problem.
2) Shield my 1:30 PM–3 PM nap window
Few issues convey 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 really efficient, I want not 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 fulfilling, they usually left me squeezing briefly naps after 3:30 PM, which threw off my evenings and bedtime. Frankly, 2024 was overwhelming from an activities 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 recommend napping lowers blood strain, reduces coronary heart illness danger, and slows mind getting 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) Raise weights not less than as soon as per week for 45 minutes
Energy coaching must develop into a constant a part of my routine. My objective is to raise weights not less than as soon as per week for 45 minutes, specializing in constructing my shoulders, chest, and again.
Though I’d wish to raise two or 3 times per week, I think I’ll be too drained after periods to totally interact with my youngsters or play sports activities. For now, as soon as per week is a manageable place to begin 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
Considered one of my greatest 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 may also be a waste of cash when 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 army 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 choice when so many individuals trusted me. If I ever was late, it felt deeply embarrassing.
Sadly, this obsession with punctuality has prompted some pressure with my spouse. My objective now could be to be extra relaxed about occasional tardiness. I’ll additionally step as much as assist get the youngsters prepared, so we are able to keep away from speeding as a lot as attainable.
As an illustration, 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 objective mirrors my decade-long obsession with writing three posts per week on Monetary Samurai—a stretch objective 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 large deal!
5) Write shorter, extra lifestyle-focused posts on Monetary Samurai
I tend to dive deep into matters, usually writing posts exceeding 2,000 phrases (this put up 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 fits towards my theme for the 12 months of enjoyable extra.
In 2025, my objective is to put in writing posts averaging 1,250 phrases. This shift will permit me to ship worth extra shortly whereas nonetheless sustaining my voice. Shorter posts may also be simpler for readers to digest, making the content material extra partaking general.
I’m additionally dropping my inflexible dedication to publishing three posts per 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 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. Nevertheless, as an alternative of promoting my earlier residence, I selected to lease it out for money move after blowing up $150,000 of passive income.
I stay bullish on San Francisco real estate, because of the tech and AI increase producing immense wealth for tens of 1000’s of individuals. We’ve additionally received a brand new mayor who ought to scale back authorities corruption and enhance insurance policies for its residents.
Nevertheless, 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 seen extra flexibility from actual property brokers providing performance-based fee constructions.
Consequently, I plan to promote this beautiful ocean-view property, which I bought in mid-2020, in 2025. The timing feels proper to simplify my life. Promoting the property additionally supplies a chance to earn as much as $500,000 in tax-free earnings, as I’ve lived in it for not less than 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 concern was a kitchen faucet restore—possible attributable to the tenant yanking out the nozzle and breaking the hose. Nonetheless, I had envisioned conserving 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 danger 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 apartment. Whereas the primary web bubble popped, my apartment’s worth held regular and even grew.
Equally, I view on-line earnings as “funny money” as a result of I’d fortunately write totally free. Additional, I’m undecided the earnings will final. This mindset motivates me to reinvest a lot of the internet earnings into property that generate passive earnings. I am additionally OK to take extra danger with this earnings as a result of it would not appear actual, in contrast to my arduous day job earnings in banking.
Nevertheless, I additionally need to get pleasure from life over the subsequent three years. That’s why I plan to allocate 20% of this earnings to cowl the hole between my bills and current passive income. The remaining 80% can be reinvested.
With some luck and disciplined investing, I hope to hit my goal of a further $80,000 in passive earnings or a further $2 million in investments by December 31, 2027.
3) Make investments $100,000 every in industrial actual property and AI corporations
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 anticipate 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 fully passive real estate 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 corporations: I imagine within the AI motion and need publicity to its potential development. My time working at a startup confirmed me how laborious and quick these corporations transfer. Since non-public corporations keep non-public longer now, investing early provides the possibility to seize important upside. The extra I invest in artificial intelligence, the much less concern I’ve for my youngsters’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 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%.
- Perhaps I’ll YOLO and purchase a brand new automotive too
As soon as the sale is finalized, I’ll write an in depth put up on how I plan to allocate the proceeds.
4) Construct My Youngsters’s Funding Accounts
Investing for my youngsters seems like beginning a brand new sport with the benefit of many years of expertise and information. Past their UGMA accounts, I need to concentrate on building 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 earnings will fall properly beneath the usual deduction for 2025, which is $15,000. This implies their earned earnings received’t be topic to taxes. A sensible earnings goal could be $7,000, matching the Roth IRA contribution restrict for 2025. What a profit to have the ability to contribute tax-free earnings 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 method 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 muse for good private finance habits, making them self-sufficient adults. When that day comes, their mom and I can breathe a bit 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 superb 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 achieve my monetary goal by December 31, 2027, whereas additionally spending and giving extra freely. Nevertheless, even when the market doesn’t cooperate, I plan to remain unemployed. At this stage, making an attempt to offset investment losses with active income feels futile.
I’ve simply 11 and 13 extra years, respectively, till my son and daughter could go away the home probably 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 a part of 60,000+ others attaining monetary freedom sooner and join my free weekly e-newsletter here.
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