Financial Independence

Twenty-two hours into tropical paradise, the money nerds started getting emotional.In November, four dozen Americans and Australians converged in the spiritual heart of Bali, Indonesia, at a luxury resort filled with banana trees and the sounds of passing sheep. The crew was united by their commitment to the Financial Independence, Retire Early movement.FIRE's promise: Embark…

Twenty-two hours into tropical paradise, the money nerds started getting emotional.In November, four dozen Americans and Australians converged in the spiritual heart of Bali, Indonesia, at a luxury resort filled with banana trees and the sounds of passing sheep. The crew was united by their commitment to the Financial Independence, Retire Early movement.FIRE's promise: Embark…

There's a new career trend on the rise among millennials: mini-retirement.A mini-retirement can provide a much-needed break from the 9-to-5 and help reorient your career.Three mini-retirees shared their experiences with putting a pause on their careers.Florence Poirel spent over a decade climbing the corporate ladder at Google, working her way up to the position of…

Sarah Lesselbaum joined the Financial Independence, Retire Early movement in 2018.Last year, she made over $70,000 by working part-time and owning a business.She said saving and investing gave her peace of mind to spend on the things and people she loves.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sarah Lesselbaum, a 44-year-old in Delray…

Eman and Kristine Vergara embraced minimalism to achieve financial independence.They shifted from high spending to saving 75% of their income by reducing expenses.The couple aim to travel with their kids while maintaining a frugal lifestyle at home.Seven years ago, Eman Vergara came across a book that had long collected dust on his shelf. He realized…

Andre Nader sold his Austin rental due to stress outweighing financial benefits.He and his wife, who moved to SF in 2014, have found renting to be more cost-effective than owning.Nader says he doesn't need to own real estate to hit his FIRE goals and focuses on index fund investing.Andre Nader has been both a homeowner…

Andre Nader found himself in a financial hole after losing money trading options.He shifted his investment strategy and started buying low-cost index funds.He owns various Fidelity and Vanguard index funds, including VTI and VXUS.Andre Nader lost a good chunk of money in the stock market in his early 20s."I used my student loan money in…

An Idaho couple retired with a net worth of over $2 million by living frugally and making smart investment choices.Richard learned investment strategies later in life after losing thousands in the dot-com bubble.Richard's story highlights the "millionaire next door" mindset of diligent saving and careful investing.Richard, who is in his mid-70s, never held a very…

Amberly Grant achieved 'coast FIRE' by saving 75% of her income and investing in index funds.For years, she lived on $1,300 a month by saving big on housing and transportation.She used her savings to max out her 401(k) plan, Roth IRA, and HSA. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed…

As a business school student at UC Berkeley, Sherry Jiang felt like she had three career path options: accounting, banking, or consulting — or, "the ABCs," she told Business Insider.She gravitated toward banking, landed a summer job at Goldman Sachs after her junior year, and wrapped up the internship with two main takeaways."Number one was…