I recently realized that I had submitted some questionnaires and interviews to other websites that were never published. Nearly 3000 words that I had taken the time to write that might perhaps be interesting to some of my readers. So I have decided to publish them here. I have cleaned…
blog
The 8 Day Financial Freedom Boot Camp
I am a millionaire and it only took 8 days. Well, not exactly. It took 25 years but the systems that I needed to put in place in order to achieve this took 8 days The 8 Day Financial Freedom Boot Camp is an 8 day course of action for…
Need Money Fast? Read This Before You Do Something Stupid
Originally Published: [Original 2019 Date] | Last Updated: March 31, 2026 [DISCLAIMER] I’m a blogger, not your shrink or your CPA. If you’re in a legal or financial crisis, call a professional. If you’re just broke and looking for a way out, keep reading. 2026 Update: I wrote this years…
The most important lessons I’m teaching my kids about money.
For Parents Raising Kids with a Millionaire MindsetOriginal Post: February 3, 2020 Updated: October 19, 2025 Regret’s been my toughest teacher, and holy cow, I’ve got stories. I used to miss soccer games and birthdays because work owned me. Now, I’m flipping that script with FIRE—Financial Independence, Retire Early—and passing…
Why Cutting My 401(k) Funding Saved My Early Retirement Hopes
Originally Published: [Original 2019 Date] | Last Updated: March 31, 2026 [DISCLAIMER] I am not a financial advisor. This is a look at my personal strategy for Project 2028. Reducing retirement contributions can have massive tax implications—run your own math or hire a pro before you copy me. 2026 Update:…
Pay Off Mortgage Early or Invest for Early Retirement? A FIRE Guide to Maximize Wealth
If you’re reading this, you’re probably dreaming of quitting the 9-to-5 grind early, sipping coffee on a beach, or at least not stressing about bills in retirement. Whether to pay off your mortgage early or invest for retirement is a huge decision for FIRE folks because it directly impacts how fast you hit your “FI number”
The Straight-Talk Guide to 401(k) Cash Outs and Early Exits
[DISCLAIMER] I am a digital creator and a financial blogger, not a licensed fiduciary, CPA, or tax attorney. The following is for educational and “brutally honest” entertainment purposes only. Taxes and IRS rules are a minefield—always consult with a professional before moving large sums of money. This is my roadmap;…
Can Money Buy Happiness? How FIRE Made Me Believe It in 2025
By Early Retirement Earl | Originally Published May 3, 2019 Updated October 13, 2025 Look, I’ve been broke. Like, eating Pop Tarts for three days straight, scrounging spare change for gas to get to work, and lying awake at night wondering if I’d make rent. Those days sucked. They weren’t…
How to Retire Early in 2026: The No-BS Roadmap to Financial Independence
Originally published Oct 2019 | Fully updated for the 2026 FIRE landscape. Quitting your job forever sounds like a dream—until you realize the math doesn’t care about your feelings. If you’re tired of the 25-hour-a-week “part-time” grind or the 9-to-5 soul-crusher, the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement is your…
Financial Independence vs Retirement: The 2026 Reality Check
EDITOR’S NOTE (March 2026): This post was originally written in 2019. I’ve completely overhauled the math and the philosophy to reflect the 2026 financial landscape and my own ongoing journey to a January 1, 2028 retirement date. When most people hear the word “retirement,” they picture a pair of seniors…