Completely satisfied New 12 months everybody! I hope you’re having fun with the day off and doing a little reflecting. I’ve returned to San Francisco and am able to loosen up some extra!
Now that I’ve shared my 2024 yr in evaluate, I wished to share my targets and resolutions for 2025. Though 2024 was a terrific yr, 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 obtained 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 yr of intense focus.” I wrote in my 2024 targets put up:
Fatigue has set in, paying homage to 2011 after I contemplated leaving funding banking for good. That burnout prompted a much-needed change of tempo. Sarcastically, a day job is far simpler than being a stay-at-home father or mother!
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 way of life. Sitting on a seaside in Laie, Oahu, reflecting on the yr, I used to be reminded of what an excellent life means to me: well being, freedom, household, and associates. Riches, fame, or standing weren’t high of thoughts.
One of many nice issues about Hawaii is that every 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 joyful.
Nevertheless, returning to a easy life gained’t come with out effort. To dwell by my theme for 2025, my #1 objective is the next:
Principal 2025 Purpose: Stay Unemployed / Semi-Retired
After making an attempt part-time consulting for 4 months, I noticed how a lot I dislike conferences, commuting, and being advised what to do. Whereas it was precious to see firsthand how laborious individuals within the startup world work, I’ve confirmed that it’s not the appropriate match for me at this stage in my life.
The one manner I might return to work is that if I obtained an distinctive provide from a promising AI firm, with important autonomy and large upside. However I assign solely a 1% probability 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 every week at most.
Sure, incomes some huge cash and gaining standing in society might be interesting. Nevertheless, I’m decided to beat again these wishes so I might be as free as doable. 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 high precedence for so long as I dwell. Fatherhood, which started for me in 2017, remains to be a comparatively new journey and essentially 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 individuals I’ve encountered skilled above-average ranges of childhood trauma, which incorporates neglect, emotional and bodily abuse, accidents, rancorous divorces, demise of a father or mother, 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 children whereas maximizing unconditional love, studying, and pleasure of their lives.
1) Spend extra time touring now that each children are over 5
I’ve all the time disliked flying, particularly with younger children who’re unruly and gained’t bear 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 bear in mind the journeys we take, making the expertise way more rewarding.
For 2025, I plan to do no 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 nicely, take an journey to Beijing for a few weeks.
- Go to Tahoe for no 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 continually touring.
I’d like my kids to journey to allow them to expertise completely different cultures, develop a larger appreciation for what they’ve, and turn into higher communicators.
2) Learn with the youngsters for no less than quarter-hour a day, 5 days every week
One in every of my targets is to domesticate a love of studying in my children. Step one is studying to them constantly, no less than 5 days every week. Subsequent, I’d like them to learn to me for quarter-hour day by day, 5 days every week. Lastly, I need to discover books they genuinely get pleasure from, so that they’ll need to learn independently.
Rising up, I beloved studying Hardy Boys and The Nice Mind sequence. However after 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 might have for some time.
To encourage my children 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 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 price $140 per hour. As a 4.5-level pickleball participant with endurance and three years of instructing highschool tennis, I’ve determined to show them myself. I’ve already taught them methods to bike and swim, so this shall be one other enjoyable talent so as to add.
Pickleball is less complicated for younger children to select up than tennis and ought to be extra enjoyable. As soon as they’ve discovered the fundamentals, I’ll train them tennis as nicely. I don’t count on them to turn into nice athletes or win school scholarships. Nevertheless, realizing methods to play a sport could make life extra pleasant and social. I plan to spend 30–60 minutes each weekend practising pickleball with my children.
Taking part in softball through the pandemic for 3 years lifted my spirits. It additionally launched me to new associates, together with some I now play poker with recurrently.
4) Volunteer six occasions at my children’ college
Being a part of a neighborhood is fantastic. In 2024, I completely loved volunteering at my kids’s college. It was rewarding to see my children through the day, join with different mother and father, and get to know the employees. I feel my children will respect seeing their dad shock them from time to time as nicely, and maybe instill in them the spirit of volunteering sooner or later.
Private Objectives for 2025
If I can do two or three issues nicely a yr, I really feel it is a good yr. I made essentially the most of my remaining yr as a stay-at-home father in 2024, whereas specializing in strengthening our funds. Now that each children are in class full-time, I not establish as a stay-at-home father or mother. Transferring 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 Could 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 Purchase This Not That, I poured quite a lot of vitality 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 want 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 predominant focus shall be having fun with the method. Making a nationwide bestseller record is not a objective.
I’ve discovered peace within the mindset of: “If you wish to learn the guide to enhance your monetary life, incredible! If not, that’s fantastic too.” This strategy has labored nicely 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 way of life is a contradictory act. Threading this needle shall be a tough problem.
2) Defend my 1:30 PM–3 PM nap window
Few issues carry me extra pleasure than a correct nap after lunch. Whether or not it’s half-hour or a wonderful hour-long snooze, naps recharge me. For them to be actually efficient, I would like no less than a 1.5-hour window—this eliminates stress about oversleeping or dashing to go to sleep.
In 2024, I overbooked this time slot with actions like tennis, pickleball, and lengthy lunches. Whereas pleasant, they typically left me squeezing in brief naps after 3:30 PM, which threw off my evenings and bedtime. Frankly, 2024 was overwhelming from an actions standpoint and I need to do much less.
Naps enhance my vitality for the afternoon and night with my children, increase my temper, and improve creativity. Plus, research recommend napping lowers blood strain, reduces coronary heart illness threat, and slows mind ageing. 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 shall be sacred nap time.
3) Carry weights no less than as soon as every week for 45 minutes
Energy coaching must turn into a constant a part of my routine. My objective is to elevate weights no less than as soon as every week for 45 minutes, specializing in constructing my shoulders, chest, and again.
Though I’d prefer to elevate two or 3 times every week, I believe I’ll be too drained after periods to totally interact with my children 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 shall be eight occasions greater than I did in 2024.
4) Be OK with the occasional tardiness
One in every of my largest pet peeves is being late. It’s disrespectful to the individual ready and infrequently results in pointless stress and hazard, particularly when dashing by 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 navy background, was all the time punctual. Throughout my 13 years in finance, internet hosting numerous analyst, administration, and consumer conferences bolstered 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 rigidity 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 dashing as a lot as doable.
As an illustration, I initially aimed to get the youngsters to highschool on time 100% of the yr. 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 every week on Monetary Samurai—a stretch objective that, in hindsight, isn’t vital.
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 huge deal!
5) Write shorter, extra lifestyle-focused posts on Monetary Samurai
I tend to dive deep into matters, typically writing posts exceeding 2,000 phrases (this put up 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 yr of stress-free extra.
In 2025, my objective is to write down posts averaging 1,250 phrases. This shift will enable me to ship worth extra shortly whereas nonetheless sustaining my voice. Shorter posts can even be simpler for readers to digest, making the content material extra partaking total.
I’m additionally dropping my inflexible dedication to publishing three posts every week. As an alternative, I’ll write each time I need, 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 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. Nevertheless, as an alternative of promoting my earlier house, I selected to hire it out for money movement after blowing up $150,000 of passive earnings.
I stay bullish on San Francisco actual property, because of the tech and AI growth producing immense wealth for tens of 1000’s of individuals. We’ve additionally obtained a brand new mayor who ought to scale back authorities corruption and enhance insurance policies for its residents.
Nevertheless, after a yr 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 shall be robust. Moreover, I’ve seen extra flexibility from actual property brokers providing performance-based fee constructions.
Consequently, 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 offers a chance to earn as much as $500,000 in tax-free earnings, as I’ve lived in it for no less than two out of the previous 5 years.
Sarcastically, proudly owning a fourth rental property in San Francisco for a yr was comparatively hassle-free. The one concern was a kitchen faucet restore—possible brought on by the tenant yanking out the nozzle and breaking the hose. Nonetheless, I had envisioned preserving this house, which we loved through the pandemic, till my children had been grown.
Too dangerous for them the older I get, the much less I need to handle properties.
2) Reinvest 80% of on-line “humorous cash” into threat belongings
My love affair with actual property began in 2003 after I reinvested 100% of my dot-com bubble positive aspects right into a San Francisco condominium. Whereas the primary web bubble popped, my condominium’s worth held regular and even grew.
Equally, I view on-line earnings as “humorous cash” as a result of I’d fortunately write free of charge. Additional, I’m undecided the earnings will final. This mindset motivates me to reinvest a lot of the web earnings into belongings that generate passive earnings. I am additionally OK to take extra threat with this earnings as a result of it does not appear actual, not like 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 present passive earnings. The remaining 80% shall 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 essential.
If I efficiently promote my San Francisco rental, I count on to web 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 totally passive actual property investments. Industrial 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 progress. 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 gives the possibility to seize important upside. The extra I spend money on 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 ought to 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%.
- Perhaps I’ll YOLO and purchase a brand new automobile too
As soon as the sale is finalized, I’ll write an in depth put up on how I plan to allocate the proceeds.
If you wish to spend money on industrial actual property and enterprise capital, try Fundrise. I’ve invested $300,000+ with them to date and can proceed to dollar-cost common in each classes all yr to spice up publicity. Fundrise can also be a long-time sponsor of Monetary Samurai.
4) Construct My Kids’s Funding Accounts
Investing for my kids looks like beginning a brand new sport with the benefit of many years of expertise and information. Past their UGMA accounts, I need to give attention to constructing their Roth IRAs as nicely. Their 529 accounts are at ranges the place I not need to aggressively contribute to them.
Since their earnings are minimal, their earnings will fall nicely under the usual deduction for 2025, which is $15,000. This implies their earned earnings gained’t be topic to taxes. A sensible earnings goal can 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 manner for future monetary safety. Extra importantly, it’s about instilling a robust work ethic and instructing 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 just a little simpler!
A Return to Simple Residing in 2025 For Positive
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 great occasions proceed, permitting me to succeed in 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 funding losses with lively earnings feels futile.
I’ve simply 11 and 13 extra years, respectively, till my son and daughter might go away 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 yr? Be a part of 60,000+ others reaching monetary freedom sooner and join my free weekly e-newsletter right here.
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