How To Fire

04/27/2026

The answer to this question is a resounding "it depends." There are pros and cons to combining finances, and it's important to consider them before making any decisions.

Some couples find that pooling their resources allows them to be more successtul with money, while others tind that keeping finances separate helps maintain healthy communication about money matters.

What do you think? Should married couples combine their finances? Let us know in the comments!

01/24/2026

Financial accomplishments give us a sense of satisfaction and control.
We've all heard the saying that money can't buy happiness.

But what about the sense of accomplishment you feel when you reach a financial goal? That's definitely a type of happiness worth having!

Financial accomplishments give us a sense of satisfaction and control.

12/16/2025

Progress isn't always glamorous or fast, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. The earlier you start saving and investing in your future, the easier it will be to retire by 40.

It may not be easy, but it is possible with careful planning and a commitment to your goals.

Have you made progress toward retiring early? What are some of the challenges you've faced? Let us know in the comments below!

11/12/2025

Taking the first steps to change your relationship with money can be daunting, but you don't have to do it alone.

The FIRE Kickstart Program is here to support you with a community of people who are on similar journeys and access to resources that can help you make real progress.

So what are you waiting for? Join us today and let's get started on reaching your financial goals!

09/05/2024

Making a lot of money doesn't mean you're guaranteed to reach financial independence

Read that again

It doesn't matter how much money you make; if you don't know how to manage it, you might never reach Fl, let alone be the first to reach it.

The key to reaching Fl is knowing your Fl number or how much you need to declare yourself financially independent When you know that number, you can determine how much you can save monthly to reach that goal That's when you're on your way to reach financial independence

Yes, this means the person making six figures might never reach Fl
It sounds impossible
But if that person doesn't save, invest, and live below their means, they won't reach those lofty goals

Financial independence takes a lot of dedication and careful planning
to good use
Sure, making six figures helps, but only if you put that money

So don't assume because you make a lot of money, you'll reach financial independence
You won't
You need a plan in place that ensures you can reach your financial goals by saving, investing, and budgeting properly

07/08/2024

Not knowing your FIRE number could foil your plans to retire early

You may not be able to predict the future, but you know your expenses and have an idea of how you want to live, so calculating your FIRE number isn't that far-fetched

To calculate your FIRE number, you need the following:

Annual income
Annual savings percentage
Employer match on your 401K
Current portfolio value
Expected pay increase percentage annually
Annual return expected
Inflation rate
Desired withdrawal rate in retirement
Percentage of current income needed in retirement

Input this information into a FIRE calculator, like this one https://www.howtofire.com/calculators/ultimate-financial-
independence-calculator/ and you'll see your Fl target amount and number of years to reach FI

The FIRE calculator is very eye-opening because you'll learn quickly if you're not saving enough or if Fl is further away than you anticipated

Don't put it to chance; calculate your Fl number to know for sure where you stand and if your dreams of Fl are realistic

Use our FIRE Calculator to view your progress towards financial independence. Determine your retirement age and see when you’ll be able to retire safely.

11/02/2023

If your answer is no, we need to get to work now.

Knowledge is power

It's time to take control of your finances and tackle those debts head-on.

If you're unsure about your monthly payments, terms, and interest rates - we've got your back! It's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work on a game-changing financial journey.

Drop a fy if you're ready to start this journey! Don't wait

another moment; let's get to work NOW.

08/23/2023

One financial emergency could wipe out your savings

It could also cause complete financial ruin

Yes, ONE emergency can do that

But even saving $1,000 can give you a good start $1,000 is a good emergency fund starter

No, you shouldn't stop there; you should keep saving to reach the illustrious 3 - 6 months of your expenses goal But $1,000 prevents the thread from unraveling

One emergency that occurs without money saved starts the downward spiral
Before you know it, you are quickly adding up debt Your credit card bills stack up, so you start taking out personal loans
Then you can't pay the personal loans, so you frantically start looking elsewhere

It's the rabbit hole no one should go down if they can help it And it all starts with $1,000

$1,000 isn't hard to save
It's $83 a month or $19.23 a week
Skip the line at Starbucks a few times a week, and you have the money saved!

But once you have $1,000 saved,
Keep saving until you reach your three to six months of expenses goal

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, and it all starts with that initial $1,000

06/05/2023

You shouldn't stalk your investment portfolio, but you shouldn't set it and forget it forever, either

So what do you do?

Balancing your portfolio is a delicate balancing act that requires patience, trust, and time

Why must you balance?

No portfolio maintains the same allocation; stocks, bonds, and other assets change value constantly
But stalking your portfolio results in rash decisions that you will likely regret

So when should you rebalance?

There are a couple of ways to look at it:

👉Visit your portfolio annually and determine if reallocation is necessary
👉Only reallocate when it's obvious your portfolio is off balance and needs assistance

Every investor has different goals, risk tolerances, and timelines, so there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to rebalancing

If you rebalance annually, how will you rebalance?

You can:

👉Sell assets performing well for lower-performing assets
👉Invest new money and rebalance by buying new assets

If it seems like too much, a robo-advisor that automatically rebalances when your portfolio hits certain thresholds is a great hands-off approach

The key is that you check your portfolio periodically and make rational decisions to keep your portfolio balanced and your goals reachable

04/25/2022

You're never too old to start investing

Even if you're 30 or 40 years old, it's not too late

The key is to start NOW

Contrary to popular belief, there isn't an age cutoff when it no longer makes sense to invest It ALWAYS makes sense

If you missed a few years or even more, invest more money or more aggressively
The younger you are, the less you must invest because you have the advantage of time and compounded earnings

If you gave up those years, it's okay
You've figured it out now and are ready to catch up

Here's how to do it

👉 Map out your financial plans, including dollar amounts
👉 Set your timelines
👉 Do the math and determine how much you must invest to reach your goals

Next, create a plan and stick to it
You don't have to pay thousands of dollars in fees Consider DIY investing or low-cost robo-advisors

Having someone guide you in choosing the right portfolio is the key to reaching your goals The other key is not giving up

03/19/2022

Putting saving on the back burner is only hurting yourself

Did I strike a chord?

Maybe this sounds like you
You create a budget but wait until the end of the month to pay yourself

When the time comes, you have nothing left, so you don't
Save
You say you'll try again next month, but it keeps happening

There's a simple fix

🔥Make your savings automatic and pay yourself first

Put money into savings like a non-negotiable bill

You wouldn't wait to pay the electric bill, right?
The same should be true of your savings

You can't see what you have to lose right now because you're saving for the future, but every day that you don't save, you're losing the opportunity for compound interest

If your budget consistently doesn't have room for saving, it's time to review it. Determine where you can cut back on expenses so you have room to save.

Here are a few ideas:

👉Shop for cheaper insurance, cell phone plans, or internet packages
👉Stop paying for cable and choose a cheaper streaming service
👉Check your habits and cut back on the expensive ones (nails, grooming, coffee, etc.)
👉Consider refinancing or consolidating debt

The sooner you start saving, the more money you'll have later. Choose where you save wisely, and you'll make your money work for you instead of vice versa.

10/27/2021

They're making money on you

The experts can't beat the market and if they say they can, you're their paycheck

In 20 years, less than 10% of actively managed funds did what they said and beat the market

The odds aren't in your favor

Don't buy into the hype And don't pay the fees

Instead, put the ball in your court

Here's how

👉Invest as much as you can, make regular contributions, and make them non-negotiable
👉Invest NOW, do not wait another day; every day you waste is money thrown out the window
👉Get out of expensive investments; this includes old 401Ks, mutual funds, and costly investment advisors
👉Consider a DIY investment approach or robo-advisor; both are much cheaper, leaving you more money for retirement

See, there's no secret to achieving financial independence

Invest wisely and often, and don't spend just to spend A little sacrificing today will pay off tremendously down the road