Podcasts about vtsax

What if financial independence was simpler than you think? In this powerful episode Craig Curelop reconnects with a prominent figure in the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement J.L Collins, whose best-selling book The Simple Path to Wealth has helped millions unlock freedom through frugality and investing in index funds.  This is not just a rehash—J.L. drops updates on Pathfinders, the upcoming Simple Path to Wealth 2.0, and how staying the course in a volatile market is still the winning strategy. You will walk away with timeless principles of wealth-building, practical investment tips (like using VTSAX), and motivation to pursue Financial Independence regardless of income level. Perfect for anyone in the FIRE movement, new investors, or anyone questioning the value of good debt, savings rates, and lifestyle inflation. PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS: [03:15] Book update and reflections on investing mindset [7:28] Avoiding lifestyle creep and how saving saved him [11:17] 4 percent rule and retirement income planning [16:12] How market volatility shapes disciplined investing long-term [25:27] Vanguard's VTSAX index fund remains JL's top investing pick [32:52] Staying the course when market drops test your resolve [38:03] Pushback on simplicity and myths about wealth accumulation [43:57] Financial independence is about freedom not early retirement age [47:27] Advice to young investors on maximizing savings from start [53:04] Stock market cycles and emotional control with investing [58:26] Meditation mindset helps maintain financial course in crashes  HOST Craig Curelop    

I viewer named Eileen asked about how her children, who are in their twenties, should invest. Here's her question: Can you do a video on constructing a retirement account (Roth) for my 20 year old kids? They are contributing 15%. I am thinking 10% VGSLX, 10% VSIAX, 30% VTIAX and 50% either VTSAX or VVIAX. Your thoughts please.In this video I'll walk through the 3 goals of long-term investing, evaluate Eileen's proposed portfolio, and look at one alternative.Empower: https://go.robberger.com/empower/yt-20Morningstar: https://www.morningstar.com/Join the Newsletter. It's Free:https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...

This episode brings the heat on so-called “financial educators” masquerading as fiduciaries while hawking high-commission indexed annuities. Don and Tom dissect the misleading promises of 9% guaranteed returns, break down real disclosure numbers, and expose the enormous commissions driving these “recommendations.” Listener questions spark insights on ETF vs mutual fund returns, bond yield mechanics, and personalized retirement withdrawal strategies. Oh, and say goodbye to the penny—it's headed for extinction. 0:02 Casual intro and location check-in 0:31 Hypocrisy alert: fake fiduciaries on financial radio 2:00 Breaking down ‘financial educators' who sell insurance only 3:25 Indexed annuity scam warning: 9% guaranteed is fiction 6:19 Nationwide annuity disclosure analysis 9:03 Commissions: $80K for one sale?! 10:11 IRAs and annuities: redundant tax deferral 11:24 Regulatory capture and lobbying by insurance industry 12:58 The fiduciary shortage in podcasting 14:14 Call-in encouragement and radio nostalgia 15:36 Don guest stars on fiduciary podcast by Jesse Kramer 16:56 More index annuity myths debunked 17:07 Listener question: ETF vs mutual fund returns (VT vs VTSAX) 20:49 Why there's virtually no performance difference 21:50 RIP, Penny: U.S. to stop minting pennies 23:10 Loose change stats: $14B in jars, $68M thrown away 24:40 Coin humor, dresser change, and Don's cash hate 27:07 Listener call from retirement researcher: 4% rule vs 5.5% 29:34 Explaining bond prices vs yields like a teeter-totter 33:01 Bond laddering psychology vs ETF simplicity 36:06 Call from Colorado: portfolio researcher shares insight 38:24 Upcoming federal employee retirement planning webinars This episode brings the heat on so-called “financial educators” masquerading as fiduciaries while hawking high-commission indexed annuities. Don and Tom dissect the misleading promises of 9% guaranteed returns, break down real disclosure numbers, and expose the enormous commissions driving these “recommendations.” Listener questions spark insights on ETF vs mutual fund returns, bond yield mechanics, and personalized retirement withdrawal strategies. Oh, and say goodbye to the penny—it's headed for extinction. “9% Guaranteed? Yeah, Right.” “Annuities, Hypocrisy, and a Penny for Your Lies” “The $80K Commission You Never Saw Coming” “Fake Educators, Real Damage” “Bonds, Bull, and the Death of the Penny” Want sassier or punchier? I've got reserves. Scene: A retro 1950s-style classroom. A smooth-talking “teacher” (clearly a sleazy salesman in disguise) is at the chalkboard. The chalkboard reads “9% GUARANTEED!” in big bold letters. Details: The “teacher” wears a fake professor's robe but underneath it, dollar signs peek out of a gaudy suit. In the corner, a “fiduciary” badge sits untouched on the desk. A shocked student (maybe a piggy bank with arms) raises its hand in horror. Light sepia-toned filter, mid-century vibe, logo space top left clear. Ready for art now? Say the word and I'll whip up the image. Want to punch up the summary or swap out a title? I'm yours. 

The last time JL Collins joined me on the show (our most popular episode ever), we covered everything from millennial challenges, to his “VTSAX and Relax” approach, to lessons from his 2015 best-selling book, The Simple Path to Wealth. Now re-released a decade later with new insights, JL joins us again and we talk about: If the US Dollar still holds its reserve currency status—and what it means if it doesn't America's student loan crisis and the myth of “good debt” The liberation of dramatically downsizing your living expenses Our culture of consumerism, and what might replace it We even had a civil dispute about capitalism (I'll let you guess who played defense) and whether billionaires create jobs or jobs create billionaires Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: ⁠⁠http://moneywithkatie.com/jl-collins⁠. —

In this episode, JL Collins discusses the transformative principles of financial independence outlined in his renowned book, The Simple Path to Wealth. Collins emphasizes the simplicity of investing, the power of living below your means, and the crucial role of compounding returns in achieving financial freedom. The conversation also touches on the newly revised edition of the book, addressing updated data and emergent financial topics, including cryptocurrency, all while maintaining the core philosophy that has empowered millions. Key Takeaways: Financial Freedom's Core: Understanding that financial freedom is achievable through deliberate actions—avoiding debt, living on less than you earn, and investing wisely. The Power of Compounding: Small, consistent investments can lead to significant wealth over time due to compounding returns. Market Downturns as Opportunities: Viewing market declines as chances to buy stocks at lower prices rather than reasons to sell. Simplicity in Investing: Collins advocates a straightforward approach to investing, primarily using low-cost index funds. Revised Edition Highlights: The updated book includes new data, case studies, FAQs, and insights into cryptocurrency while retaining its foundational message. Timestamps & Key Discussion Points: 00:00:19 The Release of the Revised Book Discussion on the new 2025 edition of The Simple Path to Wealth and its significance. 00:05:22 Understanding the Simple Path to Wealth Collins describes how the book began as a personal guide for his daughter and evolved into a life-changing resource for many. 00:07:39 The Importance of Compounding Explanation of compounding wealth and the misconception that it requires starting at a young age. 00:20:15 Investing in Index Funds Discussion on the benefits of investing in broad-based low-cost index funds, particularly VTSAX. 00:27:15 Market Trends and Self-Cleansing Funds Collins introduces the concept of self-cleansing funds and how stock indices adapt to market changes. Actionable Takeaways: Embrace investing consistently in low-cost index funds like VTSAX or similar. Aim for a high savings rate to expedite financial independence. View market downturns as opportunities to enhance your portfolio. Set up automatic contributions to investment accounts. Understand that freedom is the ultimate goal of wealth-building efforts. Discussion Questions: What strategies can you implement to live on less than you earn? How do you feel about the role of compounding in wealth building? Related Resources: The Simple Path to Wealth - 2025 Edition Key Quotes: "If you reach for a star, you might not get one, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either." [Timestamp: 00:09:31] "A stock market crash is a gift." [Timestamp: 00:35:31]

Send us a textThis week, I will share the simple process I used to move my investments to a more socially responsible index fund including the steps I followed and the mistakes that I made!Links from today's episode:How to choose the best index fund | Forbeshttps://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/how-to-choose-the-best-index-fund/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy:Episode 76 The Surprising Truth About What ESG Investing Actually Means (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show)Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja:Website https://www.progressivepockets.comTwitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me:Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements.The information provided in this podcast is for general entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as professional financial advice. We make no guarantees about the accuracy or applicability of the content. Consult a qualified financial professional before making any investment or financial planning decisions.Support the show

In the left corner, we have Paul Merriman, the seasoned finance veteran weighing in at 183 pounds. In the right corner, Dr. Karsten Jeske, the scrappy newcomer at 208 pounds. The bell rings, and the small cap value debate begins.This episode features a financial boxing match between two investment heavyweights with dramatically different perspectives. Paul Merriman champions diversification through the efficient frontier, which means adding small cap value to your portfolio. Dr. Karsten Jeska has “thrown cold water” on this approach, favoring simpler strategies like “VTSAX and chill.”The stakes are high — we're talking potentially millions of dollars in your retirement account over decades.Merriman argues that history shows clear evidence for small cap value's premium. From 2000 to 2009, small cap value outperformed the S&P 500 in all but one year, compounding at 10 percent while the S&P 500 returned negative 1 percent. He believes this pattern will continue, creating a powerful diversification effect when combined with broader market indexes.Jeske counters that small cap value's outperformance is mostly “front-loaded” in history, happening before anyone knew about it. Since 2006, small cap value has underperformed. He argues that once an advantage becomes widely known, it disappears in an efficient market. Adding small cap value might even be “di-worsification” — increasing complexity without improving returns.The debate expands beyond small cap value to touch on:Active vs. passive investing strategiesMarket timing vs. buy-and-hold approachesSimplicity vs. complexity in portfolio constructionThe role of faith vs. evidence in investment decisionsWhile both experts disagree about small cap value's future, they agree on fundamentals: invest early, stay invested for the long term, and understand that no one can predict markets with certainty.What starts as a technical debate evolves into a philosophical discussion about evidence, probability, and the limits of our knowledge — all with millions of retirement dollars hanging in the balance.Timestamps:Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths.(0:00) Debate intro: small cap value vs index funds(4:01) Merriman: small cap value offers premium returns(9:40) Jeske: small cap value underperformed since 2006(18:20) Historical performance data significance(25:15) Stakes: difference of millions over time(33:08) Diversification vs added volatility debate(41:45) Risk-adjusted returns comparison(49:08) Questioning true diversification benefits(57:40) Value traps and actively managed funds(1:05:08) Technology stocks vs value investments(1:13:45) Data selection bias in studies(1:19:40) Faith vs science in investment decisions(1:29:20) Personal risk tolerance considerations(1:36:08) Closing arguments on investment strategies(1:42:08) Paula declares the debate a drawWatch video here

#590: In the left corner, we have Paul Merriman, the seasoned finance veteran weighing in at 183 pounds. In the right corner, Dr. Karsten Jeske, the scrappy newcomer at 208 pounds. The bell rings, and the small cap value debate begins. This episode features a financial boxing match between two investment heavyweights with dramatically different perspectives. Paul Merriman champions diversification through the efficient frontier, which means adding small cap value to your portfolio. Dr. Karsten Jeska has "thrown cold water" on this approach, favoring simpler strategies like "VTSAX and chill." The stakes are high — we're talking potentially millions of dollars in your retirement account over decades. Merriman argues that history shows clear evidence for small cap value's premium. From 2000 to 2009, small cap value outperformed the S&P 500 in all but one year, compounding at 10 percent while the S&P 500 returned negative 1 percent. He believes this pattern will continue, creating a powerful diversification effect when combined with broader market indexes. Jeska counters that small cap value's outperformance is mostly "front-loaded" in history, happening before anyone knew about it. Since 2006, small cap value has underperformed. He argues that once an advantage becomes widely known, it disappears in an efficient market. Adding small cap value might even be "di-worsification" — increasing complexity without improving returns. The debate expands beyond small cap value to touch on: Active vs. passive investing strategies Market timing vs. buy-and-hold approaches Simplicity vs. complexity in portfolio construction The role of faith vs. evidence in investment decisions While both experts disagree about small cap value's future, they agree on fundamentals: invest early, stay invested for the long term, and understand that no one can predict markets with certainty. What starts as a technical debate evolves into a philosophical discussion about evidence, probability, and the limits of our knowledge — all with millions of retirement dollars hanging in the balance. Timestamps: Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths. (0:00) Debate intro: small cap value vs index funds (4:01) Merriman: small cap value offers premium returns (9:40) Jeske: small cap value underperformed since 2006 (18:20) Historical performance data significance (25:15) Stakes: difference of millions over time (33:08) Diversification vs added volatility debate (41:45) Risk-adjusted returns comparison (49:08) Questioning true diversification benefits (57:40) Value traps and actively managed funds (1:05:08) Technology stocks vs value investments (1:13:45) Data selection bias in studies (1:19:40) Faith vs science in investment decisions (1:29:20) Personal risk tolerance considerations (1:36:08) Closing arguments on investment strategies (1:42:08) Paula declares the debate a draw For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/podcast/binge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3052: JL Collins breaks down how to shift your mindset from short-term price fluctuations to long-term ownership, using VTSAX as a prime example of investing in the entire U.S. economy. Learn why patience, resilience, and a buy-and-hold strategy can lead to financial security over time. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://jlcollinsnh.com/2013/06/14/stocks-part-ixx-how-to-think-about-money/ Quotes to ponder: "You can't successfully dance in and out of the Market." "As long as the company is sound, the fluctuations in its stock price are fairly inconsequential." "Nothing is sure, but I can't think of a surer bet than this." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3052: JL Collins breaks down how to shift your mindset from short-term price fluctuations to long-term ownership, using VTSAX as a prime example of investing in the entire U.S. economy. Learn why patience, resilience, and a buy-and-hold strategy can lead to financial security over time. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://jlcollinsnh.com/2013/06/14/stocks-part-ixx-how-to-think-about-money/ Quotes to ponder: "You can't successfully dance in and out of the Market." "As long as the company is sound, the fluctuations in its stock price are fairly inconsequential." "Nothing is sure, but I can't think of a surer bet than this." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3052: JL Collins breaks down how to shift your mindset from short-term price fluctuations to long-term ownership, using VTSAX as a prime example of investing in the entire U.S. economy. Learn why patience, resilience, and a buy-and-hold strategy can lead to financial security over time. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://jlcollinsnh.com/2013/06/14/stocks-part-ixx-how-to-think-about-money/ Quotes to ponder: "You can't successfully dance in and out of the Market." "As long as the company is sound, the fluctuations in its stock price are fairly inconsequential." "Nothing is sure, but I can't think of a surer bet than this." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3024: Mr. 1500 explains how index funds like VTSAX make investing even simpler, allowing you to focus on what truly brings you joy while your money works for you. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.1500days.com/how-i-hired-the-best-people-in-the-world-to-make-me-rich/  & https://www.1500days.com/ask-the-readers-the-crappy-couch-cacophony/ Quotes to ponder: "It gives me great satisfaction to know that some of the most brilliant leaders today are on my payroll. I get to pursue what I want and they fund it." "If I give VTSAX $1,000,000 to manage, I pay $400 per year in fees. That's an incredible value. Take my money, VTSAX." "Who am I to judge another human's choices? Their choices are a culmination of decades of experience that I have no knowledge of." Episode references: Mile High FI Podcast: https://milehighfi.com EconoMe Conference: https://economeconference.com The Simple Path to Wealth: https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Path-Wealth-Financial-Independence/dp/1533667926 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3024: Mr. 1500 explains how index funds like VTSAX make investing even simpler, allowing you to focus on what truly brings you joy while your money works for you. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.1500days.com/how-i-hired-the-best-people-in-the-world-to-make-me-rich/  & https://www.1500days.com/ask-the-readers-the-crappy-couch-cacophony/ Quotes to ponder: "It gives me great satisfaction to know that some of the most brilliant leaders today are on my payroll. I get to pursue what I want and they fund it." "If I give VTSAX $1,000,000 to manage, I pay $400 per year in fees. That's an incredible value. Take my money, VTSAX." "Who am I to judge another human's choices? Their choices are a culmination of decades of experience that I have no knowledge of." Episode references: Mile High FI Podcast: https://milehighfi.com EconoMe Conference: https://economeconference.com The Simple Path to Wealth: https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Path-Wealth-Financial-Independence/dp/1533667926 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3024: Mr. 1500 explains how index funds like VTSAX make investing even simpler, allowing you to focus on what truly brings you joy while your money works for you. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.1500days.com/how-i-hired-the-best-people-in-the-world-to-make-me-rich/  & https://www.1500days.com/ask-the-readers-the-crappy-couch-cacophony/ Quotes to ponder: "It gives me great satisfaction to know that some of the most brilliant leaders today are on my payroll. I get to pursue what I want and they fund it." "If I give VTSAX $1,000,000 to manage, I pay $400 per year in fees. That's an incredible value. Take my money, VTSAX." "Who am I to judge another human's choices? Their choices are a culmination of decades of experience that I have no knowledge of." Episode references: Mile High FI Podcast: https://milehighfi.com EconoMe Conference: https://economeconference.com The Simple Path to Wealth: https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Path-Wealth-Financial-Independence/dp/1533667926 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3019: JL Collins emphasizes the power of simplicity in investing, advocating for a two-fund strategy using VTSAX (stocks) and VBTLX (bonds) to navigate the wealth acquisition and preservation stages. He explains that while 100% stocks often yield the best returns, adding a small percentage of bonds can smooth volatility. The key to success isn't complexity but discipline staying the course through market ups and downs while keeping costs low. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://jlcollinsnh.com/2014/06/10/stocks-part-xxiii-selecting-your-asset-allocation/ Quotes to ponder: “There is a major crash coming and you've got to toughen up, cupcake, because nobody can predict when, despite all those claiming they can.” “The more you hold in stocks the better your results and the more gut wrenching the volatility you'll be required to endure.” “Making a few sound choices and letting them run is the essence of success, and the soul of the simple path to wealth.” Episode references: Vanguard Retirement Nest Egg Calculator: https://retirementplans.vanguard.com/VGApp/pe/pubeducation/calculators/RetirementNestEggCalc.jsf Betterment: https://www.betterment.com The Simple Path to Wealth: https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Path-Wealth-Financial-Independence/dp/1533667926 Join 250K readers (20% of which have hit 7 figures) who are already building a brighter financial future - subscribe now. Sign up at readthejoe.com/subscribe-swap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3019: JL Collins emphasizes the power of simplicity in investing, advocating for a two-fund strategy using VTSAX (stocks) and VBTLX (bonds) to navigate the wealth acquisition and preservation stages. He explains that while 100% stocks often yield the best returns, adding a small percentage of bonds can smooth volatility. The key to success isn't complexity but discipline staying the course through market ups and downs while keeping costs low. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://jlcollinsnh.com/2014/06/10/stocks-part-xxiii-selecting-your-asset-allocation/ Quotes to ponder: “There is a major crash coming and you've got to toughen up, cupcake, because nobody can predict when, despite all those claiming they can.” “The more you hold in stocks the better your results and the more gut wrenching the volatility you'll be required to endure.” “Making a few sound choices and letting them run is the essence of success, and the soul of the simple path to wealth.” Episode references: Vanguard Retirement Nest Egg Calculator: https://retirementplans.vanguard.com/VGApp/pe/pubeducation/calculators/RetirementNestEggCalc.jsf Betterment: https://www.betterment.com The Simple Path to Wealth: https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Path-Wealth-Financial-Independence/dp/1533667926 Join 250K readers (20% of which have hit 7 figures) who are already building a brighter financial future - subscribe now. Sign up at readthejoe.com/subscribe-swap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3019: JL Collins emphasizes the power of simplicity in investing, advocating for a two-fund strategy using VTSAX (stocks) and VBTLX (bonds) to navigate the wealth acquisition and preservation stages. He explains that while 100% stocks often yield the best returns, adding a small percentage of bonds can smooth volatility. The key to success isn't complexity but discipline staying the course through market ups and downs while keeping costs low. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://jlcollinsnh.com/2014/06/10/stocks-part-xxiii-selecting-your-asset-allocation/ Quotes to ponder: “There is a major crash coming and you've got to toughen up, cupcake, because nobody can predict when, despite all those claiming they can.” “The more you hold in stocks the better your results and the more gut wrenching the volatility you'll be required to endure.” “Making a few sound choices and letting them run is the essence of success, and the soul of the simple path to wealth.” Episode references: Vanguard Retirement Nest Egg Calculator: https://retirementplans.vanguard.com/VGApp/pe/pubeducation/calculators/RetirementNestEggCalc.jsf Betterment: https://www.betterment.com The Simple Path to Wealth: https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Path-Wealth-Financial-Independence/dp/1533667926 Join 250K readers (20% of which have hit 7 figures) who are already building a brighter financial future - subscribe now. Sign up at readthejoe.com/subscribe-swap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Karsten Jeske (Big Ern) and Paul Merriman engage in a lively debate about Small Cap Value Investing versus Broad Market Strategies.Should you tilt your portfolio toward small-cap value to capture a potential risk premium, or is sticking with broad-based funds like VTSAX the more reliable approach? With decades of financial expertise, Karsten and Paul offer opposing yet insightful perspectives to help you refine your long-term investment strategy.Watch and Subscribe on YouTubeIn This Episode, We Discuss: 1️⃣ Small Cap Value Premium:

#568: Jason is confused by the recent discussions about the efficient frontier and Paul Merriman's four-sector strategy. It seems a lot like another form of stock-picking. What's the difference? Michelle straddles the Roth income threshold and is frustrated that she never knows if she'll qualify for a Roth contribution until tax season. Is her current savings plan too complicated? Evan has $100 to spend on personal finance books for his high school's library. What books would Paula and Joe put on this limited shelf space? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today's episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode568 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Paul updates his list of reasons to use index funds plus comparing the handful of Vanguard Small Cap Value ETFs (VTWV, SLYV, VBR AND VIOV) with the newer Avantis and DFA small cap value ETFs.  He also makes the case that AVUS and DFAU total market funds are likely to produce better returns than VTSAX, VTI, VOO AND VFINX. He also discusses the 15 year returns of 6 each large cap growth, large cap value, small cap blend, small cap growth and small cap value indexes.  The lessons from these tables should be enough to encourage investors to take a closer look at the holdings in their holdings in these asset classes.   In his discussion of indexing he mentions a podcast "#1 reason to own index funds " that has had more than 1,067,000 opens and his MarketWatch article entitled “30 Reasons I Love Index Funds.” He also committed to producing a video, on how to use Morningstar to compare your mutual fund and ETF investments, before the end of the year.

In this episode, Cody and Justin discuss one of the most heated investing arguments. Should you hand-select the "best" companies, or invest in the total stock market? Some topics include: Individual stocks are often investors' first exposure to the stock market The mental drag of stress from volatility How individual stocks can scratch the itch Setting non-negotiable limits More certain path to FI vs the potential for a home run Bad bets we've made on individual stocks As part of this discussion, we compared several individual stocks against VTSAX. VTSAX is an index fund Vanguard offers and tracks the total stock market. List of stocks including present-day value and annualized return if you invested $1,000 on Aug 9, 2004, and reinvested dividends: VTSAX $5,807 9.19% average annual return Intel $1,623 2.45% average annual return 7th Market Cap Abercrombie and Fitch $4,679 8.02% average annual return Couple of years after Hollister's launch Apple $396,562 34.85% average annual return Released iPod Mini If you bought on July 6, 1994 (Forrest Gump release date) -> $1.1M (26%) Coca Cola $6,007 9.37% average annual return Released C2 General Electric $1,243 1.09% average annual return 5th Market Cap Wells Fargo $2,627 4.95% 15th largest market cap TI $11,496 12.98% average annual return Year TI-89 was released Sony $2,691 5.07% average annual return PSP release date Nokia $730 -1.56% average annual return 9 phone releases We cover all of this and more. We hope you found value in the episode, if you did, subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend! Links from The Episode Stoculator YouTube Interview https://youtu.be/0N4IlLBrYV0 Join the Community We'd love to hear your comments and questions about this week's episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Grab the Ultimate FI Spreadsheet Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating/review! >> You can do that by clicking here

New officer's guide to personal finance! In this episode, Spencer and Jamie share all the financial advice they'd share with a new officer in their unit. You CAN become rich on active duty as a military officer! If you're an enlisted servicemember, go check out episode #131 covering all the personal finance advice for an enlisted member. Topics include: Career starter loans Tracking your expenses Balancing enjoying your new life with keeping expenses down Buy a car (use the lemon lot to look for a ~$10,000 used car) Focus on easy plans to focus on learning your job and being the best officer you can be. Learning to be an officer and do your job well is your #1 priority for now. Emergency funds Picking the right bank without fees Starting your credit history (pay off your card every month!) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Insurance Real estate investing Security and two-factor authentication Total stock market index fund options Spencer mentioned: VTSAX at Vanguard or VTI (ETF version) FZROX at Fidelity SWTSX at Schwab or SCHB (ETF version) Links mentioned: Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom by Spencer Reese Episode 9 on Career Starter Loans Monarch Money YNAB Wise For a limited time, Spencer is offering one-on-one Military Money Coaching sessions! Get your personal military money and investing questions answered in a confidential coaching call. Our new TSP course is live! Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE! If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual or email podcast@militarymoneymanual.com. If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5-star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com. I also offer a 100% free course on military travel hacking and getting annual fee waived credit cards, like The Platinum Card® from American Express, the American Express® Gold Card, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card in my Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3. Learn how to get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards from American Express in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3. The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card waive the annual fee for active duty military servicemembers, including Guard and Reserve on active orders over 30 days. The annual fees on all personal Amex cards are also waived for military spouses married to active duty troops.

I'm exploring investment strategies tailored for student loan borrowers, tackling tax challenges, investment allocation, and how specific identification of shares can make all the difference. Plus, I share the link between income-driven repayment (IDR) plans and your investment returns.  In today's episode: 04:25 50% VTSAX and 50% VTIAX for simple investing 10:20 Accumulate losses to offset future capital gains 13:39 Rising interest rates can mean increased itemizing 24:59 Diversified investment strategies for optimal tax efficiency Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning   Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

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Today, we're with JL Collins, the Godfather of Financial Independence (FI), discussing the allure of the VTSAX and chill strategy!

In this episode: buy and hold, macroeconomics, interest rates, bond investing, when to sell, mindset, and thinking differently. This week we are joined once again by friend of the show Brian Feroldi to discuss the stock market and investing as we head into 2024. As most of you know by now, keeping your head down and staying the course is a pretty typical investing strategy in the FI community, but it is important to remember personal finance is personal. Depending on your situation, life may require you to mold that strategy into something else as your mindset and seasons of life change! Make sure your are not only optimizing your financial situation, but also your life in the process! Brian Feroldi: Website: stockinvesting.school Website: longtermmindset.co Twitter: @BrianFeroldi LinkedIn: Brian Feroldi Timestamps: 0:33 - Introduction 3:42 - Buy and Hold 8:36 - "Macroeconomics" 15:17 - The Impact of Interest Rates/ Bond Investing 20:36 - High Yield Savings Accounts 27:18 - 2024 Investing 33:19 - When to Sell 38:05 - The Evolution of Your Mindset 43:40 - Thinking Differently 47:52 - VTSAX 51:21 - Conclusion Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: The Motley Fool "Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!" by Robert Kiyosaki The Role Of Bonds In A Portfolio with Frank Vasquez | ChooseFI Ep 194 Risk Parity Radio "Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life" by Bill Perkins Subscribe to The FI Weekly! More Helpful Links and FI Resources: Top 10 Recommended Travel Rewards Credit Cards Empower: Free Dashboard to Track Your Finances CIT Bank Platinum Savings Account M1 Finance: Commission-Free Investing, 1-click rebalancing CashFreely: Maximize Your Cash Back Rewards Travel Freely: Track all your rewards cards and points Emergency Binder: For Your Family's Essential Info (code ‘CHOOSEFI' for 20% off) Student Loan Planner: Custom Consult (with $100 Discount)

Kyle Grieve chats with JL Collins about the adaptability of the term financial independence, how to reframe saving to make it more attractive, why simple is better for the investing process, why it's so important to minimize fees, why you should stay away from overly complicated financial products, why he doesn't like real estate as an investment, and a whole lot more! IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN 00:00 - Intro 02:56 - How he got Hasan Minhaj to write the forward for his book. 09:12 - Why financial independence means something different to each individual. 12:03 - How to reframe the saving process to remove the “deprivation” component of saving. 17:29 - Why JL is such a big fan of Jack Bogle. 17:29 - Why timing the market is so both pointless and irrelevant when investing in index funds. 18:19 - Why Vanguard's VTSAX is a good index fund and other great options. 18:19 - How Vanguard aligned itself with its investors. 20:48 How taking a “hands-off” approach to investing can be wildly successful. 23:30 - How to simplify the compounding process with index investing. 27:47 - The optimal way to invest a lump sum. 32:01 - Why Wall Street sells over-complicated products to their clients. 32:01 - Why there are conflicts of interest between financial advisors and their clients. 32:01 - When it makes sense to use financial advisors. 38:37 - Why JL thinks a house is a terrible investment. 38:37 - Why your house can be thought of as an expensive indulgence rather than an investment. 38:37 - The hidden costs of home ownership. 38:37 - Why easing your kids into learning about financial independence is so important. 51:52 - How does saving properly provide such powerful financial stability and freedom. 44:42 - Why focusing on minimizing the expense ratio of index funds is so powerful for compounding your money. 51:52 - Why getting your “money” right, opens up so many possibilities. 54:12 - The power of Chautauqua's. And much, much more! *Disclaimer: Slight timestamp discrepancies may occur due to podcast platform differences. BOOKS AND RESOURCES Join the exclusive TIP Mastermind Community to engage in meaningful stock investing discussions with Kyle and the other community members. Buy a copy of JL's books here. Check out JL's blog here. Related Episode: MI041: The Simple Path To Wealth w/ JL Collins | YouTube Video. Check out the books mentioned in the podcast here. NEW TO THE SHOW? Follow our official social media accounts: X (Twitter) | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok. Check out our Millennial Investing Starter Packs. Browse through all our episodes (complete with transcripts) here. Try Kyle's favorite tool for picking stock winners and managing our portfolios: TIP Finance. Enjoy exclusive perks from our favorite Apps and Services. Stay up-to-date on financial markets and investing strategies through our daily newsletter, We Study Markets. Learn how to better start, manage, and grow your business with the best business podcasts. SPONSORS Support our free podcast by supporting our sponsors: HelloFresh Fundrise Linkedin Marketing Solutions TurboTax NerdWallet NetSuite Connect with Kyle: Twitter | LinkedIn | Website Connect with JL: Twitter | Blog Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins is financial independence canon. The premise boils down to elegant simplicity: Spend 50% of your income and invest the other 50% in one specific index fund, VTSAX. We ask the Godfather of FI about it all—covering everything from his reliance on VTSAX and the American economy, to managing market crashes, to the debate over homeownership. Reminder: This is not financial advice; please talk to a certified financial professional and do your own due diligence. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/simple-path-to-wealth-jl-collins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we're gonna look at the fun stuff. What, exactly, can we use to build and keep our wealth. JL is going to give you three portfolios each using the tools (funds) we discussed last time. First will be exactly what he tells his 20-year-old to do. She couldn't care less about investing. With this simple approach she doesn't have to. All she needs to do is to keep adding to the pot and let it ride. Years from now she'll wake up rich. Along the way she'll out-perform roughly 80% of the more actively engaged investors out there. We'll call this The Wealth Building Portfolio. Next he'll share with you what Mr. and Mrs. JL Collins do as the semi-retired couple they are. We'll call that one The Wealth Preservation and Building Portfolio. Today's episode is brought to you by Talent Stacker. If you're stuck in a job you don't like making too little money without any flexibility, it might be time to consider a change. Check out JL's review here to see how Talent Stacker can help. Notes & Links: Stock Series Part 6 blog post: https://jlcollinsnh.com/2012/05/12/stocks-part-vi-portfolio-ideas-to-build-and-keep-your-wealth/ Why You Need F-You Money: https://jlcollinsnh.com/2011/06/06/why-you-need-f-you-money/ Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBTLX): https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/mutual-funds/profile/vbtlx Blog post on international funds: https://jlcollinsnh.com/2012/09/26/stocks-part-xi-international-funds-2/ Background on index funds: https://jlcollinsnh.com/2012/01/06/index-funds/ VTSAX: https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/mutual-funds/profile/vtsax VGSLX: https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/mutual-funds/profile/vgslx VMMXX: https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/mutual-funds/profile/vmmxx Blog post on why JL doesn't do REITs anymore: https://jlcollinsnh.com/2014/05/27/stocks-part-xxii-stepping-away-from-reits/ 

In the last episode JL talked about the inevitability of stock market crashes. In today's episode, he gives  primer to index funds and Vanguard's VTSAX index fund. He also shares a personal story of how not to invest during a market crash. Also, in this episode you'll hear the AI voice stumble a couple of times. While none of the important information was lost, it has promised to do better…  Today's episode is brought to you by Talent Stacker. If you're stuck in a job you don't like making too little money without any flexibility, it might be time to consider a change. Check out JL's review here to see how Talent Stacker can help. Notes & Links: Stock Series Part 2 blog post: https://jlcollinsnh.com/2012/04/19/stocks-part-ii-the-market-always-goes-up/  VTSAX: https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/mutual-funds/profile/vtsax 

​​The Childfree Wealth Podcast, hosted by Bri Conn and Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®, is a financial and lifestyle podcast that explores the unique perspectives and concerns of childfree individuals and couples. In this episode, Bri & Dr. Jay discuss The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins.Each month Bri & Dr. Jay discuss a different book. For the month of July, they discuss Collins's ever-popular book about investing. Before writing this book, he shared his investing mistakes on a blog & in letters to his daughter. After gaining popularity, the book was born. If you've been around the FIRE community, you likely know about his famous VTSAX and chill method of investing. In this podcast, Bri & Dr. Jay share their reactions to the book along with some investing insight.Resources:Book: The Simple Path to Wealth by JL CollinsBook: The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John C. BogleBook: A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton G. MalkielAugust Book Club: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon HillCourse: Saving & InvestingBe sure to join the conversation by emailing us at podcast@childfreewealth.com, following Childfree Wealth on social media, or visiting our website www.childfreewealth.com!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/childfreewealth/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChildfreeWealthLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/childfree-wealth/Twitter: https://twitter.com/childfreewealthDisclaimer: This podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes. Please consult your advisor before implementing any ideas heard on this podcast.

Bill & Becky continue their chat with THE JL Collins, author of THE Simple Path to Wealth and the acclaimed "Godfather of FI."  We began the last episode with JL Collins playing John Goodman in the "Why you need FU Money" clip.  We begin this episode with "A Guided Meditation for When the Stock Market is Dropping".  JL helps us answer many questions.    What do we do when the stock market drops? What about international diversification?  What about dollar cost averaging a lump sum into the market?  Tune in!  Just like the old EF Hutton commercial, "When JL Collins talks, people listen!":) Resources mentioned on the show: J L Collins homepage A Guided Meditations for When the Stock Market is Dropping The Stock Series The Simple Path to Wealth: Your Roadmap to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life by J L Collins How I Lost Money in Real Estate Before it was Fashionable: A Cautionary Tale by J L Collins Pathfinders:  Extraordinary Stories of People Like You on the Path to Financial Independence-And How to Join Them by J L Collins to be released October 31, 2023 Dollar Cost Averaging Posts VTSAX, Vanguard's Total Stock Market Index Fund VBTLX, Vanguard's Total Bond Market Index Fund How I Failed My Daughter and a Simple Path to Wealth  

Mr. Money Mustache answers questions about early retirement, investing, and more.The online blogging pseudonym of Peter Adeney, Adeney is an early icon in the early retirement community, championing frugality and a do-it-yourself approach to much of life – not just investing.Show NotesBogleheads® Live with Derek Tharp: Episode 41Bogleheads® Live with Christine Benz: Episode 37Bogleheads® Live with Bill Bengen: Episode 35Frugal Man Buys $52,000 Car – Why??The Betterment Experiment[EXPLICIT CONTENT] Health Care Sharing Ministries: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)Bogleheads® Chapter Series – Health care planning for retirement2023 Conference - The John C. Bogle Center for Financial LiteracyJohn C. Bogle Center for Financial LiteracyBogleheads® ForumBogleheads® WikiBogleheads® RedditBogleheads® FacebookBogleheads® LinkedInBogleheads® TwitterBogleheads® on Investing podcastBogleheads® YouTube Bogleheads® Local ChaptersBogleheads® Virtual Online ChaptersBogleheads® on Investing PodcastBogleheads® ConferencesBogleheads® BooksThe John C. Bogle Center for Financial Literacy is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. At Boglecenter.net, your tax-deductible donations are greatly appreciated. 

This is our first Milestones to Millionaire guest to come on the podcast twice! First we celebrated him paying off his student loans and he is back again to celebrate becoming a millionaire. This doc has gotten pretty heavily involved in passive real estate syndications and it has served his portfolio well. He is a finance enthusiast and loves to self manage his portfolio. His advice to you? Get educated, throw your money into VTSAX or a simple 3 fund portfolio, minimize your spending and maximize your saving and let compound interest do the rest! New to investing? Check out this post to help you get started: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/investing-101/  Today's episode is brought to us by SoFi. Right now, qualifying medical professionals can refinance their private student loans with an up to one percent rate discount. Still a resident? With SoFi Student Loan Refinancing, you could pay just a hundred dollars a month during your residency. And as a SoFi member, you'll have access to a powerful set of tools, education, even financial planners, to help you not only save money, but help you get on the road to financial freedom. Check out their payment plans and interest rates at https://SOFI.com/WhiteCoatInvestor SoFi Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Additional terms and conditions may apply. NMLS 696891 The White Coat Investor has been helping doctors with their money since 2011. Our free financial planning resource covers a variety of topics from doctor mortgage loans and refinancing medical school loans to physician disability insurance and malpractice insurance. Learn about loan refinancing or consolidation, explore new investment strategies, and discover loan programs specifically aimed at helping doctors. If you're a high-income professional and ready to get a "fair shake" on Wall Street, The White Coat Investor channel is for you! Be a Guest on The Milestones to Millionaire Podcast: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/milestones  Main Website: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com  Student Loan Advice: https://studentloanadvice.com  YouTube: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/youtube  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Twitter: https://twitter.com/WCInvestor  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/whitecoatinvestor  Online Courses: https://whitecoatinvestor.teachable.com  Newsletter: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/free-monthly-newsletter 

In this episode I discuss a TON of dividend increases and what I believe are the only two ETF's the "hands-off" investor will ever need. Get my FREE 48-page eBook "Brief Thoughts on Life, Love & Investing" and FREE weekly newsletter HERE! SCHD product page HERE. VTSAX product page HERE. VTI product page HERE. The Essays of Warren Buffett BOOK LINK. Vettix.org Watch Jena and me on YouTube Get cash back on your gas, with the UPSIDE APP. CLICK HERE! Contact - russ@dapperdividends.com **SPECIAL SEEKINGALPHA.COM 50% off offer - $119 for the annual plan. Use this affiliate link and I'll get a few bucks kicked back my way at no additional cost to you- CLICK HERE! Alphaspread.com affiliate link = where I show intrinsic values on the channel. I highly recommend this book for ALL interested in dividend investing, from beginner to advanced - "The Dividend Millionaire" book (aff) Check my website out - https://dapperdividends.com/ Follow Russ on Twitter - @Rustyram78 Remember this is not financial advice and it's ultimately your money and your responsibility!

Are you ready to master your money and achieve financial freedom? Well, you have come to the right place. Moki Finance is all about maximizing our investment dollars so that they can go further. I have made it my life's mission to educate people about money because true freedom comes with financial freedom.   *Disclaimer* I am not a licensed financial advisor or planner. The recommendations I give are solely for educational purposes only. Please consider your personal objectives before investing. All investments require risk and potential loss of capital. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Remember, “there is no such thing as a free lunch.”   Vanguard recommendation  60% VTSAX 20%VTIAX 20% VSIAX Note: This is my equity recommendation, add VBTLX per your determined asset allocation   Fidelity  recommendations 60% FSKAX 20% FTIHX 20% FISVX Note: This is my equity recommendation, add FXNAX per your determined asset allocation     --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mokifinance/support

What Is the Perfect Stock Portfolio Mix - I'm Worried About Over-Diversification: We get a lot of questions about asset allocation and diversification. If you've been following us, you know that our primary investment is a total stock market index fund (VTSAX). But, we also invest in other sector ETFs, REITs, and even a small percentage of individual stocks. With all of our investments, we have to be strategic so that we aren't overlapping our investments (i.e., making everything redundant and too diversified). In this video, we talk about the perfect stock portfolio mix and how to address the issue of being too diversified. ▸▸▸Send us your questions: https://www.ourrichjourney.com/podcast ▸▸▸Enroll in our 365 Days to F.I.R.E. Program: https://www.365daystofire.com/ Take part in our 365 Days to F.I.R.E. Program and develop your financial independence plan (including your stock investing plan and real estate investing plan) AND get your plans reviewed by us, attend 12 Live Q&As with us, complete daily F.I.R.E. related tasks, get assigned to a small accountability group, attend our meet-ups in Portugal, participate in our FIRE related book club . . . and more! ▸▸▸Enroll in our Stock Market Investing Course for Financial Independence and Retiring Early: https://ourrichjourney.thinkific.com/ Enroll in our new 21 module, 4-plus hour stock market investing course with more than 30 handouts of summary notes, homework assignments, and resources. Learn how to research and select investments, how to determine your asset allocation, how to rebalance your portfolio, how to optimize your investments for tax purposes, how to automate your investments, and much more (including a 19-page Investment Plan to work on)! ▸▸▸Enroll in our FIRE Master Class: https://ourrichjourney.thinkific.com/courses/FIRE-master-class This FIRE Master Class is designed for people interested in pursuing financial independence and retiring early. In the Master Class, we explain how to live off of your investments during early retirement; how to withdraw money from your investment accounts to support your living expenses during retirement; how to calculate your FIRE number; new and creative ways that you can save money; new side hustles for making money; how to invest in the stock market and in real estate; we discuss healthcare options in retirement . . . and MORE! ▸▸▸Enroll in our How to Move to Portugal Course: A Step-By-Step Course to Relocating and Living in Portugal: https://ourrichjourney.thinkific.com/courses/portugal This course is designed for people interested in moving to Portugal. In the course, we explain the visa process, the documents you need to submit for your application, and the step-by-step process that we took to obtain our visas; we explain the residency permit process and how we obtained our residence permit here in Portugal; we explain the process for buying and renting a house in Portugal; we discuss healthcare, school options, and setting up NIFs, we explain taxes here in Portugal, and MORE! ▸▸▸Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richjourney/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ourrichjourney/support

In this episode; global funds, it's not doctrine, index funds, VTSAX, what is in index funds, and the opposite of active investing. If you've been in the FI community for a while now, you've probably at one point have heard of index Funds. However, whether you are familiar with this concept of investing, have invested in index funds, or are unfamiliar entirely, you may not necessarily know the mechanics and specifics of what certain types of index funds can actually do for you on your FI journey. This week we are rejoined by Alan and Katie Donegan, co-founders of The Rebel Finance School, to dive into the topic of index funds. Together, we discuss the differences between certain types of index funds, fee structures and returns, self-regulating funds, as well as break-down the benefits of what certain types of index funds can provide for you regardless of market and economic fluctuations! While we are not giving direct financial advice on what invest in, this week's episode is meant as a resource to our listeners who may be curious to learn more about index funds and passive investing!  Katie & Alan Donegan: Website: alandonegan.com Podcast: alandonegan.com/podcast Rebel Finance School: www.alandonegan.com/rebelfinance VTSAX Breakdown: alandonegan.com/vtsax Timestamps: 4:11 - Introductions 5:13 - What Is In Index Funds 11:19 - Global Funds 21:54 - It's Not Doctrine, Don't Get Bogged Down In The Details 25:50 - Am I Getting What I Want When I Invest? Should I Be Concerned? 35:14 - The Opposite Of An Active Investor 45:09 - Is Cap-Weighting The Only Way To Run Index Funds? 52:50 - Is There A Future Where Passive Investing Isn't A Good Option? 57:46 - Conclusion Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: Leave A Voice Message Of Your Year End Wins The Top Chase Business Credit Cards for 2022 The Simple Path to Wealth | JL Collins | ChooseFI Ep 411 Subscribe to The FI Weekly! More Helpful Links and Resources: Earn $1,000 in cashback with ChooseFI's 3-card credit card strategy Share FI by sending a friend ChooseFI: Your Blueprint to Financial Independence Keep learning or start a new side hustle with one of our educational courses Commission-Free Investing with M1 Finance

In this episode: VTSAX funds, bonds, cap-weighted funds, finding your ballasts, staying the course, and the simple path to wealth. This week, we are getting back to the basics! While many of you who have been in the FI community for a while now have definitely heard of JL Collins, those who are new should absolutely be prepared to absorb the wealth of information he provides every time he decides to grace our podcast! Listen along as he and Brad review the basic information that can put you on the simple path to wealth that so many in the FI community have walked! Believe it or not, creating wealth for yourself can be simple! JL Collins: Website: jlcollinsnh.com Book: The Simple Path to Wealth: Your road map to financial independence and a rich, free life Chautauqua: Get Information About Chautauqua Here! Timestamps: 1:46 - Introduction 2:40 - Back To Basics, What Is The Simple Path To Wealth 10:15 - Low-Cost Funds And High-Cost Funds 14:56 - Index Funds Are For Lazy People (Just Kidding!) 20:00 - Is It VTSAX Or Nothing? 26:58 - Cap-Weighted Funds 30:53 - Staying The Course 36:32 - Are There Times When Index Funds Aren't A Good Choice? 42:28 - The Highest Likelihood Of Replicable Success 46:38 - Bonds 51:36 - Rising Rates 55:17 - I-Bonds 58:22 - Finding Your Ballasts 64:55 - Conclusion Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: JL Collins from jlcollinsnh | The Stock Series | Part 1 | ChooseFI Ep 19 The Stock Series Part 2 | JL Collins | ChooseFI Ep 34 What is The Simple Path to Wealth? | JL Collins | ChooseFI Ep 284 Alan and Katie Donegan's VTSAX Blog Chautauqua | Oh The Places We Will Go | ChooseFI Ep 64 Subscribe to The FI Weekly! More Helpful Links and Resources: Earn $1,000 in cashback with ChooseFI's 3-card credit card strategy Share FI by sending a friend ChooseFI: Your Blueprint to Financial Independence Keep learning or start a new side hustle with one of our educational courses Commission-Free Investing with M1 Finance

Are you ready to master your money and achieve financial freedom? Well, you have come to the right place. Moki Finance is all about maximizing our investment dollars so that they can go further. I have made it my life's mission to educate people about money because true freedom comes with financial freedom. *Disclaimer* I am not a licensed financial advisor or planner. The recommendations I give are solely for educational purposes only. Please consider your personal objectives before investing. All investments require risk and potential loss of capital. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Remember, “there is no such thing as a free lunch.” Vanguard recommendation 60% VTSAX 20%VTIAX 20% VSIAX Note: This is my equity recommendation, add VBTLX per your determined asset allocation Fidelity recommendations 60% FSKAX 20% FTIHX 20% FISVX Note: This is my equity recommendation, add FXNAX per your determined asset allocation CONTACT ME ► mokifinance@gmail.com The topics I cover: Investing, personal finance, money management, index funds, retirement, debt, debt repayment, credit cards, mutual funds, ETFs, Fidelity, Vanguard, John Bogle, Jack Bogle, Bogleheads, stock market, stock market investing, financial freedom, financial independence, stocks, bonds, cryptocurrencies, cash, international funds, small caps, small-cap value funds, VTSAX, VFIAX, VTIAX, VSIAX, VBTLX, FSKAX, FXAIX, FTIHX, FISVX --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mokifinance/support

In this episode we get back to basics with Why You Should Be A Dividend Growth Investor, plus a few beginner guidelines. Stocks mentioned in this episode SBUX, KO, O, VTSAX, VTI, SCHD, VOO, VYM. Dapper Dividends newsletter SIGNUP FORM Get cash back on your gas, with the UPSIDE APP. CLICK HERE! Aswath Damodaran YouTube undergraduate valuation course. Contact - russ@dapperdividends.com The Official Dapper Dividends Shop! The Economist Guide to Analysing Companies Book affiliate link HERE **SPECIAL SEEKINGALPHA.COM offer - $99 for the annual plan. Use this affiliate link and I'll get a few bucks kicked back my way at no additional cost to you- CLICK HERE! WallStreetSurvivor.com "Is Seeking Alpha Worth It?" Why Does The Stock Market Go Up - By Brian Feroldi - (Probably the easiest investing book for an absolute beginner I've ever read). I highly recommend this book for ALL interested in dividend investing, from beginner to advanced - "The Dividend Millionaire" book (The above links are an affiliation where I will receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.) Check my website out - https://dapperdividends.com/ Follow Russ on Twitter - @Rustyram78 Remember this is not financial advice and it's ultimately your money and your responsibility!

Are you ready to master your money and achieve financial freedom? Well, you have come to the right place. Moki Finance is all about maximizing our investment dollars so that they can go further. I have made it my life's mission to educate people about money because true freedom comes with financial freedom. *Disclaimer* I am not a licensed financial advisor or planner. The recommendations I give are solely for educational purposes only. Please consider your personal objectives before investing. All investments require risk and potential loss of capital. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Remember, “there is no such thing as a free lunch.” Vanguard recommendation 60% VTSAX 20%VTIAX 20% VSIAX Note: This is my equity recommendation, add VBTLX per your determined asset allocation Fidelity recommendations 60% FSKAX 20% FTIHX 20% FISVX Note: This is my equity recommendation, add FXNAX per your determined asset allocation THE MOKI FINANCE PODCAST ► https://anchor.fm/mokifinance THE MOKI FINANCE STORE ►https://moki-finance-store.creator-spring.com CONTACT ME ► mokifinance@gmail.com The topics I cover: Investing, personal finance, money management, index funds, retirement, debt, debt repayment, credit cards, mutual funds, ETFs, Fidelity, Vanguard, John Bogle, Jack Bogle, Bogleheads, stock market, stock market investing, financial freedom, financial independence, stocks, bonds, cryptocurrencies, cash, international funds, small caps, small-cap value funds, VTSAX, VFIAX, VTIAX, VSIAX, VBTLX, FSKAX, FXAIX, FTIHX, FISVX --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mokifinance/support

Are you ready to master your money and achieve financial freedom? Well, you have come to the right place. Moki Finance is all about maximizing our investment dollars so that they can go further. I have made it my life's mission to educate people about money because true freedom comes with financial freedom. *Disclaimer* I am not a licensed financial advisor or planner. The recommendations I give are solely for educational purposes only. Please consider your personal objectives before investing. All investments require risk and potential loss of capital. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Remember, “there is no such thing as a free lunch.” Vanguard recommendation 60% VTSAX 20%VTIAX 20% VSIAX Note: This is my equity recommendation, add VBTLX per your determined asset allocation Fidelity recommendations 60% FSKAX 20% FTIHX 20% FISVX Note: This is my equity recommendation, add FXNAX per your determined asset allocation THE MOKI FINANCE PODCAST ► https://anchor.fm/mokifinance THE MOKI FINANCE STORE ►https://moki-finance-store.creator-spring.com CONTACT ME ► mokifinance@gmail.com The topics I cover: Investing, personal finance, money management, index funds, retirement, debt, debt repayment, credit cards, mutual funds, ETFs, Fidelity, Vanguard, John Bogle, Jack Bogle, Bogleheads, stock market, stock market investing, financial freedom, financial independence, stocks, bonds, cryptocurrencies, cash, international funds, small caps, small-cap value funds, VTSAX, VFIAX, VTIAX, VSIAX, VBTLX, FSKAX, FXAIX, FTIHX, FISVX --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mokifinance/support

Are you ready to master your money and achieve financial freedom? Well, you have come to the right place. Moki Finance is all about maximizing our investment dollars so that they can go further. I have made it my life's mission to educate people about money because true freedom comes with financial freedom.   *Disclaimer* I am not a licensed financial advisor or planner. The recommendations I give are solely for educational purposes only. Please consider your personal objectives before investing. All investments require risk and potential loss of capital. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.  Remember, “there is no such thing as a free lunch.”   Vanguard recommendation  60% VTSAX 20%VTIAX 20% VSIAX Note: This is my equity recommendation, add VBTLX per your determined asset allocation   Fidelity  recommendations 60% FSKAX 20% FTIHX 20% FISVX Note: This is my equity recommendation, add FXNAX per your determined asset allocation     THE MOKI FINANCE PODCAST ► https://anchor.fm/mokifinance  THE MOKI FINANCE STORE ►https://moki-finance-store.creator-spring.com  CONTACT ME  ► mokifinance@gmail.com   The topics I cover: Investing, personal finance, money management, index funds, retirement, debt, debt repayment, credit cards, mutual funds, ETFs, Fidelity, Vanguard, John Bogle, Jack Bogle, Bogleheads, stock market, stock market investing, financial freedom, financial independence, stocks, bonds, cryptocurrencies, cash, international funds, small caps, small-cap value funds, VTSAX, VFIAX, VTIAX, VSIAX, VBTLX, FSKAX, FXAIX, FTIHX, FISVX --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mokifinance/support

We're now 162 episodes into this passion project called Friends on FIRE, and we've covered a lot! But if you're just being introduced to the idea of FIRE or Financial Independence Retire Early, some of our advice might seem a bit overwhelming or confusing. So we're going to simplify the steps you need to get started.Know your why. Any goal needs inspiration. Visualize what you want in life and keep that as your purpose to help you through the hard times.Get your partner on board. If your partner isn't on the journey with you, or worse, moving in an opposite direction, it's much harder to get started toward financial freedom. So get them on the same page and know this could take years!Track your expenses. What a critical piece of the puzzle. How do you know how much you need to retire if you don't know how much you spend? Spoiler: it's impossible.Track your net worth. Knowing what you have allows you to know how much time you can buy back, aka when you can retire or achieve financial independence. Tracking expenses without tracking net worth is like heading on a road trip with a broken fuel gauge.Cut your expenses. Once you know how much you spend, start cutting it. Cut it back to the bone, just until you begin to feel the discomfort. You don't need to live in squalor, but if you have ambitious goals, you need to take dramatic steps. Start to save as much as you can. Some tips: groceries, cell phone, eating out, home services/DIY, etc.Invest your excess. This can get complicated, so we're going to simplify this: just put it all in the market. This comes with risk, and you could lose money, but over time the market has consistently delivered if you diversify. The FIRE community loves VTSAX, an all-stock market ETF. We encourage you to learn about investing and start to make decisions based on your goals and risk appetite, but in the meantime, VTSAX is a reasonable place to start.Calculate your 4%. Financial independence just means that you have enough money to cover your expenses for the rest of your life. An easy way to calculate this, which factors in investment growth over time, is the 4% rule. Take your spending and multiply by 25, and that's your goal number. Then, you can withdraw 4% of that a year and be ok.Set your target. Set an aggressive time target to keep you motivated. Think you can retire and 55? Make it 50, and we bet you'll find yourself ready at 45. But if you don't set a time, you'll probably just keep kicking the can down the road.Take advantage of company benefits and savings programs. Every company is different, but whatever yours offers, consider signing up. 401k, HSA, deferred compensation, stock purchase plans, etc. These can be lucrative and help you on your journey.Do your own taxes. Taxes are a huge component of your financial picture, so why outsource them into a black box? Understanding how your money is taxed will help you make better decisions in the future, so buy TurboTax and do it yourself.Start living some of the changes you want to make in retirement. Lastly, don't wait for some magical time in your life to start doing the things that make you happy. Start them now. You might not be able to do as much or as many, but you'll start living that future life. Perhaps you'll learn it isn't what you thought, or perhaps you'll refine it over time, and your later life will be that much better. Start now, though.Top 3 takeaways:Understand your why. Set a vision for your life and a time you want to reach it.Track your expenses and net worth. What gets measured gets better!Don't wait. Don't wait to start working on your finances. Don't wait to start doing the activities that make you happy.Show References:Book: Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful LifeFriends on FIRE podcast #109 - Talking to your partner about moneyFriends on FIRE podcast #060 - Budgeting vs. Tracking ExpensesFriends on FIRE podcast #027 - Why Tracking Net Worth MattersFriends on FIRE podcast #021 - Cell Phones and TV and Internet, Oh My!Friends on FIRE podcast #147 - How to save on your cell phone billFriends on FIRE podcast #068 - 5 Simple Steps to InvestingFriends on FIRE podcast #090 - Why you don't need a financial plannerFriends on FIRE podcast #123 - The one thing you need to do to plan for a traditional retirementFriends on FIRE podcast #016 - 401ks are your BFF!Friends on FIRE podcast #142 - What's your 401k invested in?Friends on FIRE podcast #014 - Tax Time! Yay!

In this episode we answer emails from MyContactInfo (x2), William and Peter.   We discuss how brokerages and cars are alike, a correlation episode reference, analyzing a portfolio with Fidelity Select Funds in it (and other things) and transitions from VTSAX to some small cap cowbell and then to a Golden Ratio portfolio for retirement.Links:I'm Not Leaving Vanguard Article:  Why I'm Not Leaving Vanguard | ETF.com60/40 Is Still Alive Article:  Like the phoenix, the 60/40 portfolio will rise again (vanguard.com)Morningstar Fund Analysis Tool:  FSRPX – Portfolio – Fidelity® Select Retailing | MorningstarAsset Correlation Analysis Of Will's Portfolio:  Asset Correlations (portfoliovisualizer.com)ChooseFI Podcast Episode 194 About Bonds:  The Role Of Bonds In A Portfolio | Ep 194 | ChooseFISupport the show

We're back to the digital mailbag to answer your questions!For this week:Does the 401(k) max include employer contributions?Should I invest in my 401(k) or pay down my mortgage early?What about Fidelity's zero expense ratio fund, VZROX?Investing tips for a Health Savings AccountDo you write off business expenses for Clipping Chains?How and when do you pay yourself from investments?Winter climbing in St. George, UtahBig life expenses and expectations when pursuing financial independence: children, weddings, etc.Mandatory pension contributions vs DIY investingFront-loading savings without going for full financial independence (Coast FI)Climbing plateau busters Support this project: Buy Me a CoffeeSubscribe to the website: SUBSCRIBE ME!Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com Q1: Does a 401(k) max contribution include employer contributions? (00:05:09)Q2: Should I shift additional 401(k) contributions toward paying down my mortgage early? (00:05:46)Q3: What are your thoughts on other index funds that mimic Vanguard's Total Stock Market Index Fund, such as Fidelity's VZROX? (00:09:34)Q4: Investing tips for a Health Savings Account (HSA). (00:15:22)Q5: Do you write off Clipping Chains business expenses for taxes? Starting a passion project seems intimidating because of up-front and out-of-pocket costs. (00:19:17)Q6: How and when do you pay yourselves from investments? (00:24:21)Q7: How is the winter climbing in St. George, Utah? (00:30:07)Q8: What are your thoughts on big expenses like children and weddings as it relates to the pursuit of financial independence? (00:32:29)Q9: I have a mandatory pension contribution requirement but I want to invest on my own. What should I do? (00:41:50)Q10: How can someone front-load their savings to allow for enjoyable (but low-pay) work that still provides for retirement income? (00:46:47)Q11: Can you talk about significant plateaus or breakthroughs in your climbing? (00:52:21)

Are you ready to master your money and achieve financial freedom? Well, you have come to the right place. Moki Finance is all about maximizing our investment dollars so that they can go further. I have made it my life's mission to educate people about money because true freedom comes with financial freedom. *Disclaimer* I am not a licensed financial advisor or planner. The recommendations I give are solely for educational purposes only. Please consider your personal objectives before investing. All investments require risk and potential loss of capital. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Remember, “there is no such thing as a free lunch.” Vanguard recommendation 60% VTSAX 20%VTIAX 20% VSIAX Note: This is my equity recommendation, add VBTLX per your determined asset allocation Fidelity recommendations 60% FSKAX 20% FTIHX 20% FISVX Note: This is my equity recommendation, add FXNAX per your determined asset allocation THE MOKI FINANCE PODCAST ► https://anchor.fm/mokifinance CONTACT ME ► mokifinance@gmail.com The topics I cover: Investing, personal finance, money management, index funds, retirement, debt, debt repayment, credit cards, mutual funds, ETFs, Fidelity, Vanguard, John Bogle, Jack Bogle, Bogleheads, stock market, stock market investing, financial freedom, financial independence, stocks, bonds, cryptocurrencies, cash, international funds, small caps, small-cap value funds, VTSAX, VFIAX, VTIAX, VSIAX, VBTLX, FSKAX, FXAIX, FTIHX, FISVX --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mokifinance/support