An unexpected phone call from our landlord turned into one of the biggest financial decisions of our early retirement. We went from renters to buying a very expensive home, all in cash. And closed in 12 days. Here's how we managed to make it happen without losing sight of our overall FI plan and portfolio.

Most conversations about charitable giving focus too much on tax optimization and miss the bigger question: how to actually make a difference. While tax benefits can help, they shouldn’t drive giving decisions. For most everyday donors, itemizing and bundling offer limited value. More practical tools include the new above-the-line deduction, donating appreciated assets, and QCDs for retirees. Consistent, thoughtful giving matters more than maximizing tax breaks.

Many people want to give but feel unsure they have “enough.” This post explores five practices to shift from scarcity to abundance: understanding your global wealth, calculating your FI number, clarifying spending values, trying low-stakes giving challenges, and reframing fears. With better awareness, giving becomes less intimidating and more empowering.

As we head towards the end of the year, here's both a list of core reminders for this 2025 tax season and also an outline of major tax changes you can expect for 2026. I know sometimes this stuff can be tough to keep up with, so I'm getting it all to one place for you here.

We’re in a season of uncertainty—economically, politically, and personally. Instead of panicking or trying to predict the future, I’m focusing on what I can control: my mindset, my values, and my long-term plan.

High-income earners can bypass Roth IRA income limits using the Backdoor Roth strategy for tax-free growth and retirement savings