Money Archives - Page 5 of 10

The Story of the Mexican Fisherman

Have you heard the story of the Mexican fisherman? If not, allow me to introduce you to a tale that is sure to leave you feeling inspired and contemplative.

VTSAX vs VOO: Which Vanguard Fund Should You Pick?

If you’ve spent any time in FIRE circles or on personal finance forums, you’ve encountered the VTSAX vs VOO debate. Both are Vanguard funds, both are extremely low-cost, and both will make you more money over 30 years than most actively managed alternatives. The debate mostly comes down to structure and personal preference rather than any meaningful performance difference. Here’s what actually separates them.

Common Net Worth

If you’re curious about your financial health, one of the key metrics you’ll want to track is your net worth. In simple terms, your net worth is the difference between your assets (what you own) and your liabilities (what you owe). It’s a snapshot of your overall financial situation and can be a useful tool for setting financial goals and tracking progress.

“Die with Zero” by Bill Perkins: Book Report (haha)

The premise of “Die with Zero” sounds provocative: Bill Perkins argues you should plan to spend all your money before you die, optimizing for maximum life experiences rather than maximum wealth at death. Not “die debt-free” — that’s a different book. Perkins is talking about people who will almost certainly die with millions in unspent savings because they never gave themselves permission to spend it on things that actually mattered while they were healthy enough to enjoy them. The title is deliberately extreme. The actual argument is more nuanced than it sounds.

I picked it up because I’m interested in the other end of the FIRE question — not just how to achieve financial independence, but what to actually do with it.

Vanguard Sucks

Fair warning: I wrote this post after a genuinely frustrating afternoon dealing with Vanguard. I’ve kept it up because the complaints are real and I still hear them constantly from other investors. Take the title at face value—it’s rant-y—but stay for the part where I acknowledge what they actually do well, because that part is also true.