The Financial Samurai Podcast

In 2023, we stretched to upgrade into a larger home we didn't need. Three years later, I sat down with my wife to talk through the whole experience and answer the question everyone keeps asking us: was it worth it?

The short version is that we found a unicorn. A home on a large lot at a relatively low price point, fully remodeled and landscaped, with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. In 24 years of hunting for property in San Francisco, I'd never seen anything like it at that price. So we had to buy it, even though it meant selling a chunk of stocks and bonds and blowing up our passive income.

In this episode, my wife and I get honest about both sides. The joy of watching our kids run around an enclosed front yard with zero fear of traffic. The peace of finally being off the property ladder. And the part that still stings: the $1 million to $1.5 million in stock gains we likely gave up by turning investments into a house we live in every single day.

If you're sitting on big gains and tempted to upgrade into more home than you need, this one is for you.

What We Cover

• Why we upgraded into a home we technically didn't need, and how long it took to convince my wife
• Finding a unicorn property, large lot, full remodel, Golden Gate Bridge view, at a price I still can't believe
• The real opportunity cost of selling stocks and bonds to buy a home, and the dads I know who left 10X and 20X gains on the table
• Pros and cons of stretching to buy, and the six months we spent living paycheck to paycheck afterward
• The biggest surprise: how cheap maintenance has actually been versus the 1% rule of thumb
• Why a large, usable lot can matter more than a view once you have active kids
• Using a home upgrade as a form of decumulation, spending down wealth to actually enjoy it
• What we'd do the same, and the one thing we might do differently next time

Deeper Dives Mentioned In This Episode

• Blew Up Our Passive Income And No Longer Financially Independent
• Embrace Living Paycheck To Paycheck
• A Great View Or A Big Lot
• Enjoying A Home With An Enclosed Front Yard
• The Best Time To Own The Nicest House You Can Afford
• Paying for A Home Inspection Is Worth The Cost

Companion Post

Read the full written breakdown, including our three-year maintenance costs and my checklist for anyone planning to upgrade into a home they don't need: Whether Upgrading To A Home You Don't Need Is Worth It.

Subscribe

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the Financial Samurai podcast on Apple or Spotify, and join 60,000+ readers by signing up for my free weekly newsletter at FinancialSamurai.com so you never miss a thing.

This summer, my new AI wealth advisor, Mezzi, discovered roughly $300,000 of Google exposure I didn't know I had. It sounds a little absurd, given the amount. But I've been investing in Google for over 15 years, and with a complicated net worth it's hard to track everything accurately when your mind anchors to old price points.

Weeks after I trimmed the position, Google sold off about 10%. I sidestepped over $20,000 in losses.

Then I did something I'd never done in 17 years of writing about money on Financial Samurai. I invested in the company.

As an AI maximalist, I'm always hunting for new AI products that help build wealth, and for promising private AI companies to invest in. Mezzi turned out to be both.

So I sat down with Manish Jain, CEO and co-founder of Mezzi, over lunch in San Francisco and then again for this episode. We get into:

• Manish's entrepreneurial path and why he left JPM to build Mezzi
• Why he built an AI wealth advisor instead of another robo-advisor
• What Mezzi surfaces in a portfolio that most investors miss, from overlapping positions to fee drag
• Where AI wealth management goes next, and the parts it still can't do

Sign up for Mezzi AI for free today. Use code: FS30 to save 30% off the premium plus version.

Disclosure: I'm an investor in Mezzi, an affiliate partner, and Mezzi sponsors this podcast. I only partner with companies whose products I use myself. If Mezzi weren't already open on my laptop most weeks, this episode wouldn't exist.

Being an adult is hard, and nobody is ever truly independent.

In this episode, my wife and I talk about spending 30 days in Honolulu with my parents and what it's like to slowly shift from being cared for to being the caretaker. We also get into a bizarre encounter with two park rangers on an empty public tennis court while I was teaching my own kids, and a discussion about what a real adult actually is when a 37-year-old still depends on her father for money.

Three generations, one uncomfortable question about who takes care of who.

We also touch on how hard it was to spend our Summer YOLO Fund. The full accounting comes in tomorrow's post.

Related posts:

• Real Adults Are Not Financially Dependent On Their Parents (But That's OK): https://www.financialsamurai.com/real-adults-are-not-financially-dependent-on-parents/

• How Much A Family Needs To Earn To Live Comfortably By City: SF #1!: https://www.financialsamurai.com/how-much-a-family-needs-to-earn-to-live-comfortably-by-city-sf-1/

• You'll Never Be Free From The Government: Introducing The Leash Ratio: https://www.financialsamurai.com/leash-ratio/

• A Tax Identification System For Determining Your Level Of Freedom: https://www.financialsamurai.com/backwards-tax-identification-system/

Podcast Support

If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate, review, and share. Every review means a lot, as each episode takes hours to produce.

And if you want to achieve financial freedom sooner, sign up for the free weekly Financial Samurai newsletter at https://www.financialsamurai.com/news.

You can sign up for ProjectionLab or Empower to help you better manage your finances, for free. I use both and they are long-time affiliates of Financial Samurai.

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow school dad Domingo Guerra to trace his entrepreneurial journey: from growing up in Mexico, to studying engineering at UT Austin, to co-founding the mobile cybersecurity company Appthority with my poker and softball buddy Kevin, to selling it to Symantec in 2018. Today, Domingo runs his own seed-stage venture fund focused on cybersecurity, called Chispa VC.

It always fascinates me how people become entrepreneurs, given that most of us just go to college and get a job. I wanted to start a company myself for the longest time, but I chickened out after Goldman Sachs offered me a job out of William & Mary. It took me until 2009 to finally stop waiting for permission and build something of my own. Domingo's story is the version where you take the leap much sooner, and it's a great one.

If you'd like to connect with Domingo, the easiest way is to reach out to him on LinkedIn.

Related posts:

• Y Combinator Demo Day: The Quest To Invest In The Best Startups
• The Startup Grind Will Make You An AI Maximalist

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

Enjoy the show? Please subscribe to the Financial Samurai podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, and leave a quick rating and review. Reviews genuinely help more people discover the show, and they only take a minute. It's the easiest way to support the podcast for free.

And if you want my best insights on money, investing, and building wealth delivered straight to your inbox, join 60,000+ readers and sign up for my free weekly newsletter. I've been writing it every week since 2009, and it's still the best way to never miss a thing.

With Fundrise's successful listing of VCX on March 19, 2026, its venture capital product, I want to discuss what's potentially next for the fund and for investors. The listing has far surpassed my expectations, and the expectations of most investors.

Anything can happen during the 6-month lock-up period, so it's important to keep expectations low and stay humble. Don't spend any paper profits until you actually have liquidity.

Financial Samurai has been working with Fundrise as a corporate partner for over 10 years now. I'm proud of what Ben Miller and his team have accomplished in democratizing access to venture capital through public venture capital. Let's see what the future holds!

Related posts:

• After A Big Investment Win Stay Humble: Clean A Toilet
• How ETFs, Open End Funds, and Closed End Funds Trade
• Recommended Net Worth Asset Allocation By Age and Work Experience

Subscribe and Support Financial Samurai

Every podcast episode takes hours to record, edit, and produce. Your shares and positive reviews mean a lot and are greatly appreciated.

If you've benefited from my writing in any way, please pick up a copy of Millionaire Milestones and Buy This Not That, and leave a review on Amazon. These national bestselling books will help you make better financial decisions and reach financial independence sooner rather than later.

For more nuanced personal finance content, join 60,000+ subscribers and sign up for my free newsletter. Financial Samurai started in 2009 and is one of the top independently run personal finance sites today.

Fundrise is a long-time sponsor of Financial Samurai and Financial Samurai is an investor in Fundrise products. Our investment philosophies are aligned.

Best, Sam

For more than a decade, the mantra for boosting your career and income was simple: learn to code. Becoming a programmer or engineer was seen as the clearest path to job security and high pay.

But with the rapid rise of AI, coding is no longer the protective moat it once was. As I revisited my own FIRE plans after leaving work in 2012, I realized the one financial buffer that has consistently stood the test of time: knowing how to invest well.

Forget "learn to code." Learn to invest. Becoming a competent investor may be the most important skill you develop to survive - and thrive - in the coming AI wave.

Posts mentioned:

Becoming A Competent Investor Is A Vital Skill To Master

Gain Financial Security By Creating Financial Buffers For Your Financial Buffers

The FIRE Movement Is So Back Due To AI Disruption

Free Financial Analysis Offer From Empower

Stay on top of your net worth with Empower, the web's #1 free financial app. Track your cash flow, x-ray your investment portfolio for excessive fees and inappropriate risk exposure, and use their retirement calculator to plan for the future.

If you have over $100,000 in investable assets—whether in savings, taxable brokerage accounts, 401(k)s, or IRAs—you can sign up for a free financial check-up from a professional at Empower. It's a no-obligation opportunity to have a seasoned advisor—someone who analyzes portfolios for a living—take a fresh look at your finances.

A professional review can help you identify hidden fees, inefficient allocations, or missed opportunities to grow and protect your wealth. More importantly, it can give you the clarity and confidence to know whether your current savings and investment strategy aligns with your long-term financial goals.

I've taken advantage of three free consultations with Empower over the past decade and each session has helped me build more wealth. There's no rewind button in life. Make the most of everything, especially things that are helpful and free.

The statement is provided to you by Financial Samurai ("Promoter") who has entered into a written referral agreement with Empower Advisory Group, LLC ("EAG").

Diversify Your Retirement Investments

Stocks and bonds are classic staples for retirement investing. However, I also suggest diversifying into real estate. It is an investment that combines the income stability of bonds with greater upside potential.

Consider Fundrise, a platform that allows you to 100% passively invest in residential and industrial real estate. With over $3.5 billion in private real estate assets under management, Fundrise focuses on properties in the Sunbelt region, where valuations are lower, and yields tend to be higher. Residential commercial real estate is attract. Meanwhile, the Fed is set to cut rates further.

I've personally invested over $500,000 with Fundrise, and they've been a trusted partner and long-time sponsor of Financial Samurai. With a $10 investment minimum, diversifying your portfolio has never been easier.

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

To increase your chances of achieving financial independence, join 60,000+ readers and subscribe to my free Financial Samurai newsletter here. Financial Samurai began in 2009 and is the leading independently-owned personal finance site today.

If you are a parent who is interested in FIRE, you should listen to Andy Hill's podcast, Marriage, Kids, & Money on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. It's a great show that talks about all the financial and parenting issues all mothers and fathers face.

Andy also came out with a new book called, Own Your Time: 10 Financial Steps To Put Your Family First and Escape The Corporate Grind. Go check it out, it's a great book for parents looking to achieve financial independence.

On the podcast, talk about the merits of Coast FIRE, a type of FIRE that I've dubbed the most dangerous early retirement strategy to follow. But the older and more tired I get, the more I've come to accept Coast FIRE's merits. It's certainly beter than aimlessly grinding away at a job you don't love forever.

If you enjoy this podcast episode, please support my guest Andy, and please share the episode and leave a positive review. Every review means a lot as every podcast episode takes hours to produce.

If you want to achieve financial freedom, you can also sign up for my free weekly newsletter here.

Happy New Year 2026, everyone. Despite a strong year in the stock market in 2025, I found myself feeling less happy due to some family health challenges. That contrast inspired me to reflect on what truly brings us greater happiness and gratitude.

Related posts:

2025 Year In Review And The Happiness Curve

The Best Of Financial Samurai 2025

Eliminated A Regret And Fulfilled A Childhood Dream

Join 60,000+ others and sign up for my free weekly newsletter here. My goal is to help you achieve financial freedom sooner, rather than later.You can receive my posts in your inbox immediately after they are first published without ads by signing up here.

The debate between owning and renting will go on forever — it all depends on your stage in life, finances, and lifestyle. But as you get older, one thing becomes clear: housing security matters more than ever.

The last thing you want in retirement is to be forced out of your neighborhood because of rising rent. Yet as a renter, you have little control over how much your landlord raises prices, especially if you're not in a rent-stabilized home.

With housing inflation outpacing wage growth, it's time to get neutral real estate by at least owning your primary residence. In this episode, I'll share why ownership becomes more valuable with age — and how to think about real estate in a world where affordability keeps shrinking.

Read the post for more details and discussion: Please Don't Rent For Life: Housing Security Is Vital

Other related post: Why I'll Never Manage Money For Anyone For Free Again

Invest In Real Estate Passively

If you can't buy a home yet, don't sit on the sidelines while housing prices and rents keep rising. You can still participate in the real estate market and build wealth over time — without needing to come up with a massive down payment.

That's why I've invested with Fundrise, a platform that allows everyday investors to gain exposure to residential and industrial properties nationwide. With over $3 billion in assets under management and 350,000+ investors, Fundrise makes it easy to own a piece of the real estate market that continues to compound in value.

Real estate has historically been one of the best ways to hedge against inflation and grow wealth passively. And with a minimum investment of only $10, anyone can start investing today.

Fundrise has been a long-time sponsor of Financial Samurai because our philosophies align — consistent, disciplined investing in tangible assets to build financial freedom.

Regards,

Sam

To expedite your journey to financial freedom, join over 60,000 others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter. You can also get my posts in your e-mail inbox as soon as they come out by signing up here. Financial Samurai is among the largest independently-owned personal finance websites, established in 2009. Everything is written based on firsthand experience and expertise.

Bill Bengen, the father of the 4% Rule, is back with a new book titled A Richer Retirement. In it, he raises his SAFEMAX—or safe withdrawal rate—from 4% to 5%. This change has major implications: retirees can confidently spend more and enjoy life to the fullest, while those pursuing FIRE or traditional retirement may not need to save as aggressively or work as long to achieve financial freedom.

See related Financial Samurai post: Persmission To Live It Up In Retirement

Free Financial Analysis Offer From Empower

If you have over $100,000 in investable assets—whether in savings, taxable accounts, 401(k)s, or IRAs—you can get a free financial check-up from an Empower financial professional by signing up here. It's a no-obligation way to have a seasoned expert, who builds and analyzes portfolios for a living, review your finances.

A fresh set of eyes could uncover hidden fees, inefficient allocations, or opportunities to optimize—giving you greater clarity and confidence in your retirement financial plan.

The statement is provided to you by Financial Samurai ("Promoter") who has entered into a written referral agreement with Empower Advisory Group, LLC ("EAG"). Click here to learn more.

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

To increase your chances of achieving financial independence, join 60,000+ readers and subscribe to my free Financial Samurai newsletter here. Financial Samurai began in 2009 and is the leading independently-owned personal finance site today. Everything is written based off firsthand experience.

Since 2022, commercial real estate (CRE) investors have endured one of the toughest stretches in decades. Surging inflation drove mortgage rates higher, cap rates expanded, and property values sank. The mantra became clear: "survive until 2025."

Now, with inflation cooling, rates easing, and capital returning, the tide may finally be turning. In this episode, I sit down with Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise, who shares why he's more optimistic about CRE's future—and why the next three years could be far better than the last.

Invest In CRE In A Diversified Way

If you're looking to gain exposure to commercial real estate, take a look at Fundrise. Founded in 2012, Fundrise now manages over $3 billion for 380,000+ investors. Their focus is on residential-oriented commercial real estate in lower-cost markets - assets that tend to be more resilient than office or retail. Throughout the downturn, Fundrise continued deploying capital to capture opportunities at lower valuations. Now, as the CRE cycle turns, they're well-positioned to benefit from the rebound.

The minimum investment is just $10, making it easy to dollar-cost average over time. I've personally invested six figures into Fundrise's CRE offerings, and I appreciate that their long-term approach aligns with my own. Fundrise has also been a long-time sponsor of Financial Samurai, which speaks to our shared investment philosophy.

Related post: The End Of The CRE Recession Is Finally Here

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

Pick up a copy of my USA TODAY national bestseller, Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps to Seven Figures. I've distilled over 30 years of financial experience to help you build more wealth than 94% of the population—and break free sooner.

To expedite your journey to financial freedom, join over 60,000 others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter. You can also get my posts in your e-mail inbox as soon as they come out by signing up here.

Financial Samurai is among the largest independently-owned personal finance websites, established in 2009. Everything is written based on firsthand experience and expertise.

In this solo episode, I want to clarify how the tax-free home sale exclusion works. For those who want to move back into their rentals to then qualify after two years, there is a pro-rated amount you need to implement.

See this post for more details: How To Use The Tax-Free Exclusion Amount Every Two Years To Save On Capital Gains

(https://www.financialsamurai.com/how-to-strategically-use-the-tax-free-home-sale-exclusion-every-two-years/)

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

Pick up a copy of my USA TODAY national bestseller, Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps to Seven Figures. I've distilled over 30 years of financial experience to help you build more wealth than 94% of the population—and break free sooner.

Listen and subscribe to The Financial Samurai podcast on Apple or Spotify. I interview experts in their respective fields and discuss some of the most interesting topics on this site. Your shares, ratings, and reviews are appreciated.

To expedite your journey to financial freedom, join over 60,000 others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter. Financial Samurai is among the largest independently-owned personal finance websites, established in 2009. Everything is written based on firsthand experience and expertise.

On the latest episode of the Financial Samurai podcast, I sat down with Ben Miller, cofounder and CEO of Fundrise, for a deep dive into AI, venture capital, and what it really takes to get into the best deals.

Key Takeaways from the Podcast

1. AI Growth and Market Dynamics

•

Revenue growth is accelerating in big AI companies like Anthropic.

•

There's an AI benchmarking race where many products seem similar, but differentiation still matters—Ben Miller doesn't believe AI is a commodity at all.

•

The biggest AI players continue to extend their lead, creating a "winner-take-most" dynamic.

2. Venture Capital Strategy and Concentration

•

How much concentration is acceptable in a venture fund: up to 50% of the portfolio can be concentrated in just two companies.

•

Importance of building a pipeline ("bench") of potential giants like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Databricks.

•

Leveraging scouts in key hubs like San Francisco to source the next wave of private growth companies.

3. Valuation and Economic Concepts

•

Growth-Adjusted Revenue Multiple as a more nuanced valuation approach for high-growth companies.

•

Baumol Effect – rising costs in labor-intensive sectors despite limited productivity gains, and how this might influence AI adoption and consumer behavior.

4. Access and Allocation Challenges

•

Figma IPO: Allocation was difficult even for well-connected investors; demand for strong growth companies far outstrips supply.

•

Innovation Fund's approach: invested in 6 of the top 50 companies on the CNBC Disruptor list.

•

The battle of connections and wealth—strong networks often determine who gets into the best deals.

See related post: The Futility Of Chasing Allocation In A Hot IPO Company

5. Strategic Advantages for Investors

•

Directing a 2M+ user base to both invest in and use portfolio company products (examples: Ramp, Flywheel) as a growth driver.

•

Using product adoption to create a feedback loop of higher valuations and more capital access.

6. Macro Perspectives on AI

•

China's optimistic, aggressive push into AI contrasts with America's more cautious and sometimes pessimistic stance.

•

Why I'm personally increasing my allocation to AI—both as a long-term growth opportunity and as a hedge against missing the next big wave.

Invest in Private Growth Companies With Fundrise

Companies are staying private longer, which means more gains go to early private investors rather than the public. If you don't want to fight in the IPO "Hunger Games" for scraps, consider Fundrise Venture.

About 80% of the Fundrise venture portfolio is in artificial intelligence—an area I'm extremely bullish on. In 20 years, I don't want my kids asking why I ignored AI when it was still early.

The investment minimum is just $10, compared with $200,000+ for most traditional venture funds (if you can even get in). You can also see exactly what the fund holds before you invest, and you don't need to be an accredited investor.

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

Pick up a copy of my USA TODAY national bestseller, Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps to Seven Figures. I've distilled over 30 years of financial experience to help you build more wealth than 94% of the population—and break free sooner.

To expedite your journey to financial freedom, join over 60,000 others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter. Financial Samurai is among the largest independently-owned personal finance websites, established in 2009. Everything is written based on firsthand experience and expertise.

To Your Financial Freedom,

Sam

Figuring out when you have enough money is a mix of math and emotion. You might have enough on paper, but if you're not emotionally ready to live life entirely on your terms, then you probably don't have enough yet.

As one of the pioneers of the modern-day FIRE movement in 2009, I've developed a new framework with clear action steps to help determine if you've truly reached "enough." It goes beyond the typical 4% rule or simply having 25 times your annual expenses in investable assets.

Related posts:

A Net Worth Equal To 25X Annual Expenses Is Not Enough To Retire Early

The Best Way To Determine If You Have Enough Money

The Minimum Investment Amount Where Work Becomes Optional

If You're Interested In 1X1 Consulting

For those of you who are interested in speaking with me about optimizing your personal finances, building a business, or negotiating a severance package, you can click here. Simply fill out the brief form at the end of the page and I'll get back to you within 24 hours.

I only take on two consulting clients a month, so there may be a wait. My goal is to help you see through blindspots and have the confidence to live your life the way you want.

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

Pick up a copy of my USA TODAY national bestseller, Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps to Seven Figures. I've distilled over 30 years of financial experience to help you build more wealth than 94% of the population—and break free sooner.

Listen and subscribe to The Financial Samurai podcast on Apple or Spotify. I interview experts in their respective fields and discuss some of the most interesting topics on this site. Your shares, ratings, and reviews are appreciated.

To expedite your journey to financial freedom, join over 60,000 others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter. Financial Samurai is among the largest independently-owned personal finance websites, established in 2009. Everything is written based on firsthand experience and expertise.

Earning passive income is the holy grail of personal finance and achieving financial independence. With interest rates still elevated, it's become much easier to generate a larger amount of risk-free passive income. If you're not financially independent yet, this could be a suboptimal choice.

Check out the post: The Hidden Dangers Of Earning Risk-Free Pasisve Income

Suggestions

Check out Fundrise Venture if you're looking to gain exposure to some of the top private AI companies. You can view all of its holdings before investing, which adds a welcome layer of transparency. I've personally invested over $150,000 so far and plan to add more next month once I receive funds from a liquidity event. Fundrise is a long-time sponsor of Financial Samurai as our investment views are aligned.

Pick up a copy of my USA TODAY national bestseller, Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps To Seven Figures, if you want to build more wealth. I synthesize 30 years of wealth-building knowledge to help you outperform 94% of the U.S. population so you can break free sooner.

Join over 60,000 others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter. Financial Samurai is among the largest independently-owned personal finance websites, established in 2009. Everything is written based on firsthand experience and expertise.

Buying the stock market dip can be intimidating. As a result, many investors sit on cash, waiting for clear signs of a recovery. However, history has shown that those who bought during downturns and held on have often done well over time. With that in mind, I wanted to share a few strategies to help build the courage to buy the dip when the next opportunity arises.

See post: How To Gain The Courage To Buy The Dip And Prosper

Your shares, ratings, and reviews are appreciated! Every episode takes hours to record and produce. Your positive reviews help keep me recording.

Suggestions

Check out Fundrise Venture if you're looking to gain exposure to some of the top private AI companies. You can view all of its holdings before investing, which adds a welcome layer of transparency. I've personally invested over $150,000 so far and plan to add more next month once I receive funds from a liquidity event. Fundrise is a long-time sponsor of Financial Samurai as our investment views are aligned.

Pick up a copy of my USA TODAY national bestseller, Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps To Seven Figures, if you want to build more wealth. I synthesize 30 years of wealth-building knowledge to help you outperform 94% of the U.S. population so you can break free sooner.

Join over 60,000 others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter. Financial Samurai is among the largest independently-owned personal finance websites, established in 2009. Everything is written based on firsthand experience and expertise.

In this episode, I reconnect with my old friend Joe Saul-Sehy from The Stacking Benjamins podcast to talk about creating your own life curriculum — because when you do, you may no longer be beholden to anyone.

With AI eliminating jobs and making the path to financial independence even tougher, I wanted to sit down with another creator who forged his own way—building a business and income stream through podcasting.

I firmly believe everyone should build an online brand and develop a side hustle. The era of job security, pensions, and abundant opportunities is fading. You—and your children—need to learn how to create your own income streams.

Check out Joe's work at:

https://joesaulsehy.com

https://www.stackingbenjamins.com

Subscribe To Financial Samurai

Join 60,000+ others and subscribe to the free weekly Financial Samurai newsletter. My goal is to help you achieve financial freedom sooner, rather than later. Financial Samurai started in July 2009 and is the leading independently-owned personal finance site today.

This episode is sponsored by Fundrise Venture, an innovative venture capital product that invests in private AI companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, Anduril, Databricks, and more. The minimum investment to start is only $10, and I personally have invested over $185,000 in Fundrise Venture so far.

After three years of writing, revising, and reflecting, I'm excited to share that Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps To Seven Figures is now available everywhere—in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook!

In this special episode, my wife and I sit down to talk about the journey behind the book: why I wrote it, what readers can expect, and how it ties into over a decade of sharing free financial content on Financial Samurai.

We also dive into the emotional side of writing—especially how the process impacted our family, what it means to lead by example for our kids, and what we hope this book will do for readers striving to build lasting wealth.

Whether you're just getting started on your financial journey or looking for that extra push to reach the next level, this episode gives you an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to turn knowledge into action—and how to stay motivated along the way.

Pick up a hard copy or two of Millionaire Milestones on:

• Amazon
• B&N
• Books A Million
• Your local book store or anywhere you buy books

Your reviews and shares are appreciate! There's nothing better than giving the gift of financial freedom.

Fight on!

Sam

Feel free to join 60,000 others and sign up for my free weekly newsletter as well. My goal is to help you achieve financial freedom sooner, rather than later.

Financial Samurai was founded in 2009 and is the leading independently-owned personal finance site today. Everything is written based off firsthand experience and knowledge because money is too important to be left to pontificaiton.

In this episode, I talk with Harry, a long-time Financial Samurai reader, about his journey to building a $4+ million home in the Los Angeles area. While most people buy move-in ready homes, Harry shares an insightful behind-the-scenes look at how it's done — from financing the project to the timeline it takes to build, and whether it's ultimately a good investment.

Related posts:

How To Survive The Most Dangerous Time After Buying A Home

A Big Expensive How Can Ruin Your Path To Financial Freedom

To Remodel With Permits Or Without To Save Time And Money

Wealth-Building Recommendations

This episode is brought to you by Fundrise, my preferred private real estate investment platform. Fundrise predominantly in residential and industrial commercial real estate in the Sunbelt, where valuations are lower and yields are higher. I've personally invested over $300,000 in Fundrise to diversify. The investment minimum is only $10, so it's easy to dollar-cost average in.

If you're ready to build more wealth than 93% of the population, grab a copy of my new book, Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps to Seven Figures. With over 30 years of experience working in, studying, and writing about finance, I've distilled everything I know into this practical guide to help you achieve financial success.

To expedite your journey to financial freedom, join over 60,000 others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter. Financial Samurai is among the largest independently-owned personal finance websites, established in 2009. Everything is written based on firsthand experience and expertise.

To Your Financial Freedom,

Sam

I have the pleasure of speaking with Humphrey Yang, a personal finance content creator with over 1.6 million followers on YouTube and over 3.3 million followers on TikTok. Humphrey burst onto the scene in 2020 when COVID-19 began and has been growing steadily ever since.

According to polls by YouGov and toy-maker Lego, being a YouTuber or TikToker consistently ranks as one of the top aspirations for teenagers and young adults today. Given this trend, I thought it would be insightful to chat with Humphrey about his journey.

With the soaring cost of college and the increasingly cutthroat competition to get accepted — even for some of the top high school students — more young people are considering bypassing traditional gatekeepers and creating something of their own. Becoming a content creator is one way to take control of your future and potentially achieve financial success on your own terms.

I invite you to check out our conversation and subscribe to Humphrey's personal finance YouTube and TikTok channels. It's clear that video is all the rage now and in the future.

If you enjoyed this podcast episode, I'd appreciate a positive review and a share. Each episode takes hours to create. Please also subscribe to my free weekly newsletter at https://www.financialsamurai.com/news.

To Your Financial Freedom,

Sam, Financial Samurai