So much has changed in the world of personal finance and investing over the past 30 years. ETFs and index funds have replaced individual stock portfolios and managed mutual funds.  Investing moved online, then to mobile. Online brokers eliminated commissions and now encourage fractional share purchases for as little as $0.01. Tax laws and planning... The post The Four Cornerstones of a DIY Retirement appeared first on Retire Before Dad ..read more

Thanks to everyone who responded to the recent book giveaway. Your encouragement and kind words were uplifting. The responses gave me lots of topics to focus on in 2025. I received 104 responses. Congrats to the winners.  Also, a few weeks back, I asked for your help in getting me over the 1,000 subscriber mark... The post DIY Retirement Portfolio Rebalancing: When, How, Tools appeared first on Retire Before Dad ..read more

Jordan Grumet (aka DocG) is a long-time thought leader in the financial independence and retire early (FIRE) community. His podcast, The Earn & Invest Podcast, is nearing its 600th episode.  He’s interviewed just about every blogger, author, and intellectual authority in the personal finance and retirement space (check out my interview, #580). An article I... The post The Purpose Code: A Free Book Giveaway appeared first on Retire Before Dad ..read more

Today’s article is a recap of the year’s most popular articles and videos. Many, you may have missed it.  Look for new articles, videos, book giveaways, and podcast appearances in 2025. Happy Holidays! Craig How I’m Simplifying my Portfolio for Retirement Early in the year, TD Bank interviewed me about how I’m simplifying my portfolio... The post RBD’s Best of 2024 appeared first on Retire Before Dad ..read more

The Roth conversion is a popular year-end tax maneuver for DIY retirement planners. It works just as well at the start of the year, but more people are interested in December.  The move involves transferring retirement assets from a traditional IRA, 401(k), or other pre-tax account into a Roth IRA. Conversions incur a tax consequence... The post Is a Roth Conversion Right for You? Consider These 6 Factors appeared first on Retire Before Dad ..read more

A more in-depth talking head version of this article is available on YouTube (view below).  I chased early retirement for almost two decades. My early retirement goal made me a disciplined saver and investor, but I wholeheartedly believe early retirement is the wrong goal.  This is humbling to write. In this article, I’ll provide three... The post Early Retirement is the Wrong Goal appeared first on Retire Before Dad ..read more

Though opinions vary on individual stocks vs. index funds, my own investments reflect a blend of both, from dividend and growth stocks to index funds, ETFs, and managed mutual funds. My uncle gave me one share of Chevron for my 20th birthday in 1995, and I built an individual stock portfolio from there. A retirement... The post Individual Stocks vs. Index Funds – Why I Own Both appeared first on Retire Before Dad ..read more

Buying compact discs (CDs) used to be a thing. That’s how we bought music back in the 1980s and 1990s. Most of you remember.  I spent a few thousand dollars on CDs throughout high school, college, and my early working years. One summer, I worked in a record store to earn money because my internship at a... The post The Creation Mindset – Accelerate Your Wealth Trajectory appeared first on Retire Before Dad ..read more

On December 1st, 1986, my Mom took me to open my first bank account at the local Dollar Bank branch. I was 11 years old and a little skeptical of giving the bank teller my $21.60. I walked out with a small green booklet that looked like a passport. My parents thought it was the... The post Ode to the Passbook Savings Account appeared first on Retire Before Dad ..read more

The FIRE movement made the rounds in national news for a few years and still gets a head nod here and there.  The early retirement (RE) part of FIRE always received more criticism because it’s the goal when someone doesn’t like their career choice and wants to escape. In hindsight, this was me.  Both financially... The post Financial Confidence is the New Financial Independence appeared first on Retire Before Dad ..read more