How to retire early, even with 2 kids! Blah blah blah...

[MJ DeMarco]

For the love of God, I'm growing tired of these stories.

Another compound interest scam story with the survivor bias front and center..

How to retire in your 30s or 40s—even if you have kids

On a closer look, they aren't even retired. The wife is working for health insurance and I'm not even sure how the numbers add up. Without the wife's job, a health insurance plan for 2 adults and 2 kids on the ACA.gov website would be in the THOUSANDS!


Almost feels like there is an unmentioned inheritance somewhere and that the wife HAD to go back to work because the insurance cost was so ridiculous.

Even the commenters are skeptical... which to me, is even a bigger red flag.

ADDED:

 

Don't like ads? Remove them while supporting the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[lludwig]

Unfortunately, there are many of these PF bloggers at the financial conference I go to FINCON. While overall a great conference I have to weed through these types of posers.

A big one is Mr. Money Mustashe and his ilk.

 

[lludwig]

Here's one bogus story exposed.

The Millionaire [Liar] Next Door | Budgets Are Sexy

 

[Deleted50669]

Unfortunately, there are many of these PF bloggers at the financial conference I go to FINCON. While overall a great conference I have to weed through these types of posers.

A big one is Mr. Money Mustashe and his ilk.

Triple M is a trap indeed

 

Don't like ads? Remove them while supporting the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[MJ DeMarco]

Here's one bogus story exposed.

The Millionaire [Liar] Next Door | Budgets Are Sexy

Ah yes! That story made it into my book Unscripted whereas I dig deep into the compound interest narrative.

 

[lludwig]

Ah yes! That story made it into my book Unscripted whereas I dig deep into the compound interest narrative.

Oh shit forgot about that part in the book I just knew about it personally as well and rocked a few people in the PF space.

 

[MTEE1985]

Reminds me too of the “frugalwoods” who’s book I saw at the store the other day. “Retired” early to live and preach a life of Craigslist purchases and dumpster diving. And as with most of these and others that Unscripted points out, they make a great living by NOT practicing what they preach.

 

Don't like ads? Remove them while supporting the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[jpmartin]

Compound interest? Oh you mean like this... Riz International on Instagram: “Don't be afraid of starting small. The key is to start! As you can see, compounding and incremental contributions makes a HUGE difference…”

 

[MTEE1985]

On a closer look, they aren't even retired. The wife is working

Funny how probably 99% of these stories one if not both are still working but they hide behind platitudes like “loving their job” or “because it’s making a difference” or as mentioned above “healthcare”

 

[socaldude]

It seem like these days they will publish anything without verifying anything.

The couple was making a little over $100k combined and yet they had $1.3 million already saved up? And he was 33? Thats like working since you are 23 years old and both not having any expenses.

Usually when things don't add up it's probably not true or something intentionally left out.

 

Don't like ads? Remove them while supporting the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Michael1359]

Reminds me too of the “frugalwoods” who’s book I saw at the store the other day. “Retired” early to live and preach a life of Craigslist purchases and dumpster diving. And as with most of these and others that Unscripted points out, they make a great living by NOT practicing what they preach.

Dumpster diving is not a retirement plan I want![emoji23][emoji23]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MJ DeMarco]

they make a great living by NOT practicing what they preach.

Ha Ha...

PF Blogger: "Get rich quick is BS! If you save $100/mo for 50 years, you'll get rich slow and retire rich!"
PF Blogger sells blog for $10,000,000 and doesn't see the irony.

 

[socaldude]

"McCurry used a 3.5% rule. That is, he focused on building up enough savings such that withdrawing 3.5% each year from his nest egg would cover his family’s current annual spending of $40,000. “That’s the point where I said, ‘Yeah, the finances will work,’” he says."

It seems like these days now they are just making shit up. The 3.5% rule? Rule from where? Who?

High probability portfolio? Where do they get this stuff from?

They put a million dollars in just all stocks?

 

Don't like ads? Remove them while supporting the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Computerchest]

"How do you invest your money?
McCurry: We’re 90% in stocks. … We’ve got about five years of living expenses between cash, bonds and CDs."
90% in stocks, brave guy. Would love to hear an initial planning meeting with a swiss banking wealth management firm and see their reaction (if his goal is to fund his family with these funds).
Funny how these articles don't come with a warning, first time I have seen ones like this, usually sticking with Bloomberg/Zerohedge/Earnings reports don't expose you to them.

 

[socaldude]

90% in stocks, brave guy

And these are the same people that would say business is "risky".

 

[lludwig]

Full disclosure, McCurry did write in fact for my site. We hired him for his tax articles which were pretty good IMHO.

After writing just a few articles outside of taxes, I started looking at his background and yes it didn't add up when I started looking closer at his site.

His returns were from either:

1. Large returns he got (like 15%+/annually)
2. Made much more than what he was stating (ie off the books to help decrease taxes) from odd jobs.
3. Partially inherited money

This is all estimates since details aren't revealed.

This isn't even including a home purchase, or putting money in 529 accounts for three children.

If I was a betting man I would go with 2 and/or 3.

So something wasn't adding up. So I too would like to know how he exactly did it.

 

Don't like ads? Remove them while supporting the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[MJ DeMarco]

Finally did a video on compound-interest...

And if anyone wants to read that chapter (free, no email required) visit this page:

The Compound Interest Scam: Truth VS Reality

90% in stocks, brave guy.

Just thinking about having 90% of my NW in stocks gives me indigestion.

 

[jpmartin]

And if anyone wants to read that chapter (free, no email required) visit this page:

MJ, am still going through UNSCRIPTED . Hat's off to you on this! btw, how many words is the book!?! I'm still at 65%!

 

[quanttastic]

Triple M is a trap indeed

Just out of curiosity, what do you find troubling about Mr Money Mustache? (serious question from occasional reader of his blog)

 

Don't like ads? Remove them while supporting the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Deleted50669]

Just out of curiosity, what do you find troubling about Mr Money Mustache? (serious question from occasional reader of his blog)

He singularly focuses on frugality. He makes no mention of money systems, or serious innovation / value contribution to make more money. He is all about making the most of a pittance.

 

[socaldude]

He singularly focuses on frugality

it's really hard to be a fan of a personal finance philosophy or blogger that never addresses the problem of income.

You always need an income in life cause you always have expenses.

Most personal finance these days just revolves around cutting expenses.

 

[The Abundant Man]

it's really hard to be a fan of a personal finance philosophy or blogger that never addresses the problem of income.

You always need an income in life cause you always have expenses.

Most personal finance these days just revolves around cutting expenses.

If I wanted to cut expenses I'd go live in the jungles of the Amazon Rainforest

 

Don't like ads? Remove them while supporting the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[MJ DeMarco]

MJ, am still going through UNSCRIPTED . Hat's off to you on this! btw, how many words is the book!?! I'm still at 65%!

I can't remember, I think 170,000 words. TMF was 120,000.

 

[jpmartin]

 

[lludwig]

Just out of curiosity, what do you find troubling about Mr Money Mustache? (serious question from occasional reader of his blog)

Because he himself makes at least $400k/year from his very site stating how to live off of $30k/year and how is bikes to F*cking everywhere and goes to the local library to rent his videos and books.

Mind you he lives in Colorado. He isn't biking in the winter! I get the self-sufficient and independent but most FIRE (Financially Independent/Retire Early) individuals aren't "retired" by any sense of the word.

 

Don't like ads? Remove them while supporting the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[lludwig]

Another popular site The Simple Dollar once had an article of how to save money on xmas wrapping paper to save money by using newspaper! Or the other article I remember reading on how to make your own soap!

Stuff like this just drives me batty with personal finance bloggers.

Focus on generating more income. There's only sooo much fat you can cut before you are sacrificing yourself. But that's a common theme in society.

Why I Don't Budget and the Three Things You Should Focus on Instead

 

[The Abundant Man]

Another popular site The Simple Dollar once had an article of how to save money on xmas wrapping paper to save money by using newspaper! Or the other article I remember reading on making your own soap!

Stuff like this just drives me batty with personal finance bloggers.

Focus on generating more income. There's only sooo much fat you can cut before you are sacrificing yourself. But that's a common them in society.

Why I Don't Budget and the Three Things You Should Focus on Instead

I agree with this. It's not a saving problem. It's an income problem

 

[Computerchest]

If you simply think of your personal finances in the same way a CEO thinks about a business you would realise, there is only so much you can trim from the bottom line before you have to think about increasing the top line too (which you should be thinking about anyway).

 

Don't like ads? Remove them while supporting the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Computerchest]

Finally did a video on compound-interest...

And if anyone wants to read that chapter (free, no email required) visit this page:

The Compound Interest Scam: Truth VS Reality



Just thinking about having 90% of my NW in stocks gives me indigestion.

Another great Video Even a basic level of knowledge on portfolio theory, would give advice on a more sensible allocation. The fact they are promoting themselves as role models worries me...

 

[NaPal]

x2 fantastic video MJ.