Clipping Chains Podcast

We’re back to the digital mailbag to answer your questions!

For this week:

• Does the 401(k) max include employer contributions?
• Should I invest in my 401(k) or pay down my mortgage early?
• What about Fidelity’s zero expense ratio fund, VZROX?
• Investing tips for a Health Savings Account
• Do you write off business expenses for Clipping Chains?
• How and when do you pay yourself from investments?
• Winter climbing in St. George, Utah
• Big life expenses and expectations when pursuing financial independence: children, weddings, etc.
• Mandatory pension contributions vs DIY investing
• Front-loading savings without going for full financial independence (Coast FI)
• Climbing plateau busters

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Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com

Today on episode 39 I’m pleased to welcome long-time climber and Front Range local Peter Beal. Peter, at age 58, has been climbing for over 45 years, with notable achievements including multiple 5.14 first ascents and bagging V12 in his late forties!   But Peter is also known for his critical takes on the culture of outdoor life. Today we discuss some of the realities of meaningful work, family life, and the potential opportunity costs of a life of adventure.

• Peter’s long history in climbing
• A career in art history
• Is majoring in the humanities good for your career?
• The problem with full-time climbing and the “quit your job” culture
• Balancing life and careers with an equally driven and athletic spouse
• Can you afford to be sponsored? Pay transparency in climbing versus other sports
• Peter’s love for writing and his musings on the decline of print media
• Key tips for performance climbing longevity

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Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com

Support this project: Buy Me a Coffee

Subscribe to the website: SUBSCRIBE ME!

Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com

Hello! We’re back in the digital mailbag to answer your questions.

In this Q&A episode we take a hard look at inflation, the reality of a bear market, tactics for balancing a career and climbing, saving for a home down payment, my dream interviews, the pros and cons of maxing out retirement plans, cryptocurrency, financial advisors, and traveling the world for cheap. And of course, so much more.

Support this project: Buy Me a Coffee

Subscribe to the website: SUBSCRIBE ME!

Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com

Q1: What's the latest on inflation? (00:02:23)

Q2: Should I be worried about the stock market decline and a bear market? (00:06:58)

Q3: How did you personally balance your climbing and work? What did you feel like you prioritized more and why? Did it change over the years or seasons due to certain circumstances? (00:18:09)

Q4: Should I invest to save for a home down payment? What are other methods to save for a home? (00:35:57)

Q5: What’s your dream interview? (00:40:41)

Q6: Should I contribute to my 401k beyond the employer match? (00:47:53)

Q7: What the F is bitcoin and what do you think about it? Do you invest in bitcoin? (00:53:01)

Q8: Do you offer consultations or investing services for other people? (00:57:24)

Q9: What are travel rewards and how can I dramatically reduce my travel spending? (01:00:07)

Today on episode 36 I’m pleased to welcome climber, author, editor, father, and prolific first ascensionist Matt Samet. Recently, Matt was unexpectedly laid off from his position as editor of Climbing Magazine, a position he has held on and off for nearly two decades.

The state of media, particularly print media, is something that has held my attention in recent years. Although I’ve considered reaching out to Matt for some time to discuss his career in writing and climbing journalism, this finally felt like the right moment.

Join us as we take a deeper dive on media, journalism, balancing climbing and other life obligations, as well as some good-ole-fashioned musings on the modern climbing life.

• Matt’s unexpected layoff
• The state of magazines and print media
• The relationship of social media and athletes and the impact on print media
• Matt’s choice to pursue writing as a career
• Dealing with nonconstructive feedback
• How to get involved with professional writing and tips for getting published
• Matt’s battle with benzodiazepine addiction
• Tactics for integrating climbing into a career
• Finding time to be a prolific first ascensionist
• How Matt might be climbing his hardest ever at age 50
• Matt’s thoughts on what’s next in his career
• So much more!

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Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com

Find me a person who can talk and you’ll find someone with an opinion on the housing market or real estate investment. And most of those opinions—even from happily settled homeowners—bear the tones of suspicion at best and downright defeat at worst.

Housing prices have skyrocketed a staggering 34% nationwide over the past two years. This rate is essentially an order of magnitude higher than historical home price appreciation. Certain markets are arguably out of hand (to use a technical term). Take Boise, Idaho, where prices are considered 73% overvalued.

Is the booming real estate investment trend at least partially to blame?

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See the Written Post at Clippingchains.com

Today on episode 34 I’m excited to have climber, author, coach, and business owner Eric Horst. Many of you are aware of Eric’s multifaceted influence on climbing, notably performance rock climbing. He is a pioneering figure in the world of climbing training and the author of the international bestselling (and well-named) book, Training for Climbing.

But this guy gets a lot done. In 2020, Eric retired at age 56 as director of Millersville University’s Weather Information Center near his hometown of Lancaster, PA. But he didn’t really retire.

Eric is now properly embracing his love of climbing, leaning into his new business, PhysiVantage, a supplement company for performance climbers.

In this wide-ranging interview we tackle Eric’s recent climbing ambitions since retirement, how he has built a company from scratch, and perhaps most importantly, some key systems Eric uses to maintain his high workload while still enjoying the sport and the family he loves.

• Eric’s ambitions to climb harder than ever in his late 50s
• The importance of family and why Eric always eschewed projecting hard routes
• How Eric balanced two careers, one as a meteorologist and the other as a climbing training expert
• Why Eric was “never cut out to be a dirtbag”
• Where Eric gets his drive to produce content
• How being in the public eye is at odds with his personality
• Why Eric never pursued climbing full-time
• Why Eric retired early from his traditional career at age 56
• PhysiVantage and the psychology of starting a business with a large up-front investment
• The importance of valuing athletes at PhysiVantage
• Accomplishing great work: Time management and time blocking
• Eric’s other interests as he ages: music and golf!

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Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com

I’ve been asked many times the details of my favorite investing strategy, or what I think about this or that stock. And there seems to be a high correlation between a hot market and the number of these inquiries I receive.

Conversely, it is rare to be asked about the emotions and psychology of investing. I can’t think of a single email or message asking about methods for keeping cool when the entire column of stock tickers is flashing red and every other news headline warns of the next big crash.

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See This Post at Clippingchains.com

Steven Dimmitt is the host of the popular Nugget Climbing Podcast, a show about performance climbing and the life-long journey of self-improvement. At the surface, it seems that Steven left his engineering job and moved into a van to pursue what might seem like a whimsical and youthful passion. Digging deeper, however, we see that the journey to critical and financial success is one of dedicated craftsmanship.

How can we all leverage the power and contentment of craftsmanship to build a satisfying and meaningful life?

I really enjoyed this one, and I hope you will too.

• Why Steven left his secure job as an engineer and moved into a van full-time
• Why Steven quit his job but doesn’t consider himself to be “chasing a passion”
• The process to building The Nugget Climbing Podcast and generating a loyal following with over 1 million downloads!
• How Steven is close to surpassing his previous income as an engineer! Much more on the delicate balance of monetization
• Thoughts on transitioning away from full-time van life and prospective home ownership in a hot market
• The financial viability, misconceptions, and glorification of van life
• Community and romantic relationships on the road
• The demands of hosting a weekly interview podcast and thoughts on building a team
• The endless chase of satisfaction in performance rock climbing
• Steven’s interest in music and future ideas for meaningful work
• The sustainability of The Nugget and Clipping Chains
• Key climbing principles Steven has learned from hosting The Nugget
• So much more!

Support this project: Buy Me a Coffee

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Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com

Ok! We’re back to the digital mailbag to answer your questions.

In this Q&A episode we take a deeper dive on I Bonds, forming a solid plan for our financial lives, how to catch up on saving later in life, ideas on how to free up time from the many distractions in our lives, my daily structure and routines, and the best way to invest for compound growth.

Support this project: Buy Me a Coffee

Subscribe to the website: SUBSCRIBE ME!

Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com

Q3: Savings vehicles for a home downpayment. Short- to medium-term savings. (00:18:49)