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

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").

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

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

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.

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

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/)

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.

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.

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.