The Financial Samurai Podcast
Episodes
Public Venture Capital Is Here: Why VCX Has Soared and What Fundrise Investors Should Do Now
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Forget Learn To Code, Learn To Invest Instead To Survive
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 cl...
The Wonderful Flexibility Of Coast FIRE with Andy Hill, Author of Own Your Time
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 l...
Being Happy In Spite Of Everything
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 challeng...
Housing Security: The Underappreciated Benefit of Owning In A Rising Rent World
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Permission To Live It Up In Retirement With Bill Bengen, Father Of The 4% Rule Going To 5%
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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—f...
The End Of The Commercial Real Estate Recession With Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Since 2022, commercial real estate (CRE) investors have endured one of the toughest stretches in decades. Surging inflation drove mortgage rates highe...
How the Tax-Free Home Sale Exclusion Works
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The Acceleration Of AI Growth And Adoption With Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ca...
How You'll Know When You Finally Have Enough Money
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The Hidden Dangers of Earning Risk-Free Passive Income
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Earning passive income is the holy grail of personal finance and achieving financial independence. With interest rates still elevated, it's become muc...
Buying the Dip: A Mindset Guide for the Next Market Selloff
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Creating a Life on Your Terms with Joe Saul-Sehy of The Stacking Benjamins Podcast
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 — ...
The Making Of Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps To Seven Figures
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After three years of writing, revising, and reflecting, I'm excited to share that Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps To Seven Figures is now availa...
What It's Like Building A $4+ Million New Home From Scratch
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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. Wh...
Helping Millions And Making Millions On YouTube And TikTok With Humphrey Yang
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 millio...
Uncertainty, Fear, And Chaos: A Real Estate Investor's Best Friends
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With trade wars, massive federal government employee cuts, fallout with Ukraine, and worsening relationships with European countries, the Trump admini...
The Million-Dollar Mindset By Personal Finance Enthusiasts
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With stock market volatility returning and the potential for an economic slowdown ahead, I can't help but feel grateful for the incredible gains we've...
Building Purpose, Minimizing Regret, And Getting Off The Achievement Treadmill
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I speak with Dr. Jordan Grumet about building purpose for a happier and more meaningful life. If you're feeling stuck, as many of us so inevitably do ...
How An Open-Ended Venture Capital Fund Operates
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In part 2 of my discussion with Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise, and sponsor of Financial Samurai, I ask him about how an open-ended venture capital fund ...
The Bull Case For Commercial Real Estate In 2025 And Beyond
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I speak to Ben Miller, co-founder and CEO of Fundrise about his outlook for commercial real estate in 2025. Despite high mortgage rat...
Why You Could Make More In Retirement Than While Working
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One of the biggest reasons I was against contributing to a Roth IRA is my belief that most people won't make more money in retirement than while worki...
What To Expect In 2025 For Stocks, Real Estate, And Financial Samurai
04 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year everyone! I hope you're enjoying the time off and doing some reflecting. I've returned to San Francisco after eight days of being in Oa...
How To Increase Your Chances Of Getting Into A Top College
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I speak to high school principal, John Durante, about his latest book, Straight From The Admissions Office. We also talk in depth about how high schoo...
Concerns From Retirement Planners With Steve Chen, Founder of Boldin (formerly NewRetirement)
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I recently spoke with Steve Chen, founder of Boldin (formerly NewRetirement), about common concerns retirees face. Boldin stands out as the most compr...
The 4% Rule: Clearing Up Misconceptions With Its Creator Bill Bengen
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I had the pleasure of speaking with Bill Bengen, creator of the "4% Rule" for retirement planning. Bill has been a reader of Financial Samurai for ma...
What A Trump Presidency Means For Your Investments, Net Worth, And Career
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump will be the 47th President of the United States, this time with JD Vance as his Vice President. Let's explore how this new Trump presiden...
Investing In Fine Wine And Whiskey With Anthony Zhang From Vinovest
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Investing in alternative assets has become an increasingly popular way to diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds. Wine and whiskey, in particul...
College Admission Consulting For High Schoolers With Alice Chen
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you have children, you likely want to provide them with the best education possible, which may include helping them get into a top college. Along t...
What A Fed Rate Cut Means For Real Estate, Stocks, and Your Retirement
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After four years, the Federal Reserve has finally cut the Fed Funds rate by 50 basis points, bringing the target range to 4.75% - 5%. Expectations poi...
Maximizing Real Estate Returns In A Multi-Year Rate Cut Environment
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I speak to Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise about investing in real estate during a multi-year rate cut environment. With the Federal Reserve finally cutti...
From Making $2 Million A Year To Quitting His Finance Job With Khe Hy
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I speak with Khe Hy, who spent 15 years on Wall Street and became one of the youngest Managing Directors at BlackRock at just 31. He earned up to $2 m...
How Much You Really Need to Invest to Break Free from Work And Change Your Life
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After 15 years of experimenting with and living an early retirement lifestyle, I've developed my Minimum Investment Threshold Formula to help determin...
A Man Is Not A Financial Plan: TradWives And Its Financial And Social Implications
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I speak to Jo Piazza, bestselling author of The Sicilian Inheritance, podcaster, and award-winning journalist. We discuss tradwives a...
Most Important Personal Finance Ratio: The Home-To-Car Ratio
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I've decided that my Home-To-Car Ratio guide is the most important pesonal finance guide for everyone to fall. After all, everybody needs a place to l...
FAANG FIRE: One Year After Leaving Facebook To Live A Semi-Retired Life
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I catch up with Andre Nader, ex-Facebook employee about what he's been up to one year after leaving his day job. We talk about being a stay-at-home ...
Your Saver's Mindset Will Naturally Kick In If You Need Money
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I spoke to my wife about how my saver's mindset naturally kicked in after purchasing our new house in October 2023. Our liquidity was tight, and we we...
Property Bidding Wars And The Best Time Of The Year To Buy A House
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Property bidding wars are back, despite persistently high mortgage rates, due to the strength of the economy and the stock market. This episode discus...
The Career Path From VC, To Big Startup, To Creating Your Own Startup
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I talk to Emily Luk, Co-Founder and CEO of Plenty, a wealth platform for today's modern couples about her career path from VC, to joining a big startu...
Your Provider's Clock Helps Explain Your Desire To Work And Provide
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For the longest time, I've wondered the following about some men: Why claim to be retired while having a working spouse? Why work so many hours after...
Investing In Artificial Intelligence With The Fundrise Innovation Fund And Ben Miller
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I catch up with Ben Miller, Co-founder and CEO of Fundrise about artificial intelligence and the latest investments by the Innovati...
Becoming A Children's Book Illustrator And Author With Colleen Kong-Savage
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I speak with Colleen Kong-Savage about becoming a children's book illustrator and author, as well as a freelance graphic designer while living in expe...
Real Estate Commissions Are Already Coming Down Fast
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Every residential real estate investor and homeowner is richer after the National Association Of Realtors settled its price fixing lawsuit. I know man...
The Most Expensive Cities In America To Own A Home Could Actually Be The Cheapest
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The most expensive cities in America include cities like New York City, San Francisco, and San Jose. However, these expensive cities could actually be...
Satisfaction Is Greater Than Happiness: Thoughts After Buying A Nice Home
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I talk to my wife about what it's nice to own the nicest home we can afford five months after moving in. Although I am no happier, I ...
Inside Reality TV With Chef Dynasty Star And Fang Restaurant Owner Kathy Fang
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I speak with Kathy Fang, star of the Food Network's Chef Dynasty, as well as owner of Fang Restaurant, one of my favorite Chinese res...
How To Overcome Your Fear Of Investing And Make More Money Long Term
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Since 2009, when I began Financial Samurai, I've noticed some people are too afraid to invest or get easily shaken out whenever there is economic or s...
The Evolution Of Modern Couples with Emily Luk, Co-Founder and CEO Of Plenty
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I talk to Emily Luk, Co-Founder and CEO of Plenty, a wealth platform for today's modern couples. Due to career aspirations, higher education, and the ...
Creating A Million Dollar Weekend As An Entrepreneur With Noah Kagan
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I speak with Noah Kagan about being one of the first employees at Facebook and Mint, not making the megabucks, and then turning into a successful entr...
Past The Real Estate Market Bottom With Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I speak to Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise about his change in outlook for the real estate market in 2024 and beyond. He believes October...
2024 Financial Samurai Goals And Predictions
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Happy 2024 everyone! Here are some of our goals and financial predictions for 2024. Overall, we're optimistic about the year. Related posts: 2024 S&P ...
Having Intrinsic Motivation Is The Only Way To Last Long Term
30 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sydney and I review 2023 and discuss the importance of intrinsic motivation to keep going. Be aware of only chasing extrinsic motivators, like money, ...
Duke, Baruch, Or Bust: Why Community College Is A Great Option
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I speak to Sydney, my wife, about the idea of sending our children to Community College instead of directly to a four-year state or private university...
The Solution To Staying Retired Once You Retire Early
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is sponsored by Danielson Legal, which provides top tier intellectual property legal services for the greatest value proposition availabl...
Inside An NBA Champion's Journey With Shaun Livingston From The Golden State Warriors
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I speak to my friend and 4-time NBA champ, Shaun Livingston about his journey from high school basketball prodigy to winning multiple championships wi...
Break Free From Sad Statistics: You Can Spend More Time With Your Adult Children If You Want To
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is sponsored by Danielson Legal, which provides top tier intellectual property legal services for the greatest value proposition availabl...
Busting Real Estate Collusion And Price Fixing With Attorney Mike Ketchmark
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After the real estate industry was found guilty of collusion by a Missouri jury, I spoke to lead trial lawyer, Mike Ketchmark about how the entire pro...
Top 1% Income And Net Worth By Age Keeps Getting Higher!
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is sponsored by Danielson Legal, which provides top tier intellectual property legal services for the greatest value proposition availabl...
Dealing With The Emotional Stress And Fear Of Buying A New Home
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After a couple of months, I was able to successfully convince my wife to upgrade homes! But now that she's on board, I'm afraid to move forward. I'm...
The Average American Household Is Now A Millionaire, But Not The Median
28 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Congrats! The average American household is now a millionaire according to the latest Federal Reserve Consumer Finance Survey. It's good to be average...
Creating A $1 Billion Fintech Startup And Understanding How 401(k) Plans Make Money With Roger Lee From Human Interest
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I talk to Roger Lee, Co-Founder of Human Interest, a YC-backed private company that offers 401(k) plans to small businesses. Human Interest raised $20...
Making $10,000+ A Month As A Freelancer To Support A Family Of Five With Eric Rosenberg
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I speak to Eric Rosenberg, a long-time blogging buddy, about his journey from corporate employee to freelance writer, podcaster, and web designer. Eri...
The Cure To Entitlement Mentality And Calculating The Cost Of A College Degree
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I figured out how to cure those afflicted with entitlement mentality! Once cured, I'm positive most will be happier and richer over their lifetimes. ...
Making Money As A Doctor Today, Burning Out, And Pursuing Entrepreneurship With Daniel Shin, MD
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I speak to doctor Daniel Shin about his journey to being a urologist in Southern California to leaving behind his $600,000 job and moving to Memphis, ...
Harnessing Fear To Build More Wealth With Farnoosh Torabi, Author Of A Healthy State Of Panic
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I speak to Farnoosh Torabi, host of the So Money podcast and author of her new book, A Health State Of Panic about fear. Specifically, we discuss how ...
Venture Capital Investing: Exploring The New Tech Innovation Fund With Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I speak to Ben Miller, Co-Founder and CEO of Fundrise about why his company started a new tech Innovation Fund. We explore why Ben thinks his firm has...
How To Get Better At Mastering Change In This Chaotic World With Brad Stulberg
16 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I speak with Brad Stulberg, author of Master of Change, about how to do just that in this chaotic, stressful, and every-changing world. Brad also wrot...
Why 401(k) Balances By Generation Are So Low And Why We Shouldn't Be Worried
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My wife and I talk about how shockingly low the median 401(k) balances are by generation. We also discuss why we think this is the case and why there ...
What It Takes To Be A Successful Creator with Srini Rao of the Unmistakable Creative Podcast
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I speak to Srinivas Rao host and founder of The Unmistakable Creative Podcast, where he has interviewed over 1,000 thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and...
How Buying A Home With Contingencies Can Make You Lots Of Money
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Buying a home with contingencies is rare during housing bull markets. But as higher mortgage rates dampen investor demand, being able to put in contin...
Becoming A Small And Mighty Real Estate Investor With Chad Carson
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I speak to Chad Carson about his new book, The Small And Mighty Real Estate Investor. Chad played linebacker for Clemson University a...
Life As A Concert Pianist And Understanding Talent With Charlie Albright
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I speak to Charlie Albright about his journey from being a pianist since three-and-a-half, to graduating Harvard and Juliard, to playing at some of th...
The Confidence Map And Making Better Sense Of Our Decisions With Peter Atwater
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I speak to Peter Atwater, author of The Confidence Map about understanding the role of emotions in decision making. Peter is also an adjunct professor...
In Case Of A Fire, What You Need To Know About Your Home Insurance Policy
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With the tragic fire that occurred in Lahaina, Maui, it's important to review your home insurance policy and understand what it does and does not cove...
Being A Journalist And Misconceptions About The Media with Anahad O'Connor From The Washington Post
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I talk to a long-time Financial Samurai reader, Anahad O'Connor from The Washington Post. Anahad worked at The New York Times for 20 years until movin...
When There Are No Other Options, Ironically, The Work Gets Easier
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I catch up with my wife, Sydney, about her trip to Japan. This is the first time she has been away from both kids since our son was born. I also share...
Creating The Karma Of Success With Executive Coach And Author Liz Tran
29 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I speak to Liz Tran about her new book, The Karma Of Success: Spiritual Strategies To Free Your Inner Genius, as well as her journey from a difficult ...
Real Estate Investment Opportunities And Risks With Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise
24 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I speak to Fundrise Co-Founder and CEO, Ben Miller, about his outlook for real estate, where he sees opportunity, and when to be careful regarding an ...
When You Find Yourself In A Bind, Remember The Navy SEAL Term: Full Benefit
22 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I talk to my wife about her losing her passport only a couple of months before her trip to Japan and how she solved her problem with some ingenuity. W...
Living The Digital Nomad Lifestyle With Dan Andrews of The Tropical MBA
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I speak to Dan Andrews, one of the OGs of the digital nomad movement. He started his site, The Tropical MBA (https://tropicalmba.com) in 2009 and has ...
Reclaiming Life From The Oppressive Grind Of Work With Simone Stolzoff
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I talk to Simone Stolzoff about his new book, The Good Enough Job. We talk about how to find more meaning and purpose through our job...
College Admissions Insights With Dr. John Durante from The CAPP
04 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My interview with Dr. John Durante from The College Admissions Process Podcast. John is also the Principal of Syosset High School in Long Island, New ...
Supreme Court Strikes Down Affirmative Action For College Admissions. Now What?
29 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On June 29, 2023, in a 6-3 decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court held that the policies violated the equal protection clause of th...
Why Paying Off Your Mortgage Early May Not Be The Right Move
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
To invest in real estate. take a look at Fundrise, my favorite private real estate platform. Fundrise has funds that invest primarily in single-famil...
Making MD At Goldman Sachs And Then Leaving It All Behind With Jamie Fiore Higgins, author of Bully Market
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I interview Jamie Fiore Higgins, author of Bully Market: My Story Of Money and Misogyny at Goldman Sachs. The book is a page-turner, and truly one of ...
Convincing My Wife To Upgrade Homes Is Hard: The Pros And Cons Of Moving
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My wife and I have a discussion about why we should upgrade homes or not. She's happy with where we are and doesn't want to move. I, on the other hand...
Working At Big Tech, Early Retirement FIRE, And Life After Facebook With Andre Nader
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I speak with Andre Nader about big tech salaries, getting a job at a FAANG company like Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google, FIRE, navigating...
Giving Up Your Day Job To Be A Rideshare Entrepreneur With Harry Campbell
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Harry Campbell, founder of TheRideshareGuy.com. Harry left his job at Boeing in his late 20s to focus on his site full-time. Today...
Car Mileage Versus Ownership Time When It Comes To Maintenance Expenses
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Car mileage is the main determinant of how often you'll have to spend fixing issues, even more so than the length of time you own the car. Here's a di...
Accepting The Trauma Of Remodeling A Home
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
To invest in real estate. take a look at Fundrise, my favorite private real estate platform. Fundrise has funds that invest primarily in single-famil...
The Active Investing versus Passive Investing Debate
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join 60,000+ others and sign up for my free weekly newsletter so you never miss a thing. You can also get every post I publish immediately in your inb...
How To Invest In Top Venture Capital And Venture Debt Funds
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join 60,000+ others and sign up for my free weekly newsletter so you never miss a thing. You can also get every post I publish immediately in your inb...
Becoming An E-Commerce Entrepreneur with Steve Chou from My Wife Quit Her Job
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this epsiode, I interview Steve Chou, founder of the blog My Wife Quit Her Job and author of The Family First Entrepreneur. If you're interested in...
Regrets And Wins Now That The Pandemic Is Over
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If the pandemic taught us anything, it's that life is not guaranteed. If you have debt and/or dependents, get life insurance. You can receive custom c...
The Median Income For Ivy League Gradates And Where They End Up Working
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For employees who plan to move on to a different job, try and negotiate a severance package so you can leave with money in your pocket. To learn how, ...
The Fed Hikes Rates To The Highest Level Since 2007, Now What?
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For more nuanced personal finance content, join 60,000+ others and sign up for the free Financial Samurai newsletter and posts via e-mail. Financial...
Higher Mortgage Fees For Those With Higher Credit Scores And Vice Versa
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Shop around online for a better mortgage rate with Credible. You can get multiple real quotes in one place so lenders can compete for your business....
Why Employees Need To Negotiate A Severance And Continuously Fight For Themselves
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For employees who plan to move on to a different job, try and negotiate a severance package so you can leave with money in your pocket. To learn how, ...
Buying A House In 2023 Is Looking More Attractive: Positive Reasons Why And Some Negatives
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
To invest in real estate. take a look at Fundrise, my favorite private real estate platform. Fundrise has funds that invest primarily in single-famil...
Generational Wealth And Two More Solutions For Anxious Parents
15 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Please take a moment to rate and review this podcast! It helps keep us going. This podcast is ad-free and a labor of love. To build generational wea...