The Financial Samurai Podcast
Episodes
Beating FAFSA And The College Financial Aid System To Get Free Money
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For 99.99% less than the cost of college, pick up a copy of Buy This, Not That, my instant Wall Street Journal bestseller. The book helps you mak...
The Many Ways To Pay For College So You Don't Go Broke
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join 60,000+ others and sign up for my free weekly newsletter. I dissect all the most important financial topics of the week so you don't miss a thing...
Being A Venture Capitalist, Investing In Venture Capital, And Navigating Capital Calls
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With mortgage rates dropping, the demand for real estate is picking up. Further, the desire to own real assets is also increasing with all this funny ...
Why The Ideal Number Of Banking Relationships Is Three
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With bank runs everywhere, I hope everybody is conducting an internal review of your existing banking relationships! I've done mine and I've decided ...
Treasury Bond Yields And Regional Banks Are Collapsing And A Refocus On Real Assets
13 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you enjoy the Financial Samurai podcast and this episode, please leave a great 5-star review! It keeps me motivated to keep recording. Thank you. ...
Why Would Silicon Valley Bank Buy 10-Year Treasury Bonds Near The Top Of The Market?
11 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join 55,000+ others and sign up for my free weekly newsletter and get my posts delivered to your e-mail by subscribing here. To gain more financial ...
The Right Marginal Income Tax Bracket To Contributing Or Converting To A Roth IRA
09 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
To explore whether to convert funds to a Roth IRA, check out NewRetirement. It's Roth Conversion Explorer tool enables you to test out your Roth IRA c...
How To Permanently Defeat Inflation And Save Your Budget
02 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Give yourself or others the gift of financial education by picking up a copy of Buy This, Not That. It is your unfair competitive advantage to build...
Stocks versus Treasury Bonds versus Cash In 2023
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For more nuanced personal finance content, join 55,000+ others and sign up for the free Financial Samurai newsletter and posts via e-mail. Financia...
Why Early Retirement / FIRE Is Becoming Obsolete
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For more nuanced personal finance content, join 55,000+ others and sign up for the free Financial Samurai newsletter and posts via e-mail. Financia...
The Ideal Amount Of Passive Income To Make And Invested Capital To Accumulate Based On Tax Rates
09 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join 55,000+ others and sign up for the free Financial Samurai newsletter and posts via e-mail. Financial Samurai is one of the largest independentl...
The Best Reason To Retire Early
02 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For more nuanced personal finance content, join 55,000+ others and sign up for the free Financial Samurai newsletter and posts via e-mail. Financia...
Why FEAR Will Make You Rich, Fit, Happy, And Free
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For more nuanced personal finance content, join 55,000+ others and sign up for the free Financial Samurai newsletter and posts via e-mail. Financia...
Why Working Hard Might No Longer Be Necessary To Get Ahead Due To A De-emphasis In Merit
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Perhaps working hard to make money and get ahead is overrated. With the decline in merit-based compensation and rewards, it may be strategically bette...
The Danger Of Buying Stocks On Margin
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Buying stocks on margin is a terrible idea. You could lose all your money. What's worse, you could lose a lot of time and the respect of your peers. P...
Financial Samurai 2022 Year In Review And 2023 Goals
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year! Here's a recap of 2022 and our goals for 2023. We'd love to hear about how 2022 went for you and what are your plans for 2023! Posts m...
Find Outlets For Your Outlets, Pickleball, And Community
27 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I hope everyone is having a wonderful winter holiday! In this episode, I wanted to share my love for pickleball, why you should play it, and the impor...
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
25 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dear Financail Samurai listeners, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Thanks for listening to my podcast all year and also sharing my work. Financiall...
Surprising Solutions To The Loneliness Epidemic: You Don't Have To Stay Alone If You Don't Want To
22 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The loneliness epidemic has grown since the pandemic began. I fear most for our children who seem like they've taken the biggest hit. Here are some s...
2023 Housing Price Forecasts: Reversion To The Mean
19 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Here's a look at the various 2023 housing price forecasts from some of the top economists, real estate companies, and think tanks. I also offer my 202...
The Fed Is Determined To Crush The Economy: What Now?
17 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join 55,000+ subscribers and sign up for my free weekly newsletter. This way, you'll never miss a thing, and learn to build more wealth in a risk-appr...
The Second Biggest Financial Mistake Of Your Life
15 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join 55,000+ subscribers and sign up for my free weekly newsletter. This way, you'll never miss a thing, and learn to build more wealth in a risk-appr...
Why Owning Rental Properties Is Both Bad And Good For Your Health
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I have a love hate relationship with owning rental property real estate. On the one hand, my rental properties are one of the main reason why I had t...
Minimalism Is The Way If You Want To Retire Early, Stay Retired, And Live A Happier Life
12 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our lives get naturally more complicated as we get older. Therefore, it takes active effort to keep everything from getting out of hand. Here's a ser...
The Elites Don't Have It Better Than Us! What We Learn From The New York Times Strike
09 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The New York Times strike demonstrates the elites have issues too. Despite having all the money, power, and access in the world, there's always a desi...
2023 Wall Street S&P 500 Forecasts: Nobody Knows What's Going On!
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Let's discuss the 2023 Wall Street S&P 500 forecasts. The range is from 3,625 to 4,500, which means there is no consensus as to where the stock market...
The Best Age To Get Life Insurance And Quantifying Your Anxiety Of Death
04 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We are currently experiencing a tridemic: flu, RSV, and COVID-19. Many children are sick this winter and it reminds me of the importance of life insur...
The Best Age Range To Retire And Live Your Best Life
14 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Thinking about retiring? Contrary to popular belief, the ideal age to retire is not ASAP! After 10 years of early retirement, or fake retirement as I ...
How To Become A Better Investment Forecaster And Make More Money
11 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, I came up with a thesis on November 1, 2022 that the 2.7% decline in the Series I Bond rate was the most bullish economic indicator I've see...
Lessons From The FTX Cryptocurrency Exchange Collapse
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
FTX, the second largest cryptocurrency exchange collapse overnight from over $16 billion to $0. A discussion on what happened and what we can learn as...
The Most Bullish Economic Indicator Of The Year
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the Treasury department announced Series I bonds will pay an annualized interest from November 1, 2022 through April 2023 of 6.89%, down fr...
Silver Lining Of A Bear Market: Easier To Generate More Passive Income
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Although going through another bear market is a bummer, the positive is we can all generate more passive income! And given we can now generate more pa...
How To Quantify Your Risk Tolerance, Invest More Appropriately, And Reduce Emotion When Investing
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Investing during a bear market can be a very emotional experience. Learn how to quantify your risk tolerance, have a more risk-appropriate asset alloc...
How I'm Investing My Cash In This Bear Market
03 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Here's a deep dive into how I'm investing my cash stash in this bear market to make money, stay liquid, and take advantage of the current situation. ...
How To Buy Treasury Bonds And Bond Buying Strategies To Consider
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This may be the most important episode you will listen to this month. With interest rates zooming higher, the interest in treasury bonds has also skyr...
One-Year Treasury Bills Look Very Attractive At 4%
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Although the Fed still plans to aggressively hike the Fed Funds rate as inflation and the economy is slowing down, look at the positive. Short-term tr...
Inflation, Safe Havens, And Housing Price Predictions
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Unfortunately, August 2022 inflation data came in above expectations, resulting in rising bond yields and a collapse in the S&P 500. In this episode, ...
The Ideal Income And Net Worth For Maximum Happiness According To The Government
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder what the ideal income and net worth is for maximum happiness? Look no further than the income threshold the federal government decided for...
The Quiet Quitting Movement Is A Net Positive For Society
23 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You could view the Quiet Quitting Movement as just another weak excuse by the younger generation not to work as hard. Or, you could see it as a huge n...
5 Years Of Private Real Estate Investing Later Here Are 7 Important Lessons
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I started investing in private real estate funds and syndication deals at the end of 2016. I'm now firmly in the window where distributions will start...
Buy This, Not That Is Now Live! Behind The Scenes
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
My new book, Buy This, Not That: How To Spend Your Way To Wealth And Freedom, is now LIVE! Order a hardcopy online today by clicking the link or call ...
Speak Up For Yourself And Fight For More Opportunities You Deserve
18 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you don't speak up for yourself, nobody else will. As a result, you must fight for every opportunity you think you deserve. Don't be shy. Don't fee...
The Minimum Net Worth You Need To Feel Wealthy
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Here is a logical and smart way to determine your financial satisfication and happiness. The Financial Samurai Wealth Reality Ratio will also determi...
10 Years Of Fake Retirement Later: 11 Important Lessons Learned
04 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Thinking of retiring early to pursue new interests? In June 2022, I celebrated my 10-year anniversary of early retirement, or as I like to say, fake r...
Thoughts On Investing In Stocks And Real Estate For The Second Half Of 2022
26 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mythoughts on investing in stocks and real estate for the second half of 2022. I'm getting more optimistic that inflation is currently peaking. As a r...
The Biggest Benefit Of A Bear Market
16 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The bear market is here again! But there is a silver lining that I want to talk about in this episode. It's for all you hard-working, burned out folks...
The Two Levels Rich And How To Be Truly Rich
02 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Most of the personal finance community loves to recommend index funds as a way to get rich. However, the truly rich didn't get rich by investing in in...
Deciding On Whether To Sell Or Keep Renting Out Your Investment Property In A High Inflation Environment
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As a landlord, you are always faced with a dilemma about whether to sell or keep renting out your property after there's turnover. As a result, let me...
Why I Wrote Buy This, Not That: How To Spend Your Way To Wealth And Freedom
05 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hi everyone! Thanks to all of you who pre-order a hard copy of my new book coming out on June 28, 2022 with Portfolio Penguin. If you haven't ordered ...
A Great Strategy To Building More Wealth Easier
01 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I think sometimes, we focus too much on saving, investing, and working hard to build more wealth. Instead, there's an easier way, and that's finding a...
Follow A Dynamic Safe Withdrawal Rate In Retirement
25 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to have a better retirement, feel less stressed, and be happier, follow a dynamic safe withdrawal rate. Posts mentioned: https://www.fi...
How Millionaires Pay Zero Federal Income Taxes
18 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered how some millionaires and multi-millionaires can pay zero federal income taxes? You'll find out how in this post. Posts referen...
The Benefits Of Investing In Private Funds Like Venture Capital, Venture Debt, Private Equity, Real Estate
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Here are 8 reasons why you may want to invest in private funds. There are a couple reasons that nobody really talks about or thinks about that could m...
How A New Fed Rate-Hike Cycle Impacts Stocks And Your Wallet
17 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Fed has finally started to raise rates for the first time since December, 2018. Let's look at how stocks have performed during previous rate hike ...
4 Signs A Recession Is Imminent And What To Do About It
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Unfortunately, there's a high likelihood a recession will arrive in the U.S. over the next 12 months. Let me share four reasons why and what to do abo...
5 Financial Observations Since The Start Of The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine
26 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As a student of finance, here are five important financial observations I observed since Russia started a war with Ukraine. Knowing these five things ...
Three Reasons Why I'm Not Worried About Inflation
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Inflation hit a 40-year high at 7.5% recently. There also seems to be a lot of panic and misguided fears. Here are 3 reasons why inflation will fade b...
Capital Preservation And The Right Contribution Order
20 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With 2022 off to a rocky start, I thought it would be good to discuss about capital preservation investments and the right contribution order between ...
2022 Stock Market Forecast From FS And Wall Street
03 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Here is my 2022 stock market forecast and the reasons why. It's going to be a much tougher year to make money in the stock market, which is why I reco...
2022 Housing Market Forecast: The Boom Continues
30 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Here is my 2022 housing market forecast where I predict how much the median home price will increase, the 11 reasons why I think they will, and the ar...
Entrepreneurship Versus Employee
23 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Being an entrepreneur might sound nice, but the pressure is always on. The benefits of being an employee are the most apparent during the winter holid...
As Good As It Gets? Let's Talk I Bonds And Negative Real Interest Rates
16 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When you can borrow money at a negative real interest rate and invest in a guaranteed positive real return, you've got it made! Let's discuss this fas...
Is Slacking Off At Work Stealing?
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
CEO of Better.com Vishal Garg said 250 of the 900 people he laid off were stealing from him and his clients by only working two hours a day. Is slacki...
The Downside Of Target Date Funds
03 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Investing in two target-date funds for my children's 529 plans has cost me over $30,000 so far in lost profits. Here are some downsides to target-date...
Why You Don't Need To Worry Too Much About Inflation
18 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Although inflation is at its highest rate in 30 years, inflation should normalize in 2022 and beyond. Instead, we should start worrying about a boom B...
Don't Confuse Brains With A Bull Market
12 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In a bull market, it's easy to get carried away. Just be careful not to think you're an investing genius when it's really the bull market that is help...
The Best Time To Own The Nicest House You Can Afford
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We only have about a 20-year window to own the nicest house we can afford. After this 20-year window closes, it will likely be shut forever. If you're...
Using Data To Make Winning Investment Decisions
26 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There is a tremendous amount of data that can help you make better investment decisions. One strategy I used was the FS20 guide for property buying. A...
Social Security Robs From The Poor and Gives To The Rich
19 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Social Security is our national pension fund that is underfunded by about 22%. With a massive cost-of-living adjustment in 2022, Social Security actua...
A Roth IRA Conversion Is Probably A Waste Of Time And Money
11 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I've thought a lot about doing a Roth IRA conversion lately given it might go away in 2022 and beyond. But I've come to the conclusion that for most p...
Public School Versus Private School: Why More Public Schools Will Rank Higher Over Time
25 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As a public school graduate and parent, the debate between public school versus private school is fascinating. I think for the vast majority of people...
The Best Time To Go To Work Is During A Pandemic
16 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Is the grass greener on the other side? Maybe! But it sure seems like work is awesome for knowledge workers during the pandemic. I discuss this topic ...
The Investment Crossover Point Where Work No Longer Matters
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are you feeling less and less motivated to work because your investment returns are surpassing your active income? Let's discuss the crossover point ...
The Importance Of Always Thinking Ahead Even If People Think You're Crazy
24 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you dare to publicly think ahead, you may be beaten over the head. However, it's important to always plan for the future and forecast how things mi...
Why The U.S. Housing Market Could Go Up Another 30%+: Canada Comparison
16 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Although the U.S. housing market is very strong, there's a likelihood prices could go up even further if it gets as hot as the Canadian housing market...
Why An Umbrella Policy Is A Must To Protect Your Assets
05 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Investors have gotten surprisingly much wealthier since the pandemic began. Therefore, it's important to protect your assets with an umbrella policy. ...
The Ideal Time To Contribute To A Roth IRA
29 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The ideal time to contribute to a Roth IRA is when you're young and poor. In other words, if you're a student and in your 20s earning less than the ma...
What If You Buy A Home A The Top Of The Market?
22 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The housing market is hot, hot, hot! Even though I think with 80% certainly that the housing market will continue to go up every year for the next thr...
Two Retirement Philosophies To Determine Your Safe Withdrawal Rate
27 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The retirement philosophy you follow will determine whether you agree with the 4% rule or the Financial Samurai Safe Withdrawal Rate Rule. Posts menti...
Housing FOMO Is The Most Intense Type Of FOMO
13 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Once you have housing FOMO, there's no escape. Your housing FOMO tends to increase dramatically after having kids. Beware! Related post: Why Real Est...
Why The Housing Market Won't Crash Any Time Soon
24 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Here are 15 reasons why the housing market won't crash. I predict high single-digit price appreciation for the next three years. Stay long and strong...
The Biggest Negative Of Paying Down You Mortgage Early
02 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Let's discuss the absolute biggest negative of paying down your mortgage early. Here are all the negatives of paying down your mortgage early as well...
Is The Stock Market In A Bubble? Gamestop Mania & Hedge Fund Implosions
01 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are you wondering whether the stock market is in a bubble due to all the mania surrounding Gamestop, AMC Entertainment and more? Let's discuss what ha...
2021 Financial Samurai Forecast For Stocks, Bonds, Real Estate
06 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
2021 Financial Samurai forecast for stocks, bonds, real estate, the economy, and the 10-year bond yield. These forecasts will dictate how I asset allo...
French Laundry, Kids, Investing, And The Future
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Hi Folks! Checking in during the holidays. We've been trying to take things easier and plan for a long winter a head. My wife and I talk about French ...
Mortgage Market Abnormalities To Take Advantage Of
11 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are two mortgage market abnormalities worth taking advantage of right now by homeowners and potential homeowners. Further, if economic for...
Lottery Admissions Or An Entrance Exam For Schools
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
My wife and I debate whether a lottery admissions or an entrance exam is better for students, teachers, parents, and society. You can read the post ...
The Ideal Age To Retire And Live Your Best Life
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
My wife and I discuss our retirements at 34 and 35, respectively. We also discuss the ideal age we think people should retire if they can. Life is bot...
Big City Living Is Alive And Kicking
01 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The demise of big city living is overblown. Big city living has gotten better post pandemic given there's less congestion, less competition, and more ...
The Right Amount Of Money To Give And Leave Our Children
01 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is the right amount of money to give our adult children while we are alive without spoiling the heck out of them? What is the right amount of mon...
The 4 Percent Rule Is Obsolete: Follow A 0.5 Percent Safe Withdrawal Rate Instead
17 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The 4 percent rule is outdated. It was established in 1998 when the 10-year bond yield was at ~5 percent. Of course you're never going to run out of m...
Homeschool For Life! The End Of Traditional Education Starts Now
30 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After giving homeschooling a lot of though, my wife and I have decided to go the homeschooling route. COVID-19 was just the catalyst to get us over th...
Hunting For Unicorns: Don't Get Too Carried Away With Active Investing
15 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
So you love chasing unicorn stocks to get rich. So do I! However, you should probably be more judicious with your active and passive investing split. ...
Should We Worried About Inflation? Don't Be Silly
01 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For those who are worried about inflation, don't be. There is not going to be inflation or inflation worries for years, if ever. I've got to believe...
The State Of The Housing And Mortgage Industry During A Pandemic
23 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It looks like demand for buying a home has hit an 11-year high. Before you buy a home, it's good to know what's going on in the mortgage industry. The...
How Climate Change May Affect Real Estate Prices
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Let's have a discussion on how climate change may affect real estate prices. Your desire for a beachfront home might be misplaced. But maybe it's best...
Pay Down Mortgage Debt Or Invest? A Logical Framework
09 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wondering whether to pay down your mortgage debt or invest? I go through a logical framework of how to do both, and also highlight the extra benefits ...
Standing Up Against Racism In America
01 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Racism is systemic in America. We must speak up and fight back against racism. We must share our stories and hold racists accountable for their action...
College Is Becoming Too Risky Of A Gamble To Make
28 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I've been skeptical about college for a while, but now that the pandemic has hit and tens of millions of jobs are lost and perhaps never coming back, ...
Where Does The Stock Market Go From Here? S&P 500 3,000 Edition
25 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With such a massive 30%+ rebound from the lows in March 2020, the S&P 500 is almost back to 3,000. I discuss why I've de-risked in my taxable investme...