The Finest Of Monetary Samurai 2025: 100 Million Readers Served

In July 2009, I began Monetary Samurai to make sense of the financial destruction unfolding on the time. I had been toying with the thought since 2006, once I graduated half time from UC Berkeley’s enterprise college, however stored kicking the can down the street. After shedding round 40 p.c of my internet price in simply six months, losses that took a decade to construct, I noticed it was now or by no means.

I promised myself I might publish 3 times per week for 10 years. Once I reached that aim in July 2019, I merely stored going. There are too many fascinating developments on the planet and too many ideas in my head to cease.

In 2025, I revealed 156 posts and 52 free weekly newsletters. Monetary Samurai now has greater than 2,500 articles and has now been learn by over 100 million folks. Under are a few of my favourite and most impactful posts from 2025, organized by matter.

For background, I earned my diploma in economics from the School of William & Mary earlier than Berkeley. I then spent 13 years working in equities at Goldman Sachs and Credit score Suisse earlier than retiring from finance in 2012 at age 34. Due to my mother and father’ work within the U.S. International Service, I grew up within the Philippines, Zambia, Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia earlier than coming to america for highschool in 1995. I have been based mostly on San Francisco since 2001.

The Finest Investing Posts On Monetary Samurai 2025

As an active investor, 2025 felt like a continuing battle between defending my wealth and happening the offensive. In my quest to outperform the markets and maximize each greenback I’ve, I burned out. I’m now not certain my portfolio’s outperformance was price it.

It Feels Like 1999 Again: Time To Party Without Blacking Out – Valuations are stretched and FOMO is operating to the max. Some ideas on the best way to take part within the upside with out shedding the whole lot when issues flip bitter.

The Sad Need For Investing Big Money To Make Life-Changing Money – Even when your bullish name is right and also you make investments, in case you do not make investments a major quantity, nothing actually modifications.

The Richest People Are Not Index Fund Fanatics, Why Are You? – Everyone loves index funds and ETFs, so do I. However as a substitute of viewing index funds as a method to get wealthy, the rich view index funds extra as a method to protect capital.

Buying The Dip: How To Overcome Fear During A Correction And Prosper – When the following dip comes, will you’re taking benefit or sit on the sidelines in worry? Within the historical past of the inventory market, shopping for the dip after which holding for 10 years has made you cash.

Safeguarding Your Future From AI: The Existential Crisis Playbook – It’s apparent to me that our kids will discover a harder time discovering knowledge-work employment after highschool and school. Additional, current employees ought to be nervous that AI will ultimately eradicate their jobs.

The Finest FIRE Posts On Monetary Samurai 2025

In 2009, I helped kickstart the modern-day FIRE movement by writing about my journey to make sufficient passive income to flee company America for good. Since then, FIRE has grown right into a world-wide phenomena as extra folks try to save and make investments aggressively to interrupt free sooner.

The Third Rule Of Financial Independence Could Also Be Your Biggest Regret – For those who do not observe this rule, you won’t be able to retire early with out consistently worrying about cash.

FIRE May Make Building Multi-Generational Wealth Impossible – In case your aim is to make sure your grandchildren are taken care of, it will likely be exhausting to do in case you retire early.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Impact On FIRE Seekers – There are some important monetary modifications that ought to aid you save and construct extra wealth in 2026 and past.

The Early Retiree’s Guide To Funding Retirement Accounts – For those who’re decided to retire early, then here is a logical information on the best way to fund your numerous portfolios.

The Precarious Life Of Dual Unemployed Parents – For those who suppose FIREing with out youngsters is difficult, it’s far tougher for each mother and father to remain retired with youngsters. Because of this you typically see one one that is FIRE have a working partner to offer healthcare, revenue, and retirement advantages.

Having Kids Might Not Hurt Your Ideal FIRE Lifestyle After All – Having youngsters will suck up all of your free time in case you allow them to. Nevertheless, after each youngsters began college, I used to be pleasantly stunned by how a lot trip time they’ve a 12 months plus summer season, winter, and spring holidays.

The Finest Actual Property Posts On Monetary Samurai 2025

For the primary 15 years out of school, actual property was my favorite asset class for constructing wealth. Nevertheless, the asset class has been caught in impartial, or reverse, since inflation surged and the Fed aggressively jacked up rates of interest beginning in 2022.

Why Housing Affordability Could Be At An All-Time High – It baffles me why no one is discussing this perspective. If I wasn’t in my late 40s, I would be shopping for up as many prime properties as attainable.

In Defense Of Owning A Big Beautiful Home Over A Small One – Private finance nerds like to be frugal with a view to maximize their hole between revenue and bills. However here is a seldom mentioned tackle why having an incredible home could possibly be price it.

A Paid Off Home Is A Great Shield Against Fear And Uncertainty – Though many argue that paying off your mortgage is unhealthy, I discovered the scenario gave me the braveness to aggressively purchase the dip in March and April. Having no mortgage could encourage you to take extra dangers to earn more money as nicely.

Deciding Between Accepting A Preemptive Offer Or Listing On The Open Market – I needed to resolve between the 2 once I tried to promote my home in 2025. Listed below are some tips that can assist you decide the best path for you.

A 50-Year Mortgage Is Fantastic For Homeowners And Investors – The knee-jerk response by many is {that a} 50-year mortgage is unfavorable. However in case you dig into the numbers, I believe you may change your thoughts.

The Finest Household Funds Posts On Monetary Samurai 2025

Since my son was born in 2017 and my daughter was born in 2019, I’ve shifted my focus to being a keep at residence dad. My youngsters are my predominant motivators to maintain grinding once I do not wish to.

The Main Way To Save Your Children From AI Is To Invest In AI – That is the largest no-brainer answer if you’re fearful about AI destroying your youngsters’s job prospects and stopping them from turning into impartial adults.

I initiated a brand new $197,100 Fundrise Venture place in August, earmarked for my youngsters over the following 10-12 years. That is along with my company account. My aim is to contribute one other $100,000 over the following 12 months if money movement permits. Fundrise is a long-time sponsor of Monetary Samurai as our funding philosophies are aligned.

Mommies, Nannies, Au Pairs And Me: The End Of Being A SAHD – For those who’re considering of giving up your profession to be a keep at residence dad, listed here are some reflections on what to anticipate. This submit is for mothers too.

Rich Bank Of Mom & Dads Are Everywhere – Accept And Adapt – You possibly can both rail towards the unfairness of grownup youngsters getting large assist from their mother and father, or you possibly can work out the best way to do the identical. There isn’t any equal taking part in discipline in life. Dad and mom will rationally do no matter it takes to make sure their youngsters launch.

The Income Limit To Qualify For College Scholarships And Grants – I’ve met lots of people who suppose they merely make an excessive amount of to obtain free cash for school. This text would possibly shock you, as loads of multi-six-figure earners get grants.

How to Make Your Children Millionaires Before They Leave Home – For those who consider the world received’t give your youngsters a good shake after they graduate, then you must make them financially impartial in order that they by no means should depend on gatekeepers to find out their future. I labored with ProjectionLab, a unbelievable monetary planning instrument to supply this text.

The Finest Tradition & Society Posts On Monetary Samurai 2025

Be An American Nerd, Not The Cool Kid If You Want To Survive – Being cool gives for a greater social life. However being a nerd will enhance your probabilities of constructing way more wealth. And so far as I can inform, all of the nerds I’ve met are married, so do not worry being undesirable in case you’re out of form, do not play sports activities, and have minimal different abilities. Cash attracts.

Millionaire Early Retirees Probably Shouldn’t Get Healthcare Subsidies – You possibly can have a as much as a ~$3.5 million internet price, and spending on how a lot revenue it generates, you possibly can earn obtain large healthcare subsidies.

Identity Diversification May Be As Important As Investment Diversification – Given we went by a interval the place your identification grew to become an necessary deciding think about whether or not you bought into college or landed a job, it is price trying into your cultural heritage.

How Cultural Differences Can Hurt Your Chances In The Workplace – For those who’re a part of the bulk or had been born and raised in America, you would possibly by no means should take care of such sticky conditions.

The Finest Wealth Administration Posts On Monetary Samurai 2025

In Could 2025, I revealed my USA TODAY nationwide bestseller, Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps to Seven Figures. My mission was to put in writing an actionable, punchy e-book that helps readers construct extra wealth and break away sooner. Consequently, I discovered myself serious about millionaire matters way more ceaselessly all year long.

Poor versus Rich Millionaire: Liquidity Is The Main Difference – You possibly can really feel poor regardless of your internet price if you do not have sufficient liquidity.

Not Regularly Checking Your Net Worth Has Some Great Benefits – For those who’re a private finance fanatic, you in all probability test your internet price a number of occasions per week. Nevertheless, identical to how spending an excessive amount of time on social media is unhealthy on your well being, so could checking your internet price too ceaselessly.

How You’ll Feel Reaching Various Millionaire Milestones Between $1 – $20 Million – This is some fascinating insights into individuals who’ve achieved numerous millionaire ranges. You’d suppose after possibly $5 or $10 million, you may now not have cash worries, however you would be mistaken.

The Hidden Dangers Of Earning Risk-Free Passive Income – This is a crucial submit as a result of I discovered myself getting lulled into complacency with 4% – 5% risk-free Treasury bond yields. I keep in mind making an analogous mistake shopping for an excessive amount of Treasury bonds throughout and proper after the monetary disaster. So I did not wish to make the identical mistake once more.

Writing Is a Fantastic Type of Intentional Pondering

I do know long-form studying and writing are going out of favor due to social media and short-form movies. Nonetheless, in case you can muster the endurance to learn a deep-dive article, I believe you’ll get way more out of the expertise.

For those who ever wish to resolve an issue, attempt writing a paper with a transparent thesis, physique, and conclusion. I promise you’ll shock your self with new views and turn into a greater thinker within the course of. You would possibly even take motion that modifications your life for the higher.

Thanks for studying, sharing, and supporting my work all 12 months. If somebody going by a scenario I’ve written about, I believe they’d respect receiving the article. Every thing I write relies on firsthand expertise, whether or not it’s an issue I’m attempting to resolve or an surprising final result you will not be conscious of.

In case you have any favourite posts, I’d love to listen to them.

You possibly can obtain new articles in your inbox as quickly as they’re revealed by signing up here. You can too subscribe to my free weekly publication here, the place I recap crucial monetary information of the week and share what I’m doing with my very own cash.

To Your Monetary Freedom,

Sam