Happy New Year everyone! I hope you\u2019re enjoying the time off and doing some reflecting. I\u2019ve returned to San Francisco and am ready to relax some more!<\/p>\n
Now that I’ve shared my 2024 year in review<\/a>, I wanted to share my goals and resolutions for 2025. Although 2024 was a great year, I still have many areas of improvement.<\/p>\n I executed most of my 2024 goals, but failed to do the following: <\/p>\n My theme for 2024 was \u201cOne last year of intense focus.\u201d I wrote in my 2024 goals post<\/a>:<\/p>\n Fatigue has set in, reminiscent of 2011 when I pondered leaving investment banking for good. That burnout prompted a much-needed change of pace. Ironically, a day job is much easier than being a stay-at-home parent!<\/p>\n Perhaps it’s a mid-life crisis at 46, where I sense my body slowing down, and time is slipping away faster than ever. The urgency to maximize the remaining years of robust health is palpable. I’m not sure how much longer I can keep this pace, hence my theme.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n I want to return to the basics of living a simple, early retirement lifestyle<\/a>. Sitting on a beach in Laie, Oahu, reflecting on the year, I was reminded of what a good life means to me: health, freedom, family, and friends. Riches, fame, or status weren\u2019t top of mind.<\/p>\n One of the great things about Hawaii is that all beaches are public. Even the poorest person can enjoy the same shoreline as a billionaire with an oceanfront mansion. As I walked along the beach at 8 a.m. in December, wearing just shorts, I thought about how incredible it was to bask in the free warmth of the sun.<\/p>\n Sharing the experience with excited children dancing around and a loving wife made it all the more special. I didn\u2019t need a lot of money to be happy. <\/p>\n However, returning to a simple life won\u2019t come without effort. To live by my theme for 2025, my #1 goal is the following:<\/p>\n After trying part-time consulting for four months<\/a>, I realized how much I dislike meetings, commuting, and being told what to do. While it was valuable to see firsthand how hard people in the startup world work, I\u2019ve confirmed that it\u2019s not the right fit for me at this stage in my life.<\/p>\n The only way I’d return to work is if I got an exceptional offer from a promising AI company, with significant autonomy and enormous upside. But I assign only a 1% chance of that happening since unicorns aren’t real. To get something great, you’ve got to go out and take it. <\/p>\n With my liquidity back to comfortable levels, I\u2019ve decided to stop searching for employment altogether. Staying unemployed \/ semi-retired simplifies my life. The only meetings I\u2019ll attend are the ones I choose\u2014perhaps one or two calls a week at most.<\/p>\n Yes, earning a lot of money and gaining status in society<\/a> can be appealing. However, I\u2019m determined to beat back these desires so I can be as free as possible. Without the obligations of work, I\u2019ll have more time to write, play sports, exercise, and spend uninterrupted moments with my family.<\/p>\n Family will always be my top priority for as long as I live. Fatherhood, which began for me in 2017, is still a relatively new journey and the most challenging role to navigate. I\u2019m committed to doing my best to foster a strong, healthy relationship with my children as they grow.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve come to see that some of the most troubled people I\u2019ve encountered experienced above-average levels of childhood trauma<\/a>, which includes neglect, emotional and physical abuse, accidents, rancorous divorces, death of a parent, and addiction. I know this because I\u2019ve had the privilege of having tens of thousands of folks from all walks of life comment on Financial Samurai since 2009. And some of them have opened up about their backgrounds.<\/p>\n My goal is to minimize such wounds for my kids while maximizing unconditional love, learning, and joy in their lives.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve always disliked flying, especially with young kids who are unruly and won\u2019t remember their travels. But now that both of my children are over 5, they\u2019re potty-trained and mostly self-sufficient. Best of all, they\u2019re at an age where they\u2019ll actually remember<\/em> the trips we take, making the experience much more rewarding.<\/p>\n For 2025, I plan to do at least two of these trips:<\/p>\n I grew up living in Zambia, the Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia before coming to America for high school. Later, I spent 13 years working in international equities, which had me constantly traveling. <\/p>\n I\u2019d like my children to travel so they can experience different cultures, develop a greater appreciation for what they have, and become better communicators.<\/p>\n One of my goals is to cultivate a love of reading in my kids. The first step is reading to them consistently, at least five days a week. Next, I\u2019d like them to read to me for 15 minutes daily, five days a week. Finally, I want to find books they genuinely enjoy, so they\u2019ll want to read independently.<\/p>\n Growing up, I loved reading\u00a0Hardy Boys<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0The Great Brain<\/em>\u00a0series. But when I transitioned to\u00a0Choose Your Own Adventure<\/em>\u00a0books, my mom wouldn\u2019t let me read them. That restriction killed my joy for reading; I rebelled by refusing to read what I could have for a while.<\/p>\n To encourage my kids to enjoy reading, I\u2019ll lead by example and read more myself. Once they enjoy reading on their own, they can learn an endless amount of things. <\/p>\n The aftercare pickleball sessions at their school filled up quickly, and private lessons cost $140 per hour. As a 4.5-level pickleball player with patience and 3 years of teaching high school tennis, I\u2019ve decided to teach them myself. I\u2019ve already taught them how to bike and swim, so this will be another fun skill to add.<\/p>\n Pickleball is easier for young kids to pick up than tennis and should be more fun. Once they\u2019ve learned the basics, I\u2019ll teach them tennis as well. I don\u2019t expect them to become great athletes or win college scholarships<\/a>. However, knowing how to play a sport can make life more enjoyable and social. I plan to spend 30\u201360 minutes every weekend practicing pickleball with my kids.<\/p>\n Playing softball during the pandemic for three years lifted my spirits. It also introduced me to new friends, including some I now play poker with regularly.<\/p>\n Being part of a community is wonderful. In 2024, I thoroughly enjoyed volunteering at my children\u2019s school. It was rewarding to see my kids during the day, connect with other parents, and get to know the staff. I think my kids will appreciate seeing their dad surprise them on occasion as well, and perhaps instill in them the spirit of volunteering in the future.<\/p>\n If I can do two or three things well a year, I feel it’s a good year. I made the most of my final year as a stay-at-home father<\/a> in 2024, while focusing on strengthening our finances. Now that both kids are in school full-time, I no longer identify as a stay-at-home parent. Moving forward, I\u2019ll embrace my identity as a writer.<\/p>\n After over two years of hard work, I\u2019m thrilled to release my second book with Portfolio Penguin in May 2025. Like my first book,\u00a0Buy This Not That<\/em>, it focuses on personal finance. I\u2019ll share all the details by March 2025.<\/p>\n With\u00a0Buy This Not That<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, I poured a lot of energy into making it a bestseller\u2014and succeeded. It\u2019s satisfying to know I\u2019ll always be a national bestselling author. However, the relentless marketing took a toll on my happiness, as I much prefer writing to promoting.<\/p>\n This time, I\u2019ll still participate in podcasts and interviews to discuss the book, as it is my commitment to Portfolio Penguin, but my main focus will be enjoying the process. Making a national bestseller list is no longer a goal.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve found peace in the mindset of:\u00a0\u201cIf you want to read the book to improve your financial life, fantastic! If not, that\u2019s fine too.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0This approach has worked well for Financial Samurai, where I avoid heavy social media or marketing and write simply because I enjoy it.<\/p>\n However, promoting a book while maintaining a low-key lifestyle is a contradictory act. Threading this needle will be a difficult challenge.<\/p>\n Few things bring me more joy than a proper nap after lunch. Whether it\u2019s 30 minutes or a glorious hour-long snooze, naps recharge me. For them to be truly effective, I need at least a 1.5-hour window\u2014this eliminates stress about oversleeping or rushing to fall asleep.<\/p>\n In 2024, I overbooked this time slot with activities like tennis, pickleball, and long lunches. While enjoyable, they often left me squeezing in short naps after 3:30 PM, which threw off my evenings and bedtime. Frankly, 2024 was overwhelming from an activities standpoint<\/a> and I want to do less. <\/p>\n Naps improve my energy for the afternoon and evening with my kids, boost my mood, and enhance creativity. Plus, studies suggest napping lowers blood pressure, reduces heart disease risk, and slows brain aging. Who wouldn\u2019t want those benefits?<\/p>\n In 2025, unless I\u2019ve slept in or it\u2019s an unmissable reunion, my 1:30 PM\u20133 PM window will be sacred nap time. <\/p>\n Strength training needs to become a consistent part of my routine. My goal is to lift weights at least once a week for 45 minutes, focusing on building my shoulders, chest, and back.<\/p>\n Although I\u2019d like to lift two or three times a week, I suspect I\u2019ll be too tired after sessions to fully engage with my kids or play sports. For now, once a week is a manageable starting point alongside my regular tennis and pickleball schedule. If I succeed, lifting weights 52 times in 2025 will be eight times more than I did in 2024. <\/p>\n One of my biggest pet peeves is being late. It is disrespectful to the person waiting and often leads to unnecessary stress and danger, especially when rushing through traffic to make up for lost time. It can also be a waste of money if you’re paying for a time-limited activity or lesson.<\/p>\n I think this aversion to tardiness is hardwired into me. My father, likely influenced by his military background, was always punctual. During my 13 years in finance, hosting countless analyst, management, and client meetings reinforced the habit\u2014being late was simply not an option when so many people depended on me. If I ever was late, it felt deeply embarrassing.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, this obsession with punctuality has caused some tension with my wife. My goal now is to be more relaxed about occasional tardiness. I\u2019ll also step up to help get the kids ready, so we can avoid rushing as much as possible.<\/p>\n For instance, I initially aimed to get the kids to school on time 100% of the year. I drive 95% of the time so the last mile responsibility is on me. This goal mirrors my decade-long obsession with writing three posts a week on Financial Samurai\u2014a stretch goal that, in hindsight, isn\u2019t necessary.<\/p>\n After learning that some families have 20\u201340 tardies annually without any consequences, I\u2019ve decided to ease up. Allowing for a late day once a month serves as a healthy pressure-release valve for all of us. And if we happen to be late a second time in a month, no big deal!<\/p>\n I have a tendency to dive deep into topics, often writing posts exceeding 2,000 words (this post is 3,350 words). While I enjoy being thorough, I recognize that attention spans are shrinking. Readers appreciate concise, punchy content that gets to the point. Plus, longer articles take more time, which goes against my theme for the year of relaxing more.<\/p>\n In 2025, my goal is to write posts averaging 1,250 words. This shift will allow me to deliver value more quickly while still maintaining my voice. Shorter posts will also be easier for readers to digest, making the content more engaging overall.<\/p>\n I\u2019m also dropping my rigid commitment to publishing three posts a week. Instead, I will write whenever I want, to ease the pressure I put on myself.<\/p>\n Since Financial Samurai is a personal finance site, let me share three key personal finance goals that align with my desire to simplify life.<\/p>\n Before 2023, I promised myself I wouldn\u2019t buy another rental property\u2014and technically, I kept that promise. However, instead of selling my previous home, I chose to rent it out for cash flow after blowing up $150,000 of passive income<\/a>. <\/p>\n I remain bullish on San Francisco real estate<\/a>, thanks to the tech and AI boom generating immense wealth for tens of thousands of people. We\u2019ve also got a new mayor who should reduce government corruption and improve policies for its citizens.<\/p>\n However, after a year of renting out the property, the tenants have given notice, and I\u2019ve decided not to search for new ones. With the NASDAQ up ~30% in 2024, I\u2019m optimistic that the Spring 2025 Bay Area housing market will be strong. Additionally, I\u2019ve noticed more flexibility from real estate agents offering performance-based commission structures.<\/p>\n As a result, I plan to sell this beautiful ocean-view property<\/a>, which I purchased in mid-2020, in 2025. The timing feels right to simplify my life. Selling the property also provides an opportunity to earn up to $500,000 in tax-free profits, as I\u2019ve lived in it for at least two out of the past five years.<\/p>\n Ironically, owning a fourth rental property in San Francisco for a year was relatively hassle-free. The only issue was a kitchen faucet repair\u2014likely caused by the tenant yanking out the nozzle and breaking the hose. Still, I had envisioned keeping this home, which we enjoyed during the pandemic, until my kids were grown.<\/p>\n Too bad for them the older I get, the less I want to manage properties.<\/p>\n My love affair with real estate started in 2003 when I reinvested 100% of my dot-com bubble gains into a San Francisco condo. While the first internet bubble popped, my condo\u2019s value held steady and even grew. <\/p>\n Similarly, I view online income as \u201cfunny money<\/a>\u201d because I\u2019d happily write for free. Further, I\u2019m not sure the income will last. This mindset motivates me to reinvest most of the net profits into assets that generate passive income. I’m also OK to take more risk with this income because it doesn’t seem real, unlike my arduous day job income in banking.<\/p>\n However, I also want to enjoy life over the next three years. That\u2019s why I plan to allocate 20% of this income to cover the gap between my expenses and current passive income<\/a>. The remaining 80% will be reinvested. <\/p>\n With some luck and disciplined investing, I hope to hit my target of an additional $80,000 in passive income or an additional $2 million in investments by December 31, 2027.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t want to depend solely on luck to get me to my goals. Strategic allocation is key.<\/p>\n If I successfully sell my San Francisco rental, I expect to net between $1.2M\u2013$1.6M after taxes, commissions, fees, prep work, and mortgage payoff. With these proceeds, I plan to reinvest:<\/p>\n With $1M \u2013$1.4M remaining, I\u2019ll likely:<\/p>\n Once the sale is finalized, I\u2019ll write a detailed post on how I plan to allocate the proceeds.<\/p>\n If you want to invest in commercial real estate and venture capital, check out Fundrise<\/a><\/strong>. I\u2019ve invested $300,000+ with them so far and will continue to dollar-cost average in both categories all year to boost exposure. Fundrise is also a long-time sponsor of Financial Samurai.<\/p>\n Investing for my children feels like starting a new game with the advantage of decades of experience and knowledge. Beyond their UGMA accounts<\/a>, I want to focus on building their Roth IRAs<\/a> as well. Their 529 accounts are at levels where I no longer want to aggressively contribute to them.<\/p>\n Since their earnings are minimal, their income will fall well below the standard deduction for 2025, which is $15,000. This means their earned income won\u2019t be subject to taxes. A practical income target would be $7,000, matching the Roth IRA contribution limit for 2025. What a benefit to be able to contribute tax-free income and let it grow tax-free and be withdrawn tax-free. <\/p>\n The goal isn\u2019t just to help them earn money in a tax-efficient way for future financial security. More importantly, it\u2019s about instilling a strong work ethic and teaching them how saving and investing work<\/em>. These lessons will lay the foundation for good personal finance habits, making them self-sufficient adults. When that day comes, their mother and I can breathe a little easier!<\/p>\n I\u2019ll turn 48 in June 2025, which is starting to feel old. It\u2019s a good reminder to slow down and savor life, especially now that we\u2019ve \u201crun up the score\u201d during this incredible bull market.<\/p>\n My hope is that the good times continue, allowing me to reach my financial target by December 31, 2027, while also spending and giving more freely. However, even if the market doesn\u2019t cooperate, I plan to stay unemployed. At this stage, trying to offset investment losses with active income<\/a> feels futile.<\/p>\n I have just 11 and 13 more years, respectively, until my son and daughter may leave the house potentially for good. I know this time will fly by, so I\u2019m determined to make the most of it.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s to a fulfilling and prosperous 2025!<\/p>\n Readers, what are some of your goals and resolutions for the year? Join 60,000+ others achieving financial freedom sooner and sign up for my free weekly newsletter here<\/a><\/strong>. <\/em><\/p>\n If you\u2019re serious about building wealth and retiring comfortably,\u00a0sign up for Boldin\u2019s powerful retirement planning tools<\/a><\/strong>. They offer a free version and a PlannerPlus version for just $120\/year\u2014far more affordable than hiring a financial advisor.<\/p>\n Boldin was designed specifically for retirement planning, offering a holistic approach to financial management. Beyond just focusing on your stock and bond portfolio, Boldin integrates real estate investments, guides you through Roth conversions for tax minimization, and addresses many other real-life financial scenarios we all face.<\/p>\n There’s no more powerful retirement planning tool to help you finish rich than Boldin today.\u00a0Boldin is an affiliate of Financial Samurai and I’m a user. <\/p>\n Financial Samurai, started in 2009, is one of the top independently-run personal finance sites. Join 60,000+ readers achieving financial freedom sooner by signing up for my free weekly newsletter here<\/a><\/strong>. To learn more, you can read my About page<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Happy New Year everyone! I hope you\u2019re enjoying the time off and doing some reflecting. I\u2019ve returned to San Francisco and am ready to relax some more! Now that I’ve shared my 2024 year in review, I wanted to share my goals and resolutions for 2025. Although 2024 was a great year, I still have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19013,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[93],"tags":[3944,3333,5771,11077,2961],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-19012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-finance","tag-goals","tag-life","tag-resolutions","tag-retirement","tag-simple"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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Theme for 2025: Return to Simple Living<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Main 2025 Goal: Remain Unemployed \/ Semi-Retired<\/h2>\n
![\"Financial](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/financialsamurai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_5951.jpg\")
Family Goals for 2025<\/h2>\n
1) Spend more time traveling now that both kids are over 5<\/h3>\n
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2) Read with the kids for at least 15 minutes a day, five days a week<\/h3>\n
3) Teach the kids how to play pickleball<\/h3>\n
![\"Sam](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/financialsamurai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_0881.png\")
4) Volunteer six times at my kids\u2019 school<\/h3>\n
Personal Goals for 2025<\/h2>\n
1) Market my new book\u2014and try not to stress about its performance<\/h3>\n
2) Protect my 1:30 PM\u20133 PM nap window<\/h3>\n
3) Lift weights at least once a week for 45 minutes<\/h3>\n
4) Be OK with the occasional tardiness <\/h3>\n
5) Write shorter, more lifestyle-focused posts on Financial Samurai<\/h3>\n
Specific Financial Goals for 2025<\/h2>\n
1) Sell a Rental Property<\/h3>\n
2) Reinvest 80% of online \u201cfunny money\u201d into risk assets<\/h3>\n
![\"2025](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/financialsamurai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/FS-passive-income-2025.png\")
<\/figure>\n3) Invest $100,000 each in commercial real estate and AI companies<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/financialsamurai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_5587-500x500.png\")
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![\"Financial](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/financialsamurai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Fundrise-dashboard-2025-590x500.png\")
<\/a>4) Build My Children’s Investment Accounts<\/h3>\n
A Return to Easy Living in 2025<\/strong> For Sure<\/h2>\n
Use The Most Powerful Financial Planner: Boldin<\/h2>\n
![\"Boldin](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/financialsamurai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Roth-Conversion-Explorer-Results.png\")
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