In July 2009, I began Monetary Samurai to make sense of the financial destruction unfolding on the time. I had been toying with the concept since 2006, once I graduated half time from UC Berkeley’s enterprise faculty, however stored kicking the can down the highway. After dropping round 40 p.c of my internet value in simply six months, losses that took a decade to construct, I noticed it was now or by no means.
I promised myself I’d publish 3 times every week for 10 years. After I reached that objective in July 2019, I merely stored going. There are too many attention-grabbing developments on the earth and too many ideas in my head to cease.
In 2025, I printed 156 posts and 52 free weekly newsletters. Join if you wish to enhance your possibilities of reaching monetary freedom sooner. Monetary Samurai has greater than 2,500 articles and has now been learn by over 100 million individuals. 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 dad and mom’ work within the U.S. International Service, I grew up within the Philippines, Zambia, Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia earlier than coming to the US for highschool in 1995. I have been primarily based on San Francisco since 2001. You possibly can learn extra on my About page.
The Finest Investing Posts On Monetary Samurai 2025
As an active investor, 2025 felt like a relentless 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 positive my portfolio’s outperformance was value 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 learn how to take part within the upside with out dropping 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 appropriate and also you make investments, in the event you do not make investments a major quantity, nothing actually adjustments.
The Richest People Are Not Index Fund Fanatics, Why Are You? – Everyone loves index funds and ETFs, so do I. However as an alternative of viewing index funds as a solution to get wealthy, the rich view index funds extra as a solution to protect capital.
Buying The Dip: How To Overcome Fear During A Correction And Prosper – When the subsequent dip comes, will you’re taking benefit or sit on the sidelines in concern? 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 youngsters will discover a tougher time discovering knowledge-work employment after highschool and school. Additional, present employees ought to be nervous that AI will finally get rid of 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 individuals attempt to save and make investments aggressively to interrupt free sooner.
The Third Rule Of Financial Independence Could Also Be Your Biggest Regret – If you happen to do not comply with this rule, you will be unable to retire early with out always worrying about cash.
FIRE May Make Building Multi-Generational Wealth Impossible – In case your objective is to make sure your grandchildren are taken care of, it will likely be laborious to do in the event you retire early.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Impact On FIRE Seekers – There are some vital monetary adjustments that ought to aid you save and construct extra wealth in 2026 and past.
The Early Retiree’s Guide To Funding Retirement Accounts – If you happen to’re decided to retire early, then this is a logical information on learn how to fund your numerous portfolios.
The Precarious Life Of Dual Unemployed Parents – If you happen to suppose FIREing with out children is tough, it’s far more durable for each dad and mom to remain retired with children. This is the reason you typically see one one that is FIRE have a working partner to supply healthcare, earnings, and retirement advantages.
Having Kids Might Not Hurt Your Ideal FIRE Lifestyle After All – Having children will suck up all of your free time in the event you allow them to. Nevertheless, after each children began faculty, I used to be pleasantly stunned by how a lot trip time they’ve a yr plus summer time, 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 viewpoint. 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 love to evangelise frugality to be able to maximize their hole between earnings and bills. However this is a seldom mentioned tackle why having a tremendous home could possibly be value it.
A Paid Off Home Is A Great Shield Against Fear And Uncertainty – Though many argue that paying off your mortgage is suboptimal, I discovered the scenario gave me the braveness to aggressively purchase the dip in March and April. Having no mortgage might encourage you to take extra dangers to earn more money as properly.
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 pointers that can assist you decide the fitting path.
A 50-Year Mortgage Is Fantastic For Homeowners And Investors – The knee-jerk response by many is {that a} 50-year mortgage is dangerous. However in the event you dig into the numbers, I feel you will change your thoughts.
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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 children are my predominant motivators to maintain grinding once I do not need to. I’ve 12.5 years to steer by instance till my youngest doubtlessly goes to varsity.
The Main Way To Save Your Children From AI Is To Invest In AI – That is the very best resolution if you’re anxious about AI destroying your kids’s job prospects and stopping them from changing into unbiased adults.
I initiated a brand new $197,100 Fundrise Venture place in August, earmarked for my kids over the subsequent 10-12 years. That is along with my company account, the place I began investing earlier. My objective is to contribute one other $100,000 over the subsequent yr if money circulation 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 – If you happen to’re considering of giving up your profession to be a keep at residence dad, listed here are some reflections on what to anticipate.
Rich Bank Of Mom & Dads Are Everywhere – Accept And Adapt – You possibly can both rail towards the unfairness of grownup kids getting great monetary assist from their dad and mom, or you may determine learn how to construct sufficient wealth to do the identical. There isn’t any equal taking part in area in life. Mother and father will rationally do no matter it takes to make sure their kids 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 faculty. 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 – If you happen to imagine the world gained’t give your kids a good shake after they graduate, then it is best to make them financially unbiased so that they by no means need to depend on gatekeepers to find out their future. I labored with ProjectionLab, a incredible monetary planning software to provide 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 possibilities of constructing much more wealth. And so far as I can inform, all of the nerds I’ve met are married. So do not concern being undesirable in the event you’re off form, do not play sports activities, and have minimal different abilities. Cash and intelligence attracts.
Millionaire Early Retirees Probably Shouldn’t Get Healthcare Subsidies – You possibly can have a as much as a ~$3.5 million internet value, and relying on how a lot earnings it generates, you may earn obtain great healthcare subsidies.
Identity Diversification May Be As Important As Investment Diversification – Given we went by means of a interval when id turned an necessary deciding consider whether or not you bought into faculty or landed a job, it’s value wanting into your cultural heritage.
How Cultural Differences Can Hurt Your Chances In The Workplace – If you happen to’re a part of the bulk or have been born and raised in America, you would possibly by no means need to cope with such sticky conditions.
The Finest Wealth Administration Posts On Monetary Samurai 2025
In Could 2025, I printed my USA TODAY nationwide bestseller, Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps to Seven Figures. My mission was to write down an actionable, punchy e-book that helps readers construct extra wealth and break away sooner. Consequently, I discovered myself enthusiastic about millionaire subjects much more continuously all year long.
Poor versus Rich Millionaire: Liquidity Is The Main Difference – You possibly can really feel poor regardless of your internet value if you do not have sufficient liquidity.
Not Regularly Checking Your Net Worth Has Some Great Benefits – If you happen to’re a private finance fanatic, you most likely verify your internet value a number of occasions every week. Nevertheless, identical to how spending an excessive amount of time on social media is dangerous in your well being, so might checking your internet value too continuously.
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 will now not have cash worries, however you would be unsuitable.
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 identical mistake shopping for an excessive amount of Treasury bonds throughout and proper after the monetary disaster. I did not need 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 fashion due to social media and short-form movies. Nonetheless, in the event you can muster the endurance to learn a deep-dive article, I feel you’ll get much more out of the expertise.
If you happen to ever need to clear up an issue, strive writing an article 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 adjustments your life for the higher.
Thanks for studying, sharing, and supporting my work all yr. If you recognize somebody going by means of a scenario I’ve written about, I feel they’d respect receiving the article. All the things I write is predicated on firsthand expertise, whether or not it’s an issue I’m making an attempt to unravel or an sudden end result I used to be not pay attention to.
You probably have any favourite posts, I’d love to listen to them. Subsequent up is my yr in overview submit and targets for 2026.
To Your Monetary Freedom,
Sam
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