Save, invest, prosper with My Own Advisor. Weekend Reading – No Spending Regrets Hi Everyone,  Welcome to some new Weekend Reading about spending regrets, or none at all in fact depending on the circumstance… Before that theme including some news to go along with it… I recently shared some thoughts on gold / gold prices and whether they might go higher (?),… Join the million dollar portfolio journey. The article Weekend Reading – No Spending […]

If you’ve already been planning around taxes in retirement, you’re in good company. Many retirees already manage withdrawals carefully, balancing tax brackets, Medicare premiums, and the taxation of Social Security benefits. But the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has changed the landscape. With new provisions that link more tax rules to adjusted gross income (AGI), the familiar reference points that retirees once used now require a closer look. At first glance, the new law […]

Did you know Vermont is home to nearly 100 covered bridges — more than any other state per square mile? These charming structures aren’t just beautiful backdrops for photos — they’re living pieces of history, craftsmanship, and Vermont culture. To help you plan the perfect road trip, we’ve rounded up the best tips shared by […] The post Ultimate Vermont Covered Bridges Guide: Where to Go, What to See & When to Visit – Episode 202 […]

When my wife and I started planning for retirement, it was confusing and complicated. We turned to a “financial advisor” who didn’t have our best interests at heart. He was more of a salesperson than an advisor. I wish I had access to some of the best retirement calculators available today. Tools like these make it easy to see exactly where you stand and how to reach financial independence on your own terms. Fortunately, there […]

In an increasingly volatile world, global conflict has far-reaching consequences, not just for geopolitics, but also for the stock market. Two sectors that consistently react to international tensions are defense and energy. When instability arises, nations boost military spending and seek to secure energy supplies, often triggering rapid shifts in these markets. In this article, we’ll explore how geopolitical unrest influences defense and energy stocks, what investors should watch for, and how to strategically position […]

Image Source: Shutterstock Do you want a companion pet but are on a tight budget? For families, seniors, and singles, dogs can provide joy and love. But they can also bring unexpected expenses. Between vet bills, grooming, and food costs can quickly add up . The good news? Some dogs are very easy keepers. Certain dog breeds stay healthy, eat modestly, and require little upkeep, all while being great additions to your family. Here are […]

I used to think balance meant getting everything done every day — until life, motherhood, and running a business taught me otherwise. Here’s what I’ve learned about finding balance in the real world. The post 3 Important Lessons on Finding Balance in Life appeared first on Simply + Fiercely.

FIRE killed my career, well at least the last part of it. I’m struggling to get it back. Not sure yet why I bother, but there are certain things I would like to do before we completely say goodbye to working life. Not to be overly dramatic, FIRE has had a positive impact (in the past), but is currently also having a negative effect on my working career. FIRE killed my career: not happy! What happened? Today another post about the (unintended) side effects of (the journey to) FIRE on one’s life. I’ve previously “complained” about FIRE in this blogpost. Which I was told actually also resonated with a few of you! Glad to hear that we all “suffer” together in this hard life of having money and being able to make (too many) choices. How did this all started? Well firstly I was bored at work, needed to change scenery. But due to external circumstances I could not. That is what triggered the whole search for FIRE. Because I had the feeling I was stuck in a golden cage. Then Mrs CF came to the rescue with an article about Early Retirement Extreme, and I went down the rabbit hole… Albeit switching at the time was indeed not possible due to external factors (job market had just gotten a hit, and potential employers I wanted to work for had hiring freezes). We restructured our finances, bought our first real estate and figured that we had in fact more freedom than we thought we did. Hence, we moved and thereby solved the job issue for the time being. Moving sideways But in the years following, I picked jobs that I thought were interesting and/or in other fields of expertise. Because why not?! Money was no longer the issue, job satisfaction and learning new tricks and trades was far more rewarding. And don’t get me wrong, I did fun stuff! Had very interesting & enjoyable experiences. Got to travel internationally, see different countries and try many new practical things and various fields. At first glance, not a bad career. FIRE killed my career: going sideways But the job hopping had one big side-effect, I was only moving sideways on, not up, the corporate ladder. So despite having a lot of hands on and broad experience, I started lacking (team) management experiences for my age and experience level. And as you guessed it, this started to bother me. Because I was done with mediocre or poor management / managers. I noticed issues before they did, did not agree (often also ethically) with choices that were made. Or how other people were treated. In short I got annoyed often, even leading to leaving certain jobs. So I’ve decided to give it a try myself and be a better team leader / manager. But that appears to be more difficult than I anticipated. Because: lack of experience… Keep trying or just give up? I’ve now tried several times to apply for