My Last Post

Ladies and gentlemen of the FIRE community it is been my pleasure writing for you for these last few years. I have enjoyed the growth, the loyal readers, the comments, and the fellowship on social media accounts. It was a true blessing to be part of the FIRE scene for the last couple of years. Thank you all for the tens of thousands of minutes you spent reading this website.

I will never forget the opportunities this has led to such as some of the late nights at FinCon in the giant inflatable pink flamingo drinking beers with fellow FIRE walkers. I’ll never forget the excitement of watching people’s faces as they won Plutus awards in the convection halls. I’ll never forget those late-night emails that rolled in as people resonated with some of the stories that I told.

What I Will Miss Most

Most of all I think I’ll miss the relationships the fellow FIRE walkers hold between each other. I’ll miss CampFI and I will miss things like exploring Washington DC with a half-dozen fellow bloggers and podcasters.

Fire was truly a unique community with amazing people united by a similar interest in becoming financially independent, a truly noble goal. But during times like this is it a realistic goal?

The Wealth Was in the Memories

I have learned so much over that last few weeks. Like many of you, I have been talking to my family much more often lately my uncle shared a story with me about a question he asked my grandfather when he was on his deathbed the question was:

“Do you feel that you have left anything on earth unfinished?” my uncle asked my grandfather.

 His answer was a question and that question was “What will happen to all of the stories?”

My grandfather’s greatest concern in the last moments of life was who will remember and retell all of the amazing experiences life has to offer? This is where true riches lay.

Sunk Cost: The Effort and Investment

For years I diligently saved and invested. I drove humble cars. I shopped in a budget-conscious ways. I ruthlessly cut expenses. For years people mocked my frugal lifestyle and contested reason after reason why FIRE advocates are wrong or overly optimistic. They gave scenario after scenario of the ways a FIRE walker could be wiped out by economic hardship. And to think, for years I made reason-based arguments to defend my views and try to recruit others to my perspective and the mission of financial independence.

What Hope Do We Have

Recently, many major cities around the world have been brought to an economic standstill in commerce, businesses around the nation and world have been ordered to cease and desist from some or all business activity by their own governments. The market has already dropped 36% since its all-time high in February 2020. Many economists and market analysts are predicting a protracted bear market. This has left many Fire walkers and Americans alike wondering what hope do we have?

Hindsight is 2020

They say hindsight is 2020 and I have to agree. After years of saving and investing, I never thought I would be wiped out by the “Corona Crash” of 2020. Now that the 11-year bull market has ended a lot of people are watching the FIRE community to get an “I told you so!” in.

So many people contended that FIRE only sounds appealing because of the recent historically long and strong bull market and said that their silly hopes and ambitions would evaporate in a bear market. I guess it is time to throw in the towel quite FIRE and quit blogging and return fully focused on the secure and stable path of traditional cooperate life.

Farewell, My Friends, This is My Last Post

Well at least until my next post that is. Happy April Fools’ Day! Com’on you know I’d never give up 😉 Not even if there was an apocalyptic disease threatening life around the world while the markets simultaneously plummet. NBD, if you listened to the podcast in last week’s post you would know I have seen tougher times than that.

See you next week when we talk about how you can implement a mathematical advantage that will allow your portfolio to magnify more than the market after times of distress and weather any economic storm no matter how apocalyptic they may seem. Right now there is a lot of opportunity in the market and I am excited to talk about how to capitalize on them.

P.S. I am well and so in my portfolio. Stay healthy and stay tuned my friends and by all means…

Keep the FIRE burning. I’ll be back. 😎