The Financial Samurai Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow school dad Domingo Guerra to trace his entrepreneurial journey: from growing up in Mexico, to studying engineering at UT Austin, to co-founding the mobile cybersecurity company Appthority with my poker and softball buddy Kevin, to selling it to Symantec in 2018. Today, Domingo runs his own seed-stage venture fund focused on cybersecurity, calle...

With Fundrise's successful listing of VCX on March 19, 2026, its venture capital product, I want to discuss what's potentially next for the fund and for investors. The listing has far surpassed my expectations, and the expectations of most investors. Anything can happen during the 6-month lock-up period, so it's important to keep expectations low and stay humble. Don't spend any paper profits unti...

For more than a decade, the mantra for boosting your career and income was simple: learn to code. Becoming a programmer or engineer was seen as the clearest path to job security and high pay. But with the rapid rise of AI, coding is no longer the protective moat it once was. As I revisited my own FIRE plans after leaving work in 2012, I realized the one financial buffer that has consistently stood...

If you are a parent who is interested in FIRE, you should listen to Andy Hill's podcast, Marriage, Kids, & Money on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. It's a great show that talks about all the financial and parenting issues all mothers and fathers face. Andy also came out with a new book called, Own Your Time: 10 Financial Steps To Put Your Family First and Escape The Corporate...

Happy New Year 2026, everyone. Despite a strong year in the stock market in 2025, I found myself feeling less happy due to some family health challenges. That contrast inspired me to reflect on what truly brings us greater happiness and gratitude. Related posts: 2025 Year In Review And The Happiness Curve The Best Of Financial Samurai 2025 Eliminated A Regret And Fulfilled A Childhood Dream Join 6...

The debate between owning and renting will go on forever — it all depends on your stage in life, finances, and lifestyle. But as you get older, one thing becomes clear: housing security matters more than ever . The last thing you want in retirement is to be forced out of your neighborhood because of rising rent. Yet as a renter, you have little control over how much your landlord raises prices, es...

Bill Bengen, the father of the 4% Rule, is back with a new book titled A Richer Retirement . In it, he raises his SAFEMAX—or safe withdrawal rate—from 4% to 5%. This change has major implications: retirees can confidently spend more and enjoy life to the fullest, while those pursuing FIRE or traditional retirement may not need to save as aggressively or work as long to achieve financial freedom. S...

Since 2022, commercial real estate (CRE) investors have endured one of the toughest stretches in decades. Surging inflation drove mortgage rates higher, cap rates expanded, and property values sank. The mantra became clear: "survive until 2025." Now, with inflation cooling, rates easing, and capital returning, the tide may finally be turning. In this episode, I sit down with Ben Miller, CEO of Fun...

In this solo episode, I want to clarify how the tax-free home sale exclusion works. For those who want to move back into their rentals to then qualify after two years, there is a pro-rated amount you need to implement.  See this post for more details: How To Use The Tax-Free Exclusion Amount Every Two Years To Save On Capital Gains ( https://www.financialsamurai.com/how-to-strategically-use-the-ta...

On the latest episode of the Financial Samurai podcast, I sat down with Ben Miller, cofounder and CEO of Fundrise , for a deep dive into AI, venture capital, and what it really takes to get into the best deals. Key Takeaways from the Podcast 1. AI Growth and Market Dynamics Revenue growth is accelerating in big AI companies like Anthropic. There's an AI benchmarking race where many products seem s...

Figuring out when you have enough money is a mix of math and emotion. You might have enough on paper, but if you're not emotionally ready to live life entirely on your terms, then you probably don't have enough yet. As one of the pioneers of the modern-day FIRE movement in 2009, I've developed a new framework with clear action steps to help determine if you've truly reached "enough." It goes beyon...

Earning passive income is the holy grail of personal finance and achieving financial independence. With interest rates still elevated, it's become much easier to generate a larger amount of risk-free passive income. If you're not financially independent yet, this could be a suboptimal choice.  Check out the post: The Hidden Dangers Of Earning Risk-Free Pasisve Income Suggestions Check out Fundrise...

Buying the stock market dip can be intimidating. As a result, many investors sit on cash, waiting for clear signs of a recovery. However, history has shown that those who bought during downturns and held on have often done well over time. With that in mind, I wanted to share a few strategies to help build the courage to buy the dip when the next opportunity arises. See post: How To Gain The Courag...

In this episode, I reconnect with my old friend Joe Saul-Sehy from The Stacking Benjamins podcast to talk about creating your own life curriculum — because when you do, you may no longer be beholden to anyone. With AI eliminating jobs and making the path to financial independence even tougher, I wanted to sit down with another creator who forged his own way—building a business and income stream th...

After three years of writing, revising, and reflecting, I'm excited to share that Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps To Seven Figures is now available everywhere—in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook! In this special episode, my wife and I sit down to talk about the journey behind the book: why I wrote it, what readers can expect, and how it ties into over a decade of sharing free financial content...

In this episode, I talk with Harry, a long-time Financial Samurai reader, about his journey to building a $4+ million home in the Los Angeles area. While most people buy move-in ready homes, Harry shares an insightful behind-the-scenes look at how it's done — from financing the project to the timeline it takes to build, and whether it's ultimately a good investment. Related posts: How To Survive T...

I have the pleasure of speaking with  Humphrey Yang , a personal finance content creator with over 1.6 million followers on YouTube and over 3.3 million followers on TikTok. Humphrey burst onto the scene in 2020 when COVID-19 began and has been growing steadily ever since. According to polls by YouGov and toy-maker Lego, being a YouTuber or TikToker consistently ranks as one of the top aspirations...

With trade wars, massive federal government employee cuts, fallout with Ukraine, and worsening relationships with European countries, the Trump administration is kicking off with significant uncertainty and chaos. I spoke with Ben Miller, co-founder and CEO of Fundrise , about how this turbulence could impact the real estate market. In essence, chaos can be good for real estate, and he believes re...

With stock market volatility returning and the potential for an economic slowdown ahead, I can't help but feel grateful for the incredible gains we've made in 2023 and 2024. This reflection led me to record why I believe those who actively manage their finances are among the luckiest people on earth. With our million-dollar mindsets (post), we're not just accumulating wealth—we're creating happier...

I speak with Dr. Jordan Grumet about building purpose for a happier and more meaningful life. If you're feeling stuck, as many of us so inevitably do at some point, Dr. Grumet has a new book out called The Purpose Code (Amazon) to help you find your way.  You can learn more about Dr. Grumet's book and his podcast, Earn & Invest, at Jordangrumet.com.   If you enjoyed this episode, I'd appreciate a...

In part 2 of my discussion with Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise , and sponsor of Financial Samurai, I ask him about how an open-ended venture capital fund works.  If I'm going to build a $500,000+ position in an open-ended fund to gain more exposure to  private AI companies , I want to fully understand how the fund operates. Here are some of the questions I asked during our discussion: What happens to...

In this episode, I speak to Ben Miller, co-founder and CEO of Fundrise about his outlook for commercial real estate in 2025. Despite high mortgage rates, he's taken a positive view and he shares the main reasons why.  Investing in stocks and bonds in your 401(k) or IRA are classic staples for retirement investing. However, I also suggest diversifying into real estate—an investment that combines th...

One of the biggest reasons I was against contributing to a Roth IRA is my belief that most people won't make more money in retirement than while working. As a result, they're unlikely to pay a higher tax rate in retirement than during their working years. While most Americans earn less in retirement, you aren't most people . You subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter and are obsessed a...

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you're enjoying the time off and doing some reflecting. I've returned to San Francisco after eight days of being in Oahu and am ready to relax some more! Here are some quick thoughts about what to expect in 2025 for the stock market, real estate market, and Financial Samurai.  Mentioned posts: 2025 Wall Street S&P 500 Forecasts Are All Bullish – Uh Oh! 2025 Housing...

I speak to high school principal, John Durante, about his latest book, Straight From The Admissions Office. We also talk in depth about how high school students can boost their chances of getting into a top college.  John has interviewed hundreds of college admissions officers on his podcast, The College Admissions Process Podcast , and plans to interview hundreds more! If you have any questions y...