Best of the Web 7/11/22

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A combination of summer travels and meeting demands of my CFP coursework have forced me to make changes to my routine. I’m finding it challenging to stay on a regular writing schedule. Simultaneously, I’m taking in more information than ever.

The Best

So I’m going to shift gears. Rather than publishing three weekly blog posts and a curated monthly round-up of what I’m reading, I’m going to start alternating between original articles and “Best of” posts every other week for the foreseeable future. 

I have some great resources to share today. Read to the end for a chance to win a book. Let’s dive in….

Is That What You Really Want?

Jillian Johnsrud provides perspective to help you initiate life changes now while figuring out what you really want for the long-term, writing How to Avoid Early Retirement Failure.

Clipping Chains is a regular in my podcast rotation, marrying my passions of adventure sports and financial independence. A recent interview with climber Peter Beal explores chasing the wrong goals, playing the long game to perform at a high level physically as we age, and balancing competing priorities in life. Peter Beal: Can You Afford to be Sponsored?

Making Fewer and Better Decisions

I recently republished one of my favorite posts on the blog, Darrow’s Financial Simplicity: What Is Your Time Worth?

Meg Bartelt puts a different spin on this important idea, writing Making Decisions is Exhausting. Rules and Automation Help You Make Fewer Decisions in Your Finances.

Many investors are feeling helpless with inflation soaring while virtually all asset classes held in traditional portfolios are falling. Nick Maggiulli reminds us that we still have many financial options, we just need to Think Outside the Portfolio.

Making More Informed Decisions

I retired early in large part due to my disgust working in the broken American health care system. In my 2nd act, I write about early retirement planning where the biggest challenge for many of us is bridging the gap to Medicare under….the broken American health care system. 

I continue to look for points of optimism. There was a positive development for health care consumers this month as health care prices are becoming more transparent. Julie Appleby writes How Much Health Insurers Pay for Almost Everything Is About to Go Public.

Hard Conversations

I’ve recently been studying estate planning and was shocked to learn that less than half of Americans have even a simple will. One commonly cited reason for this omission is our discomfort with thinking about our own mortality.

A recent news story reminds us of that ignoring these issues doesn’t make them go away. Anna Sulkin reports Chadwick Boseman’s Estate Reaches Amicable Agreement.

Thankfully, this one seemed to have a relatively nice outcome. Still, do your loved ones a favor and get your affairs in order now so they don’t have to deal with them while grieving.

Fritz Gilbert shares important lessons learned first hand. The Reality of Caring for Aging Parents.

JL Collins shared a reader case study: Helping Dad With an Inheritance.

Book Giveaway

I recently got to spend an evening with my friend Joe Saul-Sehy, host of the popular Stacking Benjamins Podcast. Joe was in town promoting his new book Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management. I picked up a copy.

Sam Dogen, the author behind the long-running and always interesting blog The Financial Samuai has a book scheduled to release July 19th. It is titled Buy This, Not That: How to Spend Your Way to Wealth and Freedom. He sent me a galley a few months ago, and his publisher sent me a final version recently.

I’d love to pass my extra copies of each of these books on to a couple of readers who would like them. If you are interested, just leave me a comment stating which book you are interested in. This Friday, I’ll randomly choose two winners.

Reminder: you can leave just a first name or pseudonym in the comments, but to be eligible you will need to enter your email (which will not display publicly) so I can reach you and get shipping information.

Good luck and have a great month!

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[Chris Mamula used principles of traditional retirement planning, combined with creative lifestyle design, to retire from a career as a physical therapist at age 41. After poor experiences with the financial industry early in his professional life, he educated himself on investing and tax planning. After achieving financial independence, Chris began writing about wealth building, DIY investing, financial planning, early retirement, and lifestyle design at Can I Retire Yet? He is also the primary author of the book Choose FI: Your Blueprint to Financial Independence. Chris also does financial planning with individuals and couples at Abundo Wealth, a low-cost, advice-only financial planning firm with the mission of making quality financial advice available to populations for whom it was previously inaccessible. Chris has been featured on MarketWatch, Morningstar, U.S. News & World Report, and Business Insider. He has spoken at events including the Bogleheads and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants annual conferences. Blog inquiries can be sent to chris@caniretireyet.com. Financial planning inquiries can be sent to chris@abundowealth.com]

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Disclosure: Can I Retire Yet? has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Can I Retire Yet? and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Other links on this site, like the Amazon, NewRetirement, Pralana, and Personal Capital links are also affiliate links. As an affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases. If you click on one of these links and buy from the affiliated company, then we receive some compensation. The income helps to keep this blog going. Affiliate links do not increase your cost, and we only use them for products or services that we're familiar with and that we feel may deliver value to you. By contrast, we have limited control over most of the display ads on this site. Though we do attempt to block objectionable content. Buyer beware.

76 Comments

  1. I would love to read Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management.

  2. if you have extra copy of “Buy This, Not That: How to Spend Your Way to Wealth and Freedom”, I would love to get one. Thanks.

  3. Thanks Chris and best of luck with CFP. Which curriculum are you choosing to use? Will you be a solo practitioner or will you choose to join a group?

    I am interested in Sam’s book for the drawing. Thanks.

  4. I would be interested in Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management

    As the financial landscape becomes ever-changing a fresh look is warranted.

  5. I would love to read “Buy-This-Not-That” if you still have a extra copy. Thank you

  6. I’d love either of the books, but especially “Stacked” – thanks for considering!

  7. I would love to read Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management.

  8. Long-time Financial Samurai follower. Would be honored to read a copy of “Buy This, Not That: How to Spend Your Way to Wealth and Freedom”.

  9. I would be very interested in Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management.

  10. I would like a copy of Buy this Not that.,. I have enjoyed your down to earth advice and other articles. I feel pretty financially secure as a 76 year old widow. But always concerned about my spending habits and how they will impact my future.

  11. I’d be interested in reading the book Buy this, not that…
    Thanks much for the opportunity!

  12. I would really like to have a copy of “Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management”.
    Thank you for offering.

  13. Hello! I’d love to read Buy This, Not That: How to Spend Your Way to Wealth and Freedom. Thanks!

  14. Both “Stacked” and “Buy This, Not That” are on my Want To Read list. I would be happy with either one!

  15. Another great post! I’m an early retiree (53) and really enjoy your articles. I’d love a copy of ‘Stacked’ if I’m lucky enough to be drawn.

  16. Hi Chris,

    I’d love to read ‘Buy This Not That’.
    Perhaps reading the book will help put me in a position to buy the things that the Financial Samurai is recommending.
    I’ve enjoyed your and Darrow’s ‘Can I Retire Yet’ writings for some time and I appreciate how you both distill finance related information and show how it applies to your own situations.

  17. I am interested in “Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management” Thank you,

    1. JJ,

      FYI, I edited your email out of the public comment, but I got it.

      Chris

  18. Hi Chris, if you happen to have an extra copy of “Buy This, Not That”, I’d really love to read it, and then I’d be happy to pass it along to someone else afterward. Many thanks!

  19. I would love a copy of “Buy This, Not That…”

    Thank you so much Chris!

  20. I’d enjoy reading either of these books. Thank you to both you and Darrow for this blog.

  21. “Buy This, Not That: How to Spend Your Way to Wealth and Freedom” is a book I would love to read and learn from! I need all the help I can get these days.

  22. Thanks for mentioning my upcoming book! I enjoyed Stacked so you can’t go wrong with either.

    Buy This, Not That is a different animal. I talk not only about how to build more wealth sooner, I also tackle some of life’s biggest dilemmas in an optimal manner.

    For more details, you can check out the landing page here or on Financial Samurai. Chris, please delete the link and this sentence if not allowed.

    https://www.financialsamurai.com/btnt/

    Thanks!

    Sam

    1. Totally allowed. I’m happy to help you increase awareness of your new book.

      Best wishes on your launch!

      1. Thank you Chris! And I hope you enjoyed the book as well. Can’t believe after 2.5 years, July 19, 2022 launch date is almost here! So much work and also so much uncertainty and anxiety. But also so much hope!

        Thanks for sharing your thoughts on your book writing and book launch experience. If you ever write another, let me know!

        Sam

    2. Love to get a Buy This, Not That copy!

      I haven’t seen a book out there that addresses those big dilemmas you mention.

  23. LOL, I was wondering why there were 41 comments on this round-up email…. I wanna play the game to then. I’m interested in either book if I get lucky in the drawing. If one book must be chosen, then the “Stacked” one would be great. Thx

  24. Would love to have either book. First choice is the “Stacked” book. Fingers crossed.

  25. Joe Saul-Sehy’s Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management. Sounds like a relevant book for my wife and me as we decipher retirement financials.

  26. I would enjoy a copy of Sam Dogen book: Buy This, Not That: How to Spend Your Way to Wealth and Freedom. Thank you if I’m lucky or not!

    My Dad used to take his salary * the remaining years of work to determine his remaining ‘human capital’. It’s a good way to look at your income and make sure you have $$ earmarked to your retirement goals, like paying off your mortgage or building up your Roth IRA.

  27. Great accumulation of worthwhile reads! Thank you for sharing.

    I would love a copy of “Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management”, if I am lucky enough to be selected!

    Thanks!
    Theresa

  28. Chris,
    Great site. I always find helpful information. I would be interested in Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management.

  29. I always enjoy your Best of the Web segments. Am interested in the book “Buy This, Not That: How to Spend Your Way to Wealth and Freedom” and would love to get a copy. Thank you!

    1. PK,

      No one would like to see that more than me. He is working on a new big project. I’ll be sure to share when he is ready.

      Best,
      Chris

    1. Mike,

      FYI, I edited your email out of the public comment, but I got it and you’re entered.

  30. Retired at 61 fearlessly in the middle of the pandemic, with no regrets.
    I would love to have a copy of ‘Stacked’.
    Regards.

  31. I love that your blog gets right to the point. I would love a free copy of Buy This, Not That: How to Spend Your Way to Wealth and Freedom.

  32. I would love to read “Buy this, not that”…
    Thanks for all the good information!

  33. Hi Chris,
    I love your best of the web summaries. I think I read most of the ones here this morning- good variety. I also understand your former frustration with our American healthcare structure (I worked in it too)! Will be curious to see how the price transparency plays out. I always considered unknown pricing to be highly unethical when people were in critical need of care. This has happened to our family on a few occasions. $6K for a visit to an out of state ER where they ran a few tests on our daughter, found nothing, released and billed. Unconscionable! Anyway, thanks for your blog and I’d be happy to receive either of the books you mentioned!

  34. Hi Chris,

    I always enjoy your posts. I’m interested in reading Sam Doran’s new book Buy This Not That: How to Spend Your Way to Wealth and Freedom.

    Thanks

  35. I’m interested in reading “Buy This, Not That: How to Spend Your Way to Wealth and Freedom”

  36. Hi Chris, always enjoy your content. I’d be interested in a copy of either book. Many thanks!

  37. I’m interested in Stacked. If I don’t get it for free, I’ll buy a copy on Amazon. Thank you for offering.

  38. Hi Chris,

    I’d like to check out the book “Buy this, Not that” How to spend your way to wealth an freedom”…Thanks for all your great posts and hope you pick me!!

    Jason L.

  39. I would love Sam’s book, Buy This, Not That: How to Spend Your Way to Wealth and Freedom!

Comments are closed.