Credit: Chris Guillebeau
Mike: After 15 years of intentional living, Mike is 80 percent of the way to financial independence. Now he’s trying to help friends take control of their own financial future. But what happens when one spouse is eager to learn and invest, while the other isn’t interested?
Michael: For two years, Michael has tracked his net worth monthly. So far, growth has been driven almost entirely by how much he saved. But when will investment returns begin to take over and shift that steady line into an exponential curve?
Alvaro: After 15 years of investing in U.S. and European real estate, Alvaro has a big decision to make. Should he leverage a commercial loan to build an ADU for short-term rental income, or take on more personal debt to expand their family home?
Jonathan: After hearing Paula and Joe discuss the efficient frontier — and then listening to Big ERN, Paul Merriman, and JL Collins — Jonathan can’t help but wonder: has Joe’s perspective evolved? Is the simple path still enough, or is there merit in a more complex approach?
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Mike (2:50): How can I coach friends who want to invest but don’t share the same level of interest or engagement?
I’m 52, about 80 percent of the way to financial independence after 15 years of intentional living. I work as a helicopter pilot, but I’ve also developed a passion for personal finance. I like helping friends and family learn how to spend less, invest wisely, and create more freedom in their lives.
I have a friend who’s 45, married with two kids—one in college, the other in high school. She and her husband don’t want to work forever, but they live financially separate lives. They split rent, food, and bills through a joint account, but everything else stays separate.
He earns about twice what she does, and from what I’ve heard, everything they’ve saved is just sitting in a money market or high-yield savings account. They’re not investing, so there’s no real growth. She’s open to learning, but he’s not very interested. They’re also nervous about stock market crashes.
She’s willing to talk, but without his engagement I’m not sure how far this can go. And since they’re in their mid-40s, time isn’t really on their side. What advice would you give to help them—or to help me coach them—so they can start moving forward?
Michael (26:22): When will market returns start to matter more than my savings rate in growing my net worth?
At the end of every month, I write down my net worth and track it on a running graph. After doing this for about two years, I’ve noticed the biggest driver of change month-to-month is simply how much money I put in. The trend is still very linear—if I save X amount, my net worth goes up by X amount.
I’m wondering when market returns will begin to play a bigger role, so that growth looks more exponential instead of just a straight line.
Alvaro (34:00): Should I build an ADU with a commercial loan for Airbnb income, or add onto our existing home with personal financing?
I’ve been a real estate investor for 15 years in both the U.S. and Europe, and I find the U.S. has many tax advantages. We own a home in Maine in a great location near the ocean. It comes with an acre of land, and we’ve been remodeling it for our own use.
I’m torn between two options. One is to build an ADU, financed with a commercial loan, and rent it out on Airbnb to generate income—while also using it for family. The other option is to add bedrooms onto our existing house to make it more suitable as our family grows. But that would require personal financing, like a mortgage or loan. Our HELOC is already maxed out, so that’s not available.
I’m debating whether to wait, refinance other properties, and add to our existing home—or take advantage of a commercial loan and build the ADU. What’s the more financially savvy move right now: increase our personal loans or pursue the commercial route?
Jonathan (58:50): Has Joe changed his mind about the efficient frontier after recent discussions with Big ERN, Paul Merriman, and JL Collins?
I’ve been thinking a lot about your conversation with Joe on the efficient frontier, along with your later episodes featuring Big ERN, Paul Merriman, and JL Collins. Joe often says JL Collins promotes the simple path to wealth, but then notes it might be worth shifting to a two- or four-fund approach—something Collins himself wouldn’t recommend.
That has me wondering: has Joe changed his mind about the efficient frontier and how applicable it is for most DIY investors? He’s said before that he’s open to changing his views if smarter people challenge him, and he’s even called Big ERN one of those people. I’d love to hear whether his thinking has shifted in light of those recent discussions.
Resources Mentioned:
Interview with JL Collins on Youtube and our website
Interview with Karsten Jeske (Big ERN) on Youtube and our website
Interview with Paul Merriman on Youtube and our website
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