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Keeping Up With Your Pledge
Congrats on taking The Pledge! And welcome to the club. One of the best ways to keep up with this commitment is to make it as easy as possible for you to donate. Here are four ideas to keep your donating as smooth as possible.
Jan 293 min read


Charitable tax deductions: why most advice is a miss (and what actually matters)
Most conversations about charitable giving focus too much on tax optimization and miss the bigger question: how to actually make a difference. While tax benefits can help, they shouldn’t drive giving decisions. For most everyday donors, itemizing and bundling offer limited value. More practical tools include the new above-the-line deduction, donating appreciated assets, and QCDs for retirees. Consistent, thoughtful giving matters more than maximizing tax breaks.
Jan 225 min read


Scared to Pledge? 5 financial steps for confident giving
Many people want to give but feel unsure they have “enough.” This post explores five practices to shift from scarcity to abundance: understanding your global wealth, calculating your FI number, clarifying spending values, trying low-stakes giving challenges, and reframing fears. With better awareness, giving becomes less intimidating and more empowering.
Nov 25, 20257 min read


2025 Year-End Planning & 2026 Tax Updates
As we head towards the end of the year, here's both a list of core reminders for this 2025 tax season and also an outline of major tax changes you can expect for 2026. I know sometimes this stuff can be tough to keep up with, so I'm getting it all to one place for you here.
Nov 14, 20255 min read


How I’m staying grounded when the market feels shaky
We’re in a season of uncertainty—economically, politically, and personally. Instead of panicking or trying to predict the future, I’m focusing on what I can control: my mindset, my values, and my long-term plan.
May 10, 20254 min read


New Tool Alert! The FI Purpose Planner
Use the FI Purpose Planner to see how various life choices impact your financial goals, donations, and path to Financial Independence
Mar 4, 20253 min read


How to use Coast FI to pivot careers, volunteer more, and donate generously
Coast FI lets your portfolio grow on its own, freeing you to focus on purpose, flexibility, and making an impact sooner.
Jan 26, 20253 min read


High-income earners and the Backdoor Roth IRA strategy
High-income earners can bypass Roth IRA income limits using the Backdoor Roth strategy for tax-free growth and retirement savings
Dec 18, 20244 min read


Big expense in 5 years? Invest or play it safe?
Saving for a mid-term expense? Focus on protecting your principal with a reasonable return. Here’s a quick breakdown of your options.
Oct 28, 20243 min read


HYSA vs. High-Interest Checking: The New Battle for Your Savings
Explore the rise of high-interest checking accounts as a competitive alternative to high-yield savings accounts.
Sep 26, 20243 min read


Student Story: Embracing the 1% pledge with only 3 years left until FI
After Charlotte heard us speak on the ChooseFI podcast, she took the 1% pledge. We talk about her FI journey and her desire to help others.
Jul 16, 20246 min read


My talk at CampFI: A data-driven approach to FI & giving
I discuss my struggles during the early years of my retirement, my views on donating, and practical steps to achieve FI while helping others
Jun 15, 20242 min read


12 crucial personal finance topics for corporate learning
Want to empower your employees? Promote financial knowledge. Here's 12 must-have personal finance education topics you should cover
May 19, 20243 min read


Integrating financial literacy into DEI initiatives
DEI initiatives must include financial education to empower employees and support career advancement.
May 14, 20243 min read


Hey ERGs! It's about time you taught personal finance
It's time ERGs integrate financial literacy into their toolkit. Empower your people by ensuring equal access to financial education.
May 14, 20242 min read


Baby prep: 9 cost-saving tips for expecting parents
Practical tips and tricks to help you prioritize spending on what truly matters to your baby and family while saving on unnecessary expenses
May 9, 20243 min read


How much does a baby cost?
Expecting parents often wonder about the costs of raising a child. I share my real spend over the past 6-months for our baby boy.
May 9, 202411 min read


Marriage and Money: Our Postnup Journey
Curious about prenups or postnups? Explore why we chose to finally do our postnup and how it strengthened our marriage for the better.
May 1, 20245 min read


How to pick your 401(k) investments
Here's exactly how to pick investments for your 401(k). How to choose from the list of fund options provided to you.
Apr 4, 20245 min read


Inspiring generosity on the ChooseFI podcast
Brad, Jack and I talk about building a giving framework, the giving pledge, compound impact, donor-advised funds, and different ways to give
Mar 21, 20242 min read
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