Posted on 02/17/2024 10:36:10 AM PST by grundle
Former Goldman Sachs analyst Sam Dogen — also known as the Financial Samurai online — once decided to cash in on a huge chunk of his investments to buy a “forever home” for his family.
But by selling his stocks and bonds, he lost about $150,000 a year in passive income. “My family and I could have been set for life. Instead, due to my inability to beat back real estate FOMO (fear of missing out), I blew up our passive income,” Dogen wrote in a blog post.
Dogen’s been investing for a long time. In fact, he first made headlines back in 2012 for championing the “financial independence, retire early” (FIRE) movement by retiring at the age of 34 with a $3 million net worth.
He’s since been living off his passive income from stocks, bonds, and real estate — but after paying cash for a recently remodeled home on a triple-wide lot, he says about five years’ worth of progress has been lost.
Dogen says in 2023 his passive income was tracking to generate about $380,000 a year. But after purchasing a new home in the pricey San Francisco Bay Area, he now expects it to decline to about $230,000 — which he claims is no longer enough to cover his family of four’s living expenses.
Dogen’s annual budget includes $80,400 for tuition at a private Mandarin immersion school for his two kids, $68,400 for housing costs, $24,000 for health care, $40,000 in potential 401(k) contributions and $26,400 in food (including weekly date nights). He also has $16,800 set aside for vacations.
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
“$80,400 for tuition at a private Mandarin immersion school for his two kids”
Babbel would cost them around $325/yr., if they even offer Mandarin.
“$68,400 for housing costs”
I wonder what’s include in this category.
With two kids, the amount for health care seems reasonable.
Not sure about the other stuff.
“You’d think the media could demand at least SECOND GRADE level knowledge of pronouns.”
Thank you! But I think we have to figure it’s a lost cause expecting proper grammar in this day and age.
Brilliant that one.
Comfortably = buy lots of stuff…… go on lots of trips.
What it requires is fiscal responsibility and being pragmatic.
We eke by on about a quarter of that. F him and his sob story!
Not his best decision but he did pay cash.
Bought a brand new house... I wonder how many new cars he has payments on? Anyone who can’t live on $200k/year is an idiot.
I have sacrificed many forms of relative luxury to make sure that my children never set foot in public schools.
But if the American Dream, even for people making big big bucks in the financial industry, is clipping coupons and saving hair, then it is not just dead, but it's corpse is being desecrated.
He's retired with relatively fixed income (yes, a very ample income), and he chooses to buy a house in just about the most expensive area in the country for real estate? And a state with an extremely unfriendly tax situation? Move out of California. STAT.
“make sure that my children never set foot in public schools”
My father thought it very important for his children to learn to how judge people.
He as a person managing about 350 people thought it was the most important skill.
Probably want to steer clear of that guy for financial planning and advice.
Sounds like he has a Chinese Trophy Wife.
If you can’t live off $230,000 a year, there’s no help where you.
This moron thought he could live in the SF Bay Area with only $3 million??? $3 million won’t cover the cost if a double-wide and a box of crackers in that area. He needs to find a new profession.
he’ll feel vindicated if the bubble bursts in his lifetime.
Don’t care. With ideas like his he is the last person in the world I would let handle my money or whose advise I would take.
$80K+ Books and transpo. You could hire your own teacher for that much, with enough money left over for about $500 a month for lunch.
How much has he raised in his “Go Fund Me” account so far?
His mistake was staying in California, plenty of places he could have bought a great house and lived like a king with that income.
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