Welcome to the Wonderful World of F.I.!

It seems like everyone is talking about F.I.R.E, or F.I., for short. But, what is it? FIRE stands for Financial Independence Retire Early. I prefer to use Financial Independence because the retire early part is optional. In fact, all kinds of things become optional once you achieve FI. Ultimately FI is a life optimization strategy that begins with financial planning but really encompasses all aspects of living a fulfilling and joyful life.

As parents we all want the best life for our kids, and guiding and supporting them in that journey is a lifelong privilege for parents. When it comes to money, most of us didn’t learn much when we were young because either no one knew what to teach us, or someone tried but we weren’t able to understand the message. Or maybe we simply blew it off because of a combination of youthful certitude and inexperience. Sigh. If only we knew then what we know now. It can be different for your kids, but what is the best way to teach them about money management? What do you teach them, and perhaps more importantly, how do you teach them?

FI for Kids provides information and resources to help you discover your answers to those two questions.

Our weekly podcast delivers insightful interviews with financial experts, parents, behavioral experts, kids, and those that have achieved F.I. (financial independence) in their 30s, 40s, and 50s simply by working regular jobs, being smart with their money, and prioritizing the things in life that they value most.

FI at 30? How is that possible you ask, does my kid need to be the next Jobs, Gates or Zuckerberg? No, absolutely not! FI is not about building the next big company, or becoming a billionaire. If that’s the route your kids take, more power to them, but FI is much simpler and within reach for everyone! It doesn’t require anyone to be an extraordinary entrepreneur, take extraordinary risks, or work insane hours. Nor does it require anyone to live a life of deprivation, which hardly qualifies as a rich and fulfilling life to most people.

FI is based on being intentional with the money you earn, setting aside a percentage of that income and then putting it to work through investing. Save at a higher rate than most people and be mindful with your choices so you spend money on the things that you really value, but don’t let it slip out of your fingers wantonly. You don’t have to live a life of sacrifice and deprivation to save at a higher rate than most people, you simply have to pay attention to what you are doing with your money and spend it wisely. Start teaching your kids these habits at a young age and you are doing them a profound favor. You are teaching them how to spend wisely on what they value and to save/invest the rest by simply not wasting it on stuff that gives only fleeting satisfaction. You are showing them the path to a rewarding life while they are working hard and saving/investing, all while setting themselves up to really explode with a life of freedom and possibility when they achieve financial independence at a young age.

If you achieve FI at 30, 35, or 40 you could retire, but you might find life suddenly uninteresting. Ultimately FI is about freedom of choice. If you like your job, you might keep working, but maybe travel more. Or take a series of mini-retirements, or a long sabbatical and spend time with your small children. You could work on dream projects, such as pursuing your love of music or art or writing a novel. The options will be nearly endless because you won’t have to work a full-time job to earn an income since you’ll be living off your investments. If this sounds like a great life for your kids (and for you), follow us at FI for Kids and become part of a community of parents and kids on the journey to FI and lives of endless wonder!

You can catch our weekly podcast here or at Spotify, Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Medium and Substack.

We would love to hear from you, so if you have questions or comments, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Thanks for reading and we hope you’ll join us on the journey.

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