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You are here: Home / Chautauqua / 7 Days in Heaven: or Why Slowing Down Will Get You There Sooner

7 Days in Heaven: or Why Slowing Down Will Get You There Sooner

by jlcollinsnh 44 Comments

Ettington Park, Stratford upon Avon, UK: Our venue for Chautauqua XII, 2019

Photo by  JT Olmstead

Last week we wrapped up Chautauqua XII, returning once again the the United Kingdom and one of our very favorite venues. The chapel on this property was under construction in the 12th century, fitting for my twelfth Chautauqua. Shakespeare not only stayed here back in the day, that balcony you can see in the picture was the inspiration for the famous scene in Romeo and Juliet.

It is an incredible place and, as they did when we first came in 2017, the staff out did themselves with kind attention and amazing food.

We also made a bit of history ourselves. While returning Chautauquans have become rather common and, indeed, Kathy and Brett will be joining us for their third in Portugal come September, Tyler has done something that surprised even us. Although until last week he had never joined us before, he signed up for both the UK and Portugal, making him the first to attend two events in the same year.

When I asked him why, he said “FI is a passion of mine, I knew I was going to take two vacations this year and I figured what you guys organized would be far better than anything I came up with on my own.” Later in the week: “Wow. This exceeded even my high expectations!”

Chautauqua does that with a regularity that surprises even me. There is life-changing magic to this event, and I have tried to describe it many times. But there is nothing like hearing directly from one who joined us not quite knowing what to expect. Which leads us to today’s guest post…

******************************************************************************

7 Days in Heaven

or, Why Slowing Down Will Get You There Sooner

by Elisabeth Andrews

We’re a strange breed of cult, we FI aspirants. We put our faith in mathematics. We advocate both temperance and hedonism. And we derive our lessons from not just one leader who has ascended to the afterlife, but growing legions. 

More surprising still, we find that when we’re face-to-face with these luminaries, they universally downplay the significance of the transition. 

By all means, join us, they say. But you don’t have to be in such a damn hurry. 

Despite what you might think, the strongest determinant of the quality of your life in FI is the quality of your life before it. 

Wait, what?

It’s not what I thought I’d hear when I signed up for Chautauqua, the far-flung week-long FI-fest organized by JL Collins and Katie and Alan Donegan. I anticipated an agenda of acceleration: top tips for futureproofing my asset allocation and next-level strategies for doubling my savings rate.

Instead, JL Collins told me to stop trying to buy when the market’s down. The Mad FIentist assured me that my husband’s discretionary spending is not an issue. Jillian from Montana Money Adventures said I need to focus on bringing more joy into each year – starting now, not when I reach my FI number. 

They all had the same message: Reaching financial independence is not really the point. Once you’re headed in that direction, you can stop obsessing about it. And I believed them – because, for that blissful week, I had already arrived. 

Here’s what happens at Chautauqua: You walk into a room and all the bloggers you’ve been following are at a table, eating breakfast, and they’ve reserved a chair for you. You sit down, star struck, yet are immediately welcomed into the conversation. 

Incredibly, they seem as interested in you as you are in them. Moreover, as each new attendee arrives, you find that they are just as fascinating – and just as friendly – as the speakers. By the third day together, you’re certain you’ve formed a lifelong bond with each Chautauquan. 

It sounds too good to be true. The experience is positively surreal. I’ve never had a social encounter like it. The last few days of high school and the first few days of college come closest, charged as they were with extroverted optimism, but Chautauqua exceeds by an order of magnitude. There was no competition. There was no self-consciousness. It was simply and purely supportive. 

In a sense, everything else about the trip was icing. The gorgeous English manor, the decadent food, and the memorable excursions were all secondary to the unfathomably powerful sense of belonging. The presentations, which were enlightening and extraordinary, felt less “sage on a stage” and more, “Yay, our buddy Carl’s on the mic. Go Carl!” 

If you can imagine watching the Playing with Fire documentary next to Kristy Shen of Millennial Revolution – and not feeling awkward about it, even when she sees herself onscreen and shouts, “Don’t listen to her!” – you’re starting to get the idea.

I had come on the trip to learn more about reaching FI. Instead, I had bypassed FI and gone straight for its ultimate purpose: enjoying community and long, full days spent exactly as I wanted.

Paradoxically, I even came out of retirement. Although I still work full time, I ended a 12-year fitness career several years ago. At Chautauqua, through a game of telephone in which one person to whom I had mentioned this background told others who told others, I wound up teaching a yoga class in the manor’s library. In my normal life, I don’t have the time or emotional energy to offer this service. It was remarkable to see how easily it came back to me, and how readily I gave my energy when my cup felt so full.  

On the last night of the gathering, I asked JL how it was possible for everyone to get along so well. He said he’d given the matter some thought, because this same phenomenon happens with each Chautauqua. 

His theory is that the conditions of the gathering attract the most dedicated and open-minded participants. Chautauqua is expensive, particularly for those of us inclined to audit our costs using the 4% rule (I’d have to invest $86,000 in order to go every year!). You need to take time away from work, gain access to a foreign country, and arrange child care if you’re a parent. All these constraints demand a high level of commitment to the enterprise. At the same time, the organizers explicitly seek a diverse group and welcome people of all religions, genders, and sexual orientations, which “filters out the bigots,” JL says. 

I have an additional hypothesis. As I spoke with our group of 40 attendees and speakers representing a wide range of professions, locations, and socioeconomic backgrounds, I realized that FI can be an incredible equalizer. Your FI number might be much higher than mine, but if we’re both FI, we’ve both made it. You may have gotten there on a much higher salary than mine, but in the logic of FI that’s not a measure of superiority. It can even be the opposite: reaching FI without a high income is perhaps the most impressive achievement. 

This radical equality erases any sense of scarcity; we were fascinated with one another’s stories and strategies, delighted to share our own, and eager to learn all we could from each other. 

As I head home from this experience – writing presently in the JFK airport between London and my final destination – I’m hoping to take with me that sense of openness and connection. My previous nose-to-the-grindstone, block-out-all-distractions attitude won’t get me to FI any faster. 

The more I can stay in this space of community, warmth, and gratitude, the more I welcome the benefits of FI into my life right now. And that mindset – not the money itself – is what will make my happiness possible in the future.  

******************************************************************************

The magic of Chautauqua is in the people it attracts and, in the writing of her piece, Elisabeth gives us an insight in to herself. While every person who attends is unique, she is a wonderful example of a Chautauquan. I am honored to now have her as a friend.

Here’s some of that “decadent food” she mentions…

Photos by Monnica Han Kim

And here’s the Ettington Chapel started in the 12th Century…

Photo by JT Olmstead

Ettington Park under moody skies (I love this shot!)…

 Photo by Angel Morales

The Long Gallery where we sometimes dined and sometimes gathered for our talks…

Photo by JT Olmstead

*All photos taken by Chautauquans

******************************************************************************

More from Elizabeth:

Long-term growth mindset: A cautionary tale from parenting

******************************************************************************

Here’s Mr. 1500 Days’ take on the event:

UK Chautauqua: FI Peeps, Scarce Sleep, and Lots of Sheep

(no one titles a post quite like Mr. 1500!)

Here’s attendee Brian on his experience:

Forging Finance: 2019 FI Chautauqua

“Chautauqua is planned, coordinated and hosted by the best in the biz…”

Millennial Revolution:

Chautauqua UK 2019: A week together with our tribe

“Ettington Park Hotel…It’s tempting to look at the pictures of this place and describe it as just a ‘Fancy English Manor,’ but a more accurate description is ‘Fancy English Manor Steeped in History That May Also Be Haunted.’”

From attendee Trisha Ray:

FI Chautauqua and the cost of living on a boat in the south of France

“Beautiful location, well organized, and – a perfect time to be in the UK. 
It was fun – there was a murder mystery, a Shakespeare play, Oxford nearby, sticky toffee pudding – and the library had a proper secret door.”
There is even a picture of me as a young man cutting turf in Ireland. 
 
From attendee Ed:

UK Chautauqua — Escaping Silicon Valley

“Only if you live your life against the grain would you understand.”

From Kathy:

FI Chautauqua Revisited: Why I Love These People

“There’s something about being with a group of open-minded, positive people that spurs creativity…encouraged to see the possibilities beyond our own limiting beliefs.”

This one is about Greece, 2018 — Kathy and Brett’s second Chautauqua. They are joining us in Portugal 2019 for their third!

Check back. I’ll link to more as they get written.

******************************************************************************

If you think you’d like to join us at Chautauqua:

FI Chautauqua

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Related

Important Resources

  • Talent Stacker is a resource that I learned about through my work with Jonathan and Brad at ChooseFI, and first heard about Salesforce as a career option in an episode where we featured Bradley Rice on the Podcast. In that episode, Bradley shared how he reached FI quickly thanks to his huge paychecks and discipline in keeping his expenses low. Jonathan teamed up with Bradley to build Talent Stacker, and they have helped more than 1,000 students from all walks of life complete the program and land jobs like clockwork, earning double or even triple their old salaries using a Salesforce certification to break into a no-code tech career.
  • Credit Cards are like chain saws. Incredibly useful. Incredibly dangerous. Resolve to pay in full each month and never carry a balance. Do that and they can be great tools. Here are some of the very best for travel hacking, cash back and small business rewards.
  • Personal Capital is a free tool to manage and evaluate your investments. With great visuals you can track your net worth, asset allocation, and portfolio performance, including costs. At a glance you'll see what's working and what you might want to change. Here's my full review.
  • Betterment is my recommendation for hands-off investors who prefer a DIFM (Do It For Me) approach. It is also a great tool for reaching short-term savings goals. Here is my Betterment Review
  • NewRetirement offers cool tools to help guide you in answering the question: Do I have enough money to retire? And getting started is free. Sign up and you will be offered two paths into their retirement planner. I was also on their podcast and you can check that out here:Video version, Podcast version.
  • Tuft & Needle (T&N) helps me sleep at night. They are a very cool company with a great product. Here’s my review of what we are currently sleeping on: Our Walnut Frame and Mint Mattress.
  • Vanguard.com

Filed Under: Chautauqua, Guest Posts

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Comments

  1. Dave @ Accidental FIRE says

    June 26, 2019 at 11:11 am

    So true, I find that I generally have to travel somewhere, be it a foreign country or simply the mountains, and get out of my routine and comfort zone to really block out all distractions and obtain more clarity. Of course leaving the phone off and staying away from screens helps too.

    Looks like a great time and now I’m hungry 🙂

    Reply
    • Elisabeth says

      June 27, 2019 at 8:30 pm

      I agree Dave, I was just looking over my notes on Jillian Johnsrud’s presentation and was really surprised by the clarity I had on how I want my life to look. Hooray for retreat time.

      Reply
  2. Gwen @ Fiery Millennials says

    June 26, 2019 at 11:17 am

    I can safely say attending my first Chautauqua in 2015 changed the course of my life for the better in ways I can’t even begin to measure. I feel the same about my second on in 2017! I encourage everyone who can make it to think about going. You won’t be the same afterwards!

    Reply
    • Elisabeth says

      June 27, 2019 at 8:31 pm

      Gwen, it’s great to know you enjoyed your second Chautauqua as much as the first! It’s hard to imagine having the experience with a different group of people but I’d love to go again!

      Reply
  3. Kpeds says

    June 26, 2019 at 11:52 am

    Elisabeth is reminding us that the goal isn’t necessarily FI but rather a life we enjoy living. The best of both worlds would be a FI lifestyle that you are happy to enjoy and will eventually get you to your FI number.

    Reply
    • Elisabeth says

      June 27, 2019 at 8:33 pm

      Kpeds, 100% yes! Not quite there yet but it seems more possible than ever.

      Reply
  4. Mr. Hobo Millionaire says

    June 26, 2019 at 11:57 am

    This post may have finally convinced me to go. I guess my wife and I will see you soon-ish.

    Reply
    • Carl says

      June 26, 2019 at 2:48 pm

      It’s very difficult to explain what a week at Chautauqua is like. The best word that comes to mind is something that makes me want to barf when I hear people say it, but I’ll say it anyway; magical.

      The food is great. So are the accommodations and the sightseeing. The interactions, the conversation, the ideas that bloom over the course of the week, the lightbulbs that you notice flickering on in peoples’ heads; it’s magical. It’s very difficult to describe, but you know it when you experience it.

      I’m so thankful that I’ve been able to attend Chautauqua.

      Reply
      • Chad Hill aka(TagAlong) says

        June 26, 2019 at 7:31 pm

        Carl is one of the most humble guys out there.

        I found myself at ease in everyone’s presence at the event.

        As I look at all the people including Carl who I met at Chautauqua, what I realized is Chautauquans come together, gathering and developing into a kind of tribe of individuals who desire independence from burdens.

        Most still have a deep desire to chase a dream, I wish to maximize time with my Triplets. Others desire the ability to travel the World as a Digital Nomad and live a life of adventure. Some simply want to chase a dream of creating or working their dream job free of worry and stress.

        What I found is no matter how different everyone was, everybody wanted to help one another. Chautauquas go beyond what you normally find at conferences and the attendees genuinely and openly seemed excited about helping and encouraging others to gain confidence in what they are doing as well as reassuring them they have a support group to help them achieve the success they desire.

        Reply
        • Elisabeth says

          June 27, 2019 at 8:35 pm

          So well said, Chad. There was so much excitement about helping one another.

          Reply
    • Elisabeth says

      June 27, 2019 at 8:34 pm

      @Mr. Hobo Millionaire, fantastic! Enjoy!

      Reply
  5. SUE REYNOLDS says

    June 26, 2019 at 12:24 pm

    What a wonderful essay. I keep putting off attending (mainly because my work flipping houses, most recently here in Mexico, has had me very busy) and because I wondered if my age would put me so far above the average attendee. But now I see that is not true. Also, a “bigot-free” zone is incredibly important to me in this crushing period of hatred. I am FI, but there is still so much to learn! Thanks to everyone who arranges these events…hope to see you soon. (Any chance Mexico is on the horizon?)

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      June 26, 2019 at 6:16 pm

      Hi Sue…

      Sounds like you’d fit in perfectly.

      No plans for Mexico.

      Nothing carved in stone, but looks like we’ll go to Croatia and return to Portugal for 2020.

      Reply
    • Elisabeth says

      June 27, 2019 at 8:44 pm

      Thank you, Sue. We had a wide range of ages from early 20s to late 60s. I hope you get a chance to go next year!

      Reply
  6. Elisabeth Andrews says

    June 26, 2019 at 1:26 pm

    Thank you, JL Collins, for sharing my guest post. Talking with you was among my very favorite parts of the trip. Never has learning been such a pleasure. I’m honored that you would use the F word referring to me … friend. 😉

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      June 26, 2019 at 6:13 pm

      The honor is mine, Elisabeth.

      You, and those like you, who come to Chautauqua are what make it so special. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Life Outside The Maze says

    June 26, 2019 at 1:28 pm

    I love the way you describe FI as the great equalizer. That may be my thought of the day to ponder

    Reply
    • Elisabeth says

      June 27, 2019 at 8:46 pm

      Awesome. Please share your post-ponder conclusions!

      Reply
  8. Bill Yount says

    June 26, 2019 at 1:35 pm

    I look forward to when my our life meets with Chautauqua. We really must slow down to slow down.

    Reply
  9. Nicole Tirapelli says

    June 26, 2019 at 5:37 pm

    JLCollins-

    I am very interested in attending one of the Chautauqua’s this year. Are there any spaces available? If not, is there a waiting list I can add my name to?

    Warm Regards,
    Nicole Tirapelli

    Reply
    • Nicole Tirapelli says

      June 26, 2019 at 5:39 pm

      FYI. I have listened to your book three times now on audible. Have made significant changes in my life and would like to see what is next to become FI.

      Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      June 26, 2019 at 6:11 pm

      Hi Nicole…

      We would love to have you, but all the weeks are sold out for 2019.

      To add yourself to the wait list for 2019 and/or the mailing list for future events, go here: https://www.fichautauqua.com/contact.html

      Reply
  10. Mr C says

    June 26, 2019 at 6:23 pm

    This brings back great memories! Wish we could have been there and sounds like it lived up to the incredibly high bar Jim has set.

    Elisabeth – great write up. Could just as easily have described our week in Greece

    Reply
    • Elisabeth says

      June 27, 2019 at 8:49 pm

      Mr C, that’s so cool to hear it’s just the same at each Chautauqua. I remember JL saying he could drop anyone from our group into one of the previous groups, or anyone from a previous group into our group, and we’d fit right in just as we had with our cohort. An amazing phenomenon. As Carl says, magical.

      Reply
  11. RocDoc says

    June 26, 2019 at 8:31 pm

    My husband and I are going to our first Chautauqua in Ecuador November 2019. Reading Elisabeth’s impressions makes me so happy we’re going to have this experience.

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      June 27, 2019 at 5:36 am

      Hi RocDoc…

      While I expect and hope you will have a wonderful time in Ecuador, please understand that the events there are entirely different from ours.

      My last involvement with Ecuador was in 2017. There were none there in 2018. I have no way of knowing what these planned for 2019 will entail or how they will be run.

      The only Chautauquas that I can vouch for and that are run to my specifications are those here: https://www.fichautauqua.com

      Reply
  12. Financially Fit Mom says

    June 27, 2019 at 9:29 am

    I am so excited for the day I make it to one of these! What a picture you painted with your write up Elisabeth!

    Reply
    • Elisabeth says

      June 27, 2019 at 8:50 pm

      Thank you, Financially Fit Mom! I hope you can go soon and share your impressions!

      Reply
  13. FireReadyAim says

    June 27, 2019 at 1:07 pm

    Welp, it looks like I’m going to just have to do this next year. The trouble will be convincing my wife, who wonders why, if we are trying to reach FI, that we should spend money to go talk to others who are trying/have already done the same thing…I get it, just haven’t figured out how to help her to get it. At least she is coming with me to FinCon this year…

    Reply
    • Elisabeth says

      June 27, 2019 at 9:10 pm

      Hi FireReadyAim, that’s certainly a valid concern, and if it would be any kind of financial hardship I would recommend waiting until the trip does not uncomfortably stretch the budget. I tend to think like your wife but over time the opportunity to talk with like-minded people about FI became very valuable to me. My husband is supportive of my efforts but not especially interested in FI, and because we each maintain our own accounts for discretionary spending, I saved mine up to afford Chautauqua and he stayed home and did the parenting. There were several of us on the trip who came without our spouses for one reason or another, and several couples as well, which is all to say that there are many ways to work it out depending on your situation. I hope you both have a great time at FinCon! I have yet to check that out…

      Reply
      • Triplet Mom says

        July 2, 2019 at 3:36 pm

        Hi FireREadyAim,
        Elisabeth is on point. I was one of the attendees at UK-2019. I was on the same boat. I’ve been into FI stuff since 2012 and thought my husband wasn’t as interested with the articles I shared. On the first day of the meet-up, I actually introduced him as the reluctant spouse (I have since apologized for this error). This trip made me do a double take. He asked questions that were a lot more in depth coming from a person who I thought was not into it. He knew nothing of the speakers’ bios. I figured this way he will create unbiased conclusions, insight and experience for himself. I, on the other hand, was star struck. Even if my husband wasn’t as gung-ho as I was, he so enjoyed the trip. Chautauquas are more than a financial retreat. It is truly a gathering of people who are supportive and positive. There are lots of aspects at Chautauquas that would entertain a person. The lodgings, activities and conversations during the day and I’d like to add, all hours into the night, make for a fascinating week. If you can save up for this trip for both of you, it might help her see you and your cause in a different light. My mother volunteered to care for my 4 year old triplets so my husband can attend this life changing gathering. Good luck. This trip gave my marriage a boost. Hope it will do the same for you.

        Reply
  14. Skip says

    June 27, 2019 at 10:10 pm

    I enjoyed that very much. Excellent writer. Thank you for sharing 😀

    Reply
    • Elisabeth says

      July 2, 2019 at 10:02 pm

      Thank you very much, Skip!

      Reply
  15. Kevin says

    June 28, 2019 at 9:16 am

    It is a wonderful and life changing experience. Great post. Great pics. Great food! Maybe one day….we will attend our 2nd Chautauqua. Until then…I enjoy reading about what other folks have to say about their experiences.

    Reply
  16. Marc Leach says

    June 28, 2019 at 9:36 am

    I’ve devoured your blog since December and shared your book with our community (Keep Your Daydream on YouTube). My wife and I would love to join you for the next Chautauqua. What is the secret knock to get more information? 😉 -Marc

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      June 28, 2019 at 12:51 pm

      Secret knocks can be found here: https://www.fichautauqua.com/contact.html

      Reply
  17. FIRECracker says

    June 28, 2019 at 9:15 pm

    Love Elisabeth’s write-up! It hasn’t even been a whole week since Chautauqua ended and I’m already getting severe withdrawal symptoms. I guess that’s expected whenever you spend a whole week with the best people in the world. I miss everyone already. My chautauqua reflections post is coming up and I can’t wait for chautauqua Portugal! The wait feels too long!

    Reply
    • Elisabeth says

      July 2, 2019 at 10:01 pm

      Yay, LOVED hanging out with you, Kristy!

      Reply
  18. @firefoxii.com says

    July 2, 2019 at 6:17 am

    Would be fun and a great adventure to attend a Chautauqua one day, and being part of something spectacular, regards Christian

    Reply
  19. Frank says

    August 9, 2019 at 2:06 pm

    Hello,

    Can you explain this a little further?

    “Instead, JL Collins told me to stop trying to buy when the market’s down.”

    I’m obsessed with buying only when the market is down. How did you break this mindset?

    Thank you
    Frank

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      August 13, 2019 at 9:00 pm

      Hi Frank,

      Thanks for your comment!

      Mr. Collins is currently traveling and unable to respond just now.

      We find for most questions, he has already covered the topic. Using the Search button might very well provide your answer.

      Reply
    • Elisabeth says

      August 14, 2019 at 1:13 pm

      Hi Frank! I had been holding on to a lot of cash to try to buy whenever there was a drop. Problem was, as JL pointed out, that meant I was missing most of the growth. Even with my monthly contributions, I would wait for some kind of down signal to time my contribution within that month. He told me, “You’re playing for nickels and dimes.” Somehow that was line that got through to me. More recently I saw a study, I wish I could remember where, that compared what would have happened if you had 1) invested a set amount at the same time each month over a period of 10 or 20 years to 2) having invested twelve times that monthly amount at the lowest market point in each of those years. The difference was much smaller than I would have expected. Negligible, or, one might say, “nickels and dimes.”

      Reply
  20. Kayla @ Family and FI says

    February 13, 2020 at 8:02 am

    I just spent a big chunk of my morning gazing at those food pictures! Looks amazing! Thanks for sharing, I hope to go one day.

    Reply

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      • The new book is out!
      • Are bonds done?
    • ► October (1)
      • Guess what I just finally read for the first time...
    • ► September (1)
      • The negligence that led me to DIY investing
    • ► August (3)
      • Chainsaws and Credit Cards
      • Part XXXVI: Estate Planning 101 -- The Simple Path to an Estate Plan
      • The Simple Path to a Lucrative Career
    • ► July (1)
      • Help Wanted: a new book
    • ► June (1)
      • The Top 9 (Bad) Arguments Against Bitcoin
    • ► May (2)
      • Collins on Crypto
      • The Alfred Hitchcock Path to FI
    • ► April (1)
      • Time to sell?
    • ► February (1)
      • Mariah International: All that glitters…
  • ► 2020 (11)
    • ► December (1)
      • Season's Greetings!!
    • ► June (1)
      • How to give when you have a business
    • ► April (4)
      • Investing with Vanguard for Europeans: 2020 update
      • Part XVII-B: ETF vs. Mutual Fund -- What's the difference?
      • Reviewing the comments on my post of April 1st
      • Why I will no longer be writing this blog
    • ► March (4)
      • My move from VMMXX to VBTLX
      • COVID-19: The unvarnished truth from Doc G.
      • Chautauqua sits out 2020
      • Taking advantage of Mr. Bear
    • ► February (1)
      • Mr. Bear, Podcasts, a good book and why I should be in 100% stocks
  • ► 2019 (11)
    • ► November (4)
      • How we bought our new car
      • The House Hacking Strategy
      • What does buying a new car really cost over the years?
      • Why we bought a brand new car
    • ► August (1)
      • A Guided Meditation for When the Stock Market Is Dropping
    • ► June (2)
      • 7 Days in Heaven: or Why Slowing Down Will Get You There Sooner
      • Quit Like a Millionaire
    • ► March (1)
      • Stocks -- Part XXXV: Investing for Seven Generations
    • ► February (1)
      • Chautauqua 2019 - UK & Portugal - Tickets Now Available
    • ► January (2)
      • Mr. Bogle passes
      • "I wanted the unreasonable"
  • ► 2018 (16)
    • ► December (1)
      • Happy Holidays! and a bit on Mr. Market
    • ► November (3)
      • Truly Passive Real Estate Investing
      • Car Talk: An update on Steve and looking at Leafs
      • Chautauqua 2018 Greece: A week for the gods!
    • ► October (1)
      • On Twitter, gone for Chautauqua and dark on comments till November
    • ► September (2)
      • What we own and why we own it: 2018
      • Tuft & Needle: Our Walnut Frame and Mint Mattress
    • ► August (1)
      • Kibanda Part 5: Pretty, and pretty much done
    • ► June (3)
      • Stocks--Part XXXIV: How to unload your unwanted stocks and funds
      • Tracking your holdings
      • Stocks -- Part XXXIII: Optimism
    • ► May (2)
      • Kibanda Part 4: Quicksand!
      • My Talk at Google, Playing with FIRE and other Chautauqua connections
    • ► March (1)
      • Stocks -- Part XXXII: Why you should not be in the stock market
    • ► February (1)
      • Chautauqua 2018: Mt. Olympus, Greece
    • ► January (1)
      • An International Portfolio from The Escape Artist
  • ► 2017 (15)
    • ► December (2)
      • The Bond Experiment: Return to VBTLX
      • How to Invest in Bitcoin like Benjamin Graham
    • ► October (1)
      • Kibanda Part 3: Running the numbers
    • ► September (1)
      • Sleeping soundly thru a market crash: The Wasting Asset Retirement Model
    • ► August (2)
      • Stocks -- Part XXXI: Too hot. Too cold. Not pure enough.
      • Kibanda, Part 2: Negotiating the deal
    • ► July (2)
      • Time Machine and the future returns for stocks
      • Kibanda: Mr. Anti-house buys his dream house
    • ► June (2)
      • Is there an interior designer in the house?
      • The Simple Path to Wealth goes Audio!
    • ► May (1)
      • Life on the Beach
    • ► April (1)
      • Sell! Sell!! Sell!!! Sell?
    • ► March (1)
      • Vicki comes to Chautauqua: United Kingdom
    • ► January (2)
      • Chautauqua - Ecuador 2017 open for reservations
      • Chautauqua - United Kingdom: August 2017
  • ► 2016 (22)
    • ► December (3)
      • Season's Greetings and other cool stuff
      • Angel Investing, or Angel Philanthropy?
      • Mr. Bogle and me
    • ► November (1)
      • Where did you learn about money?
    • ► October (2)
      • Buy Your Freedom; Rent the Rest
      • So, what do you drive?
    • ► September (2)
      • Stocks -- Part XXX: jlcollinsnh vs. Vanguard
      • A visit to the Frugalwoods
    • ► August (1)
      • What the naysayers are missing
    • ► July (1)
      • Reviews of The Simple Path to Wealth; gone for summer
    • ► June (2)
      • The Simple Path to Wealth is now Published!
      • A peek into The Simple Path to Wealth
    • ► May (1)
      • It's better in the wind. Still.
    • ► April (3)
      • Cool things to check out while I'm gone
      • Stocks — Part XXIX: How to save money for college. Or not.
      • Help Wanted: The Book
    • ► March (1)
      • F-You Money: John Goodman v. jlcollinsnh
    • ► February (2)
      • Q&A - V: The Women of Amphissa
      • jlcollinsnh gets a new suit
    • ► January (3)
      • Chautauqua 2015 Reviews, 2016 registration open
      • Case Study #15: The Scavenger Life -- Freedom first, then Financial Independence
      • 3rd Annual (2015) Louis Rukeyser Memorial Market Prediction Contest results, and my forecast for 2016
  • ► 2015 (18)
    • ► December (2)
      • Q&A - IV: Strawberry Patch
      • Seasons Greetings! and other cool stuff
    • ► October (2)
      • Personal Capital; and how to unload your unwanted stocks and funds
      • Stockchoker: A look back at what your investment might have been
    • ► September (2)
      • Case Study #14: To Dream the Impossible Dream (and then realize it)
      • Hotel Living
    • ► August (1)
      • Mr. Market's Wild Ride
    • ► June (4)
      • Gone for Summer, an important note on comments and random cool stuff that caught my eye
      • Around the world with an Aussie Biker
      • Case Study #13: The Power of Flexibility
      • Stocks — Part VIII: The 401(k), 403(b), TSP, IRA & Roth Buckets
    • ► March (2)
      • Stocks -- Part XXVIII: Debt - The Unacceptable Burden
      • Chautauqua October 2015: Times Two!
    • ► February (2)
      • YNAB: Best Place to Work Ever?
      • Case Study #12: Escaping a soul-crushing job before you're 70
    • ► January (3)
      • Case Study #11: John, a small business owner in transition
      • Trish and Stan take an Intrepid Sailing Voyage
      • 2014 Annual Louis Rukeyser Memorial Market Prediction Contest results, and my forecast for 2015
  • ► 2014 (29)
    • ► December (2)
      • Diamonds and Happy Holidays!
      • Micro-Lending with Kiva
    • ► November (3)
      • Chautauqua February 7-14, 2015: Escape from Winter
      • Stocks -- Part XXVII: Why I Don’t Like Dollar Cost Averaging
      • Jack Bogle and the Presidential Medal of Freedom
    • ► October (3)
      • Tuft & Needle: A better path to sleep
      • Nightmare on Wall Street: Will the Blood Bath Continue?
      • Help Wanted
    • ► September (1)
      • Chautauqua 2014: Lightning strikes again!
    • ► August (2)
      • Stocks -- Part XXVI: Pulling the 4%
      • Stocks -- Part XXV: HSAs, more than just a way to pay your medical bills.
    • ► July (3)
      • Stocks -- Part XXIV: RMDs, the ugly surprise at the end of the tax-deferred rainbow
      • Summer travels, writing, reading and other amusements
      • Moto X, my new Republic Wireless Phone
    • ► June (1)
      • Stocks -- Part XXIII: Selecting your asset allocation
    • ► May (1)
      • Stocks -- Part XXII: Stepping away from REITs
    • ► April (3)
      • Q&A III: Vamos
      • Q&A II: Salamat
      • Q&A I: Gaijin Shogun
    • ► March (2)
      • Top 10 posts
      • Cafe No Se
    • ► February (4)
      • Chautauqua 2014 preview, closing up for travel and other random cool things that caught my eye of late.
      • Case Study #10: Should Josiah buy his parents a house?
      • Case Study #9: Lars -- maximizing some good fortune and considering "dollar cost averaging"
      • Case Study #8: Ron's mother - she's doin' all right!
    • ► January (4)
      • roundup: Some random cool things
      • Stocks — Part XXI: Investing with Vanguard for Europeans
      • Case Study #7: What it looks like when everything financial goes wrong
      • 1st Annual Louis Rukeyser Memorial Market Prediction Contest 2013 results, and my forecast for 2014
  • ► 2013 (41)
    • ► December (4)
      • Closing up for the Holidays, see you in 2014
      • Betterment: a simpler path to wealth
      • Case Study 6: Helping an ill and elderly parent
      • Stocks -- Part XX: Early Retirement Withdrawal Strategies and Roth Conversion Ladders from a Mad Fientist
    • ► November (3)
      • Death, Taxes, Estate Plans, Probate and Prob8
      • Case Study #5: Zero to 2.6 million in 25 years
      • Case Study #4: Using the 4% rule and asset allocations.
    • ► October (3)
      • Republic Wireless and my $19 per month phone plan
      • Case Study #3: Let's get Tom to Latin America!
      • The Stock Series gets its own page
    • ► September (2)
      • Case Study #2: Joe -- off to a fast start!
      • Chautauqua 2013: A Week of Dreams
    • ► August (1)
      • Closing up shop plus an opening at Chautauqua, my new podcast, phone, book and other random cool stuff
    • ► July (1)
      • They Will Kill You For Your Shoes!
    • ► June (4)
      • Stocks -- Part VIII-b: Should you avoid your company's 401k?
      • Shilpan's Seven Habits to Live More with Less
      • Stocks -- Part XIX: How to think about money
      • My path for my kid -- the first 10 years
    • ► May (5)
      • Why your house is a terrible investment
      • Stocks — Part XVIII: Investing in a raging bull
      • Dining with the Ghosts of Sarah Bernhardt and Alfons Mucha
      • How we finally got the house sold
      • Stocks — Part XVII: What if you can't buy VTSAX? Or even Vanguard?
    • ► April (4)
      • Greetings from Prague & a computer question
      • Swimming with Tigers, a 2nd chance on the Chautauqua, a financial article gets it wrong and I'm off to Prague
      • Storage, Moving and Movers
      • Homeless, and a bit on the strategy of dollar cost averaging
    • ► March (4)
      • Wild Turkeys, Motorcycles, Dining Room Sets & Greed
      • Roots v. Wings: considering home ownership
      • How about that stock market?!
      • The Blog has New Clothes
    • ► February (5)
      • Meet Mr. Money Mustache, JD Roth, Cheryl Reed & me for a Chautauqua in Ecuador
      • High School Poetry, Carnival, cool ads and random pictures that caught my eye
      • Consignment Shops: Best business model ever?
      • Cafes
      • Stocks -- Part XVI: Index Funds are really just for lazy people, right?
    • ► January (5)
      • Social Security: How secure and when to take it
      • Fighting giraffes, surreal landscapes, dancing with unicorns and restoring a Vanagon
      • My plan for 2013
      • VITA, income taxes and the IRS
      • How to be a stock market guru and get on MSNBC
  • ► 2012 (53)
    • ► December (6)
      • See you next year....until then: The Origin of Life, Life on Other Worlds, Mechanical Graveyards, Great Art, Alternative Lifestyles and Finding Freedom
      • Stocks -- Part XV: Target Retirement Funds, the simplest path to wealth of all
      • Stocks -- Part XIV: Deflation, the ugly escort of Depressions.
      • Stocks Part XIV: Deflation, the ugly escort of Depressions.
      • Stocks -- Part XIII: The 4% rule, withdrawal rates and how much can I spend anyway?
      • How I learned to stop worrying about the Fiscal Cliff and you can too.
    • ► November (2)
      • Rent v. owning: A couple of case studies in Ecuador
      • So, what does a month in Ecuador cost anyway?
    • ► October (4)
      • See you in December....
      • Meet me in Ecuador?
      • The Podcast: You can hear me now.
      • Stocks -- Part XII: Bonds
    • ► September (6)
      • Stocks -- Part XI: International Funds
      • The Smoother Path to Wealth
      • Case Study #I: Putting the Simple Path to Wealth into Action
      • Tales of Bolivia: Calle de las Brujas
      • Stocks -- Part X: What if Vanguard gets Nuked?
      • Travels in South America: It was the best of times....
    • ► August (1)
      • Home again
    • ► June (4)
      • Yellow Fever, closing up shop for the summer and heading to Peru y Bolivia
      • I could not have said it better myself...
      • Stocks -- Part IX: Why I don't like investment advisors
      • Happy Birthday, jlcollinsnh; and thanks for the gift Mr. MM!
    • ► May (6)
      • Stocks -- Part VIII: The 401K, 403b, TSP, IRA & Roth Buckets
      • Mr. Money Mustache
      • The College Conundrum
      • Stocks -- Part VII: Can everyone really retire a millionaire?
      • Stocks -- Part VI: Portfolio ideas to build and keep your wealth
      • Stocks -- Part V: Keeping it simple, considerations and tools
    • ► April (6)
      • Stocks -- Part IV: The Big Ugly Event, Deflation and a bit on Inflation
      • Stocks -- Part III: Most people lose money in the market.
      • Stocks -- Part II: The Market Always Goes Up
      • Stocks -- Part 1: There's a major market crash coming!!!! and Dr. Lo can't save you.
      • You can eat my Vindaloo, mega lottery, Blondie, Noa, Israel Kamakawiwo 'Ole, art, film and a ride on the Space Shuttle
      • Where in the world are you?
    • ► March (7)
      • How I lost money in real estate before it was fashionable, Part V: Sold! and the taxman cometh.
      • How I lost money in real estate before it was fashionable, Part IV: I become a Landlord.
      • How I lost money in real estate before it was fashionable, Part III: The Battle is Joined.
      • How I lost money in real estate before it was fashionable, Part II: The Limits of the Law.
      • How I lost money in real estate before it was fashionable, Part I: Impossibly Naive.
      • You, too, can be conned
      • Armageddon and the value of practical skills
    • ► February (6)
      • Rent v. Owning Your Home, opportunity cost and running some numbers
      • The Casanova Kid, a Shit Knife, a Good Book, Having No Regrets, Dark Matter and a bit of Magic
      • What Poker, Basketball and Mike Whitaker taught me about Luck
      • How to Give like a Billionaire
      • Go ahead, make my day
      • Muk Finds Success in Tahiti
    • ► January (5)
      • Travels with "Esperando un Camino"
      • Beanie Babies, Naked Barbie, American Pickers and Old Coots
      • Selling the House and Adventures in Staging
      • The bashing of Index Funds, Jack Bogle and a Jedi dog trick
      • Magic Beans
  • ► 2011 (22)
    • ► December (1)
      • Dividend Growth Investing
    • ► November (2)
      • The Mummy's head, Particle Physics and "Knocking on Heaven's Door"
      • "It's Better in the Wind" or why I ride a motorcycle
    • ► October (1)
      • Lazy Days and School Days
    • ► July (2)
      • The road to Zanzibar sometimes goes thru Ecuador...
      • Johnny wins the lotto and heads to Paris
    • ► June (16)
      • Chainsaws, Elm Trees and paying for College
      • Stuff I’ve failed at: the early years
      • Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat
      • The. Worst. Used. Car. Ever.
      • Top Ten reasons your future is so bright it hurts my eyes to look at it
      • The Most Dangerous Words Your Customer Can Say
      • How not to drown in The Sea of Assholes
      • What we own and why we own it
      • The Ten Sales Commandments
      • My ever so formal and oh so dry CV
      • How I failed my daughter and a simple path to wealth
      • The Myth of Motivation
      • Why you need F-you money
      • My short attention span
      • Why I can’t pick winning stocks, and you can’t either
      • The Monk and the Minister

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