Author: J.D. Roth

Good morning, Apexians, and welcome to another Monday. As has been true for the past month, I’m splitting my time between my home and caring for my sick cousin. I spend three nights with him, then surrender duties to his brother. I drive home and spend a couple of says catching up on sleep before heading north to do it all again.

Translation: I’ll do my best to have Apex installments for you all week, but there may be some blank spots. Let’s dive in!

“What I learned when I stopped chasing my dream job.” [Vice] — “But my upbringing isn’t all to blame for my internal conflict. Our concept of work has been shaped by our collective experience as a generation. While boomers view work as utilitarian, seeking job security, millennials seem to view work as a form of liberation from our parents’ expectations (while backed by their promise that we can achieve anything we set our minds to).”

Retirement the Margaritaville way. [The New Yorker] — “The citizens of Latitude Margaritaville testify so consistently to a life of gratification that one suspects, but finds no evidence for, a regimen of happy pills or talking points. Disgruntlement and curmudgeonliness must exist, but not in view of a visitor susceptible to such traits.”

“My own phone number is now spam-texting me.” [The Verge] — “This is all spoofing and technological impersonation. It’s trivially easy for spammers to camouflage as any number they choose. My Verizon account is secure, and my number hasn’t been hijacked. If you’ve gotten the same message, there’s no cause for panic.”

To wrap things up today, here’s a short (two-minute) video that explains how to cut onions like they do in Michelin-star restaurants.

That’s probably unexciting for some of you, but I’m always trying to level-up my kitchen game, and I’m eager to try this technique. The only problem? While I usually cook a couple of times per week, I haven’t had time to do so for the past month…and I’m still in the thick of caring for my cousin. Ah well. Someday, I’ll get to practice this skill.

Okay, that’s it for today. I’ll be back tomorrow with more great stuff. See you then!

Welcome to Wednesday, money nerds. Today, I’ve collected four recent articles about personal finance that I believe are worth your time and attention.

How my first property purchase went south. [ESI Money] — “I believe that things always happen for a reason, so while I would have liked that property, I’ve moved on and am not pouting over the loss. And I do actually have an education of sorts, so I don’t leave the process with nothing. Here’s what I’ve taken away from this experience.”

How to travel as much as you want without retiring early. [The Fioneers] — “We don’t plan to become digital nomads. We love our home and community in Boston, and this is not something that we want to give up. Because of this, we’re planning to take the approach of maintaining a home base while doing frequent travel. Once we are fully location-independent, I envision us traveling for 1-3 (or even 6) months at a time (depending on where we go).”

The future is unknowable. Should you spend all of your money or sock it away? [Physician on Fire] — “Living with an unhealthy fear of what next year could bring can absolutely help boost your savings rate and lead you to financial independence sooner. But what kind of life are you living before that day comes?”

Should you tap your retirement accounts to buy a home? [Morningstar] — “The tax code also makes special provisions for some types of retirement-portfolio withdrawals to pay for first-time home purchases. In an ideal world you’d fund a home purchase with non-retirement assets–money held in a taxable brokerage account, for example. Raiding a retirement account to pay for a home could even be considered a red flag that you’re buying more home than you can afford.”

And that’s all I have for Hump Day. I’ll be back tomorrow with more stories about how you can master your money — and your life. Until then, take care!

Hello, friends, and welcome to Tuesday. Looks like I’ve managed to put together a second installment of Apex Money this week despite all the health crises in my family. How’s that for dedication? Here’s what I have for you.

Explaining sequence of returns risk (and why it matters). [Monevator] — “Sequence of returns risk is the risk that fate will deal you a shocking hand. That the timing of bear markets and bull markets will fall worse for you than for another investor. This danger is especially high when you’re taking money out of a portfolio during a market crash.”

The art of money. [The Root of All] — “Money is one part data and math, two parts imagination and personal awareness. The science is the data and information we gather; the art is what we decide to do with it. So, how can we think more artistically about money? And, how can it specifically improve our relationship with money? Well, let’s learn from the artists themselves.”

The productivity funnel. [Cal Newport] — “In the most general sense, productivity is about navigating from a large constellation of possible things you could be doing to the actual execution of a much smaller number of things each day…To make sense of these varied journeys from a broad array of potential activity to the narrowed scope of actual execution, I often imagine the three-level funnel diagramed above.”

How minimalism can help your finances. [The Balance] — “Embracing minimalism does not mean that you stop spending money, but it can mean that you spend it on other things and your focus may change from making money to enjoying life. Here are [eight] ways minimalism can help your finances.”

Our video feature today is just for fun (as usual). It’s a silly three-minute YouTube video that imagines what might happen if regular people were cooking show judges.

I’m not sure why I find this so hilarious, but I do. Maybe it’s because I’ve spent far too much time watching The Great British Bake Show this year.

Okay, that’s TWO DAYS I’ve managed this week. Will my busy life allow me to publish a third? A fourth? Maybe even a fifth? Come back tomorrow to find out…

Howdy, Apexians, and welcome to another wild week. I know things in the world at large are still crazy. But so too are things in my personal life. While I continue to provide care for my sick cousin, my mother too has resumed her trips to the E.R.

Translation: While I’m snagging a few moments here on Sunday afternoon to share some recent articles, my posting this schedule this week may be…chaotic. I’ll do my best, though.

Let’s start by looking at some cool stuff I’ve had open in my browser for a couple of weeks now…

Eleven rules for buying an e-bike. [Ryan’s Blog] — “E-bikes are a big reason I’ve been able to go 11 years car-free. Owning [sixty] bikes has also allowed me to understand the differences between them, and I’ve advised hundreds on their own ebike purchase…Here are 11 rules for buying an ebike.”

Why gravel gardens are better than they sound. [The New York Times, so possible paywall] — “The don’t-need-to-do list for gravel gardens is not just about reduced weeding and watering duties. These are gardens that don’t require mulching or fertilizing either, and their edges are already defined, so they needn’t be cut each spring the way you would with a conventional bed adjacent to lawn.”

The professor who beat roulette. [The Hustle] — “He noticed that at the end of each night, casinos would replace cards and dice with fresh sets — but the expensive roulette wheels went untouched and often stayed in service for decades before being replaced. Like any other machine, these wheels acquired wear and tear. Jarecki began to suspect that tiny defects — chips, dents, scratches, unlevel surfaces — might cause certain wheels to land on certain numbers more frequently than randomocity prescribed.”

Let’s wrap things up on this Monday with a six-minute video from BBC Reel that explores why it’s almost impossible to lose things in Japan.

I understand 100% that all cultures have drawbacks, and Japan is no exception. But I find this particular aspect of their society so, so refreshing.

Okay, that’s it for today. Maybe we should play a game where we place bets on how many days I’m able to publish this week. I’m aiming for five. Will I manage to hit that target? 😉

It’s Friday, my friends, and this is Apex Money. We’re your source for the highest-quality articles about personal finance (and other stuff). Let’s see what I’ve rounded up for you today…

How to live with your regrets. [BBC Worklife] — “Regret’s fundamental role in our cognition may explain why so many people experience it so frequently. Pink points to one study, from 1984, that examined the conversations of undergraduate and married couples. Within these recordings, regret was the second most discussed emotion after love. The finding fits with one of Pink’s own questionnaires, which asked how often people experience regret. Around 20% of the respondents claimed to feel the emotion all the time’.” Count me as part of that 20% who feels regret all of the time. It sucks.

How to bleed your employer dry before quitting. [Bitches Get Riches] — “If you’re planning to quit voluntarily…you can be strategic. […] And in doing so, you can extract a ton of value back from your employer and/or your government before you go. I’m down to just one month at my job, and I’m systematically going through this list. It will save me thousands of dollars. It will also prevent a lot of logistical headaches for my future self.” This list is less about bleeding your employer dry and more about taking advantage of the benefits you’re owed as an employee. However you look at it, it’s good advice.

To take you into the weekend, here’s an hour-long video describing how one man became a professional anime voice actor in Japan.

I’ll confess. I haven’t watched the entire video yet. But I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen, and I plan to watch the rest when I have more free time. (I have little free time lately.)

Okay, that’s everything for this week. Jim will be back on Monday to share more great articles about money (and more). Until then, take care!

Good morning, money nerds, and welcome to another edition of Apex Money. I have three great articles for you today (and one great video). Let’s get to it.

“How we signed up for health insurance through the ACA.” [Frugalwoods] — “Unless your situation miraculously mirrors mine here in rural Vermont, you’re not going to be able to follow my exact steps. You’re going to have to do your own research in your state for your own circumstances. But all is not lost! There’s a lot we can learn together about how the ACA operates at the federal level. So let’s go on an ACA journey together!” I too recently signed up for health insurance via the ACA. But I haven’t had enough experience with it yet to write about the process.

How to pay off debt fast. [The Money Principle] — “Paying off your debt can be an empowering experience but it is not a walk in the park. A successful debt freedom journey is like a track in the mountain – your head must be right, you must be prepared, know the route and walk that walk. This post covers all important points about paying off debt fast and becoming debt-free, but it is not likely to be enough.” L-o-n-g but excellent article.

The seven habits that lead to happiness in old age. [The Atlantic] — “The best way to maximize your chances of happiness in your 70s is to pursue all seven of these goals with fervor, sort of like balancing your 401(k). But if you can choose only one to pour your heart into, let it be the last. According to the Harvard study, the single most important trait of happy-well elders is healthy relationships.”

Finally, here’s a fun video from 1973. It’s little Stevie Wonder performing “Superstition” live on Sesame Street. Great song. Great performance.

I always liked Stevie Wonder as a kid, but it’s not until I reached my fifties that I’ve learned to truly appreciate him. The man is funky as hell. Great musician.

Okay, that’s all I have for you today. I’ll be back tomorrow to see you into the weekend…

Howdy, Apexians. Sorry for the lull at the start of this week. As some of you know, my priority lately has been to spend quality time with my cousin as he enters the final stages of his battle with cancer. Collecting fun links about money seems foolish when I could be hanging out with him instead.

That said, here I am with a free Wednesday and no obligations. Sounds like a perfect time to catch up on some reading…and to share the best of that reading with you folks. Let’s dive in…

The responsibility of hope. [Emily Guy Birken] — “We may have a lot of reasons to feel hopeless, and far be it from me to keep anyone from making dark jokes when they feel powerless. But we are not powerless. We can always hope. It’s not juvenile or naïve to hope. It’s the responsible thing to do, because it is the only way we can effect any change.”

The case for (always) staying invested. [J.P. Morgan Wealth Management via reader Michael Laurence] — “Diversification, time in the market and a steady head can help investors achieve their long-term financial goals by avoiding the pitfalls of emotionally driven, badly timed mistakes. When times get tough in markets and make you feel nervous, remember the lessons from tried-and-true investing principles.”

A world shaped by supply. [PDF report from Blackrock] — “Limits on supply have driven the surge in inflation over the past year: a profound change from the decades-long dominance of demand drivers. This fundamentally changes how we should think about the macro environment and the market implications. The key to understanding the muted response of central banks to inflation is not the timeframe but its cause: supply. Much of the 2021 debate overlooked this.” This is a long and heady paper, but it’s very much worth reading.

To wrap things up today, here’s a nerdy but fun 12-minute video that attempts to answer the question: Where does the tone come from in an electric guitar?

Okay, that’s it for today. Because I know I’m headed up to Portland tomorrow to spend more time with my cousin, I’ll take some time this afternoon to draft two more Apex installments for you. That means you can look forward to more tomorrow. See you then!

Today is Thursday, money bosses, and I have a handful of interesting money stories for you.

First up, here’s an intersting counter-point to a common personal-finance maxim. The author urges readers to buy things, not experiences. I’m linking to this not because I agree with it (because I don’t really), but because it made me think. Perhaps it will make you think too.

Buy things, not experiences. [Harold Lee] — “This rationalization ignores is the extent to which tools and possessions enable new experiences. A well-appointed kitchen allows you to cook healthy meals for yourself rather than ordering delivery night after night. A toolbox lets you fix things around the house and in the process learn to appreciate how our modern world was made.”

While I find that article interesting and believe the author has some valid points, it’s also frustrating for a couple of reasons. First, he assumes that the advice to “buy experiences not things” is just made up by wealthy people. It’s not. It’s based on multiple research studies. (Here are my thoughts on one study.) Second, the author then jumps to conclusions based on his own opinions rather than any sort of evidence.

So, it’s an article with some interesting arguments and ideas, but one that is ultimately frustrating because it reads like an internet rant from somebody who has an opinion but no facts to back up his beliefs.

Okay, here are a couple of other money articles…

Why negotiating gives you anxiety…and why it shouldn’t. [Salon] — “Most of our negotiations go really well and we feel good about them. We just hate the idea of negotiating. I believe that comes from not our direct experiences — some of which are bad — but more the negotiations that we have observed, which tend to be Hollywood negotiations. Hollywood loves drama. You see these negotiators on the big screen trying to bully each other. That’s just not how life usually goes.”

What you need to know about estate planning. [The White Coat Investor] — “Estate planning is a chore that most of us put off whenever possible. We usually find it uninteresting and expensive, and even worse, it can force us to face our own mortality. However, it is an important aspect of financial planning and, when done poorly (or not at all), can really cause a mess for heirs.”

And to wrap things up today, here’s a fun little video. This 14-minute segment from 1949 was produced by the United States Department of Agriculture to demonstrate what a modern U-shaped kitchen was capable of.

This seems quaint now, I know, but these are the sorts of kitchens I grew up with. And a lot of the conclusions shared in this video are still applicable to kitchens in 2022.

That’s it for Thursday. I’ll be back tomorrow to take you into the weekend. So long!

Welcome to Wednesday, my friends. Once again, I’ve gathered a handful of recent personal-finance articles that I found worthwhile. I’m here today to share them with you…

Buy fewer clothes. [Permanent Style] — “There’s no point having clothing you don’t wear, or can only wear a certain amount. Further: if you have so many things that you’re chopping and changing every day, you lose the pleasure of familiarity — of having clothes you particularly love and value.”

Assessing your financial health. [Can I Retire Yet?] — “In my CFP coursework, I recently learned a number of measurements of financial wellness. Much of this information is new to me. As our family enters a new phase of life with less income and thus less margin for error, I’m going to start tracking some of these metrics. They include assessments of total wealth, liquidity, debt burden, savings rate, and retirement preparedness.”

How to get better at making decisions. [Vox] — “In some instances, making a decision before you’re actually in a specific scenario can help you avoid being swayed by outside forces, or ending up overwhelmed by the number of choices available. Going to the grocery store armed with a list can help you get everything you need and not just three cucumbers and some cheese.”

The seven habits that lead to happiness in old age. [The Atlantic] — “Each of us has something like a ‘Happiness 401(k)’ that we invest in when we are young, and that we get to enjoy when we are old. And just as financial planners advise their clients to engage in specific behaviors—make your saving automatic; think twice before buying that boat—we can all teach ourselves to do some very specific things at any age to make our last decades much, much happier.”

I’ll be back tomorrow with more. Join me, won’t you?

Today is Tuesday, Apexians, and this is J.D. Roth. I’m here to share another batch of recent articles I’ve found interesting.

The road to retirement. [Humble Dollar] — “Although I now have a financially comfortable retirement, I also have regrets. I wish I had traveled more earlier in life rather than waiting to do most of it when I retired. Instead of accumulating more wealth than I needed, I should’ve invested some of that money in a trip to Europe, Asia or even Australia. It doesn’t seem right that a 70-year-old man, who loves to travel, has been out of the country just twice.”

Why libertarians love Bitcoin (and why they shouldn’t). [David Rosenthal] — “Cryptocurrencies’ roots lie deep in the libertarian culture of Silicon Valley and the cypherpunks. Libertarianism’s attraction is based on ignoring externalities, and cryptocurrencies are no exception.”

On building resilience. [Prime Cuts Newsletter] — “Life is difficult and we all get kicked in the face occasionally. We get injured, we lose loved ones, we suffer illnesses, we overindulge etc. It’s how we bounce back that matters…Resilience is an underrated superpower and it is something we can develop.”

Our final feature today isn’t about personal finance. It’s about the news media and why it sucks. I’m a long-time vocal critic of the mainstream media because I believe it fails at its stated objective. It doesn’t provide a clear, accurate portrayal of current events. Most outlets are in it for the money. As a result, they do whatever generates money for them, whether it involves news or truth or anything resembling reality. (This is true for both sides of the political fence.)

Anyhow, here’s the article…

Rest in pieces, Legacy Media. [Young Money by Jack Raines] — “Here’s a thought experiment: what was the last positive story that you heard on a mainstream media site? Actually, that bar is too high. What was the last interesting story that didn’t double as a hit piece against someone else? Can’t think of anything? Neither can I.”

Here’s something interesting I’ve noticed. If you talk with people who have traveled extensively across the United States, they invariably report that people tend to be kind, interesting, and fun. They’re nothing like you see on the news.

For too long, too many of us have seen the world around us through the lens of others: the television news, online sources, etc. Why are we so eager and willing to trust these sources instead of what we experience in real life?

Okay, enough grousing. 🙂 I’ll see you tomorrow with more stories about money and self-improvement.