Big Tows322
Aug 9, 2017 · 4 min read

KISSes from a future FIRE Graduate

Fortunately, I was raised by two of the cheapest, penny pinching groups on Earth, Jews and Frenchmen. Experiences and spending time with family and friends was far more important than Keeping up with the Kardashians.

I knew from the start I hated physical work. My dad had me landscaping all his friends homes and gardens. I decided early on if I found a gig I could use my mind instead of body then I’d dive in feet first!

I learned all about saving for a rainy day and investing in my future. I loved math and applied maths which brought me into computer science. From there, I learned information science and data gathering. It was a hoot.

When I aged into a career, one of my early goals was to be a FIRE graduate. FIRE is an acronym for Financially Independent, Retire Early. The most important part of the FIRE goal is discipline. If I couldn’t afford whatever shiny new PS3 game in cash then I wouldn’t buy it. In the 21st century, it’s much easier to be bad than good i.e. buy on credit vs maintaining financial discipline and buying only what I can afford.

I setup weekly budgets, monthly saving goals, and asked myself how much specifically per month I needed to be happy. It depends on the country is the best answer. For example, in Cambodia, Indonesia, and the Philippines (CIP), I can live like a rockstar on USD$2-2.5k/month. In Thailand and Vietnam, I need another $1k/month. In rich countries like Australia and the United Kingdom, I’d need an order of magnitude more. I settled on the CIP countries’ goal.

Here’s the investment strategy I use to remain financially fit and drive to meet my FIRE goal.

Passively managed ETFs are the smartest way for forward thinking, financially lazy people to retire with a fat golden parachute.

Open a Betterment account. It will ask you a few questions then assign you a Vanguard ETF portfolio, tax harvest, and rebalance your portfolio using advanced automated algorithms based on the answers to your risk questions.

Betterment charges 0.25% annual fee or $25 for every USD$10k invested. It’s the smartest way for lazy investors.

Betterment helps you keep the allocation you want by rebalancing your portfolio whenever it drifts over 3% from where you wanted it.

https://www.betterment.com

I have a reasonably high risk appetite plus I’m young (in financial world speak), so my portfolio for my age range, 36-45, is 85/15. I invest 85% in stock ETFs and 15% in bond ETFs.

stock ETFs (85%)

market risk

ITA (20%)

-Murder, Death, Kill (MDK) MNCs' products are designed for government subsidized death such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Boeing. The death business aka generational warmongering is one of the most profitable of all time. The USA’s current man child in charge is pro-death.

VIG (15%)

-focuses on S&P500's dividend achievers (a dividend achiever means the underlying MNC increased their dividend for a min of 10 consecutive years)

ONEQ (15%)

-technology and consumer focused

high risk, high reward

QTEC (25%)

-deep learning and data analytics

IBB (10%)

-biotech focused

Bond ETFs (15%)

BND (5%)

-total bond market

VCLT (10%)

-long term corporate bond

As a consummate gambler (investor), I must keep track of market specific trends, geopolitical risks, local law changes, anti-corruption probes, etc. According to my hedge fund buddies, I’m a gambler because I’m not privy to inside information.

Most pedestrian investors are gamblers, trading with the herd. Warren Buffet’s 10 year herd bet is about to win a lucky charity USD$1 million. Low cost index ETFs earn the respect of this organic spaceship’s 3rd richest person, so it deserves at least a look.

https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/06/25/warren-buffett-on-index-funds.aspx

KISS

It’s best to stick with a KISS, Keep It Simple Strategy and ETFs provide for the best investment KISSes. 😚🤠

If you learned something and/or enjoyed the story then clap for me and share with friends.

Disclaimer: I’m not paid for any links. I could be wrong on the KIS-Strategy; do your own due diligence before investing.

Big Tows322

Written by

"En ramant vers le large"~Jesuit Maxim, Forever Curious, Gladiators in Boardshorts, United We Walk! 🏄

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