#39 Design Your Days: The True Goal of Wealth
What if Financial Independence isn’t about quitting your job… but about reclaiming your life? Not someday—now. It’s a mindset shift.
We’re also diving into how to choose the right “orchard” for your investments, uncover how influencers really grow their income, and set up a “lazy” money system that quietly builds wealth while you live your life.
Plus, a look at why a classic mob movie is actually a masterclass in risk management.
Stop losing sleep over your next big money move. Keep scrolling—your financial life is about to get a whole lot more entertaining!
The Goldilocks Story: My $10,000 and the Three Little ETFs
In my bid for financial freedom while still juggling a full-time job (which I enjoy thankfully), stepping into the world of ETFs felt like wandering into a huge, confusing orchard. That’s because there are over 14,600 ETF products worldwide, according to the latest data.
I had $10,000 and my goal was simple: find a “just right” ETF—like Goldilocks choosing porridge, chairs, and beds—not too risky, not too slow, but perfectly balanced for my needs.
I started exploring three popular "trees" for my financial garden:
- JEPI was the flashy, monthly dividend tree. It earns through covered calls, but that 0.35% expense ratio made me pause. Why pay someone to run covered calls when I could technically do it myself and save the fee? Convenient, yes, but not the best deal.
- VOO was the reliable, slow-and-steady giant. Almost no fees (0.03%), like finding free mulch. Perfect for a 10+ year growth plan—if you have the patience of a saint (or a tree).
- CSPX was the compounding magician. Dividends were instantly re-buried for bigger growth, and it's tax-efficient for international investors. Expense ratio: 0.07%. A true compounder.
In short,
- Monthly income? JEPI.
- Long-term growth at minimal cost? VOO.
- International tax efficiency with compounding? CSPX.
By the way, even the best tree won’t bear much fruit if you pick the wrong platform.
Take CSPX for example:
On Syfe, trades are free twice a month. But the forex rate is weaker, and trades only go through on Tuesdays. So if you want to catch a dip on Friday night, you’ll have to wait.
On IBKR, fees vary by plan. If yours is a smaller account like mine, tiered pricing makes more sense than fixed — $1.85 per trade versus $4.36.
Tiered pricing saves me $2.51 per trade. Over a dozen trades in a year, that’s about $30 saved — and those savings grow alongside investments.
Add a better forex rate, and over a decade, the difference can reach hundreds of dollars. Small numbers, but they compound like seeds in fertile soil. Never underestimate platform choice.
Your money is yours — no one should care about it more than you do. It pays to do a little research, no matter where you are in the world! Tend it wisely, and the harvest can surprise you.
So what did I go for? I ditched JEPI for VOO and sprinkled in some CSPX. Find your own “just right” mix for your own garden!
Scroll to the article below on automating your savings if you’re ready to grow your money in a boring but effective way.
Financial Independence: Freedom Beyond Early Retirement
💼 Financial Independence isn’t just about quitting your job at 35 and sipping cocktails all day. It’s about buying the freedom to live life your way—work, hobbies, or Netflix binging included.
How Do Influencers Make Money? 8 Common Strategies
📲 Likes and followers aren’t free cash—but influencers know the hacks: sponsorships, affiliate links, digital products… basically turning selfies into salary.
Automate Your Savings: The Lazy Person's Guide to Financial Freedom
🛠️ Want to save without lifting a finger? Automate it. Your money quietly grows while you binge-watch your favorite shows and pretend you’re productive.
31 Best Side Hustle Ideas to Earn Extra Money
💡 Side hustles aren’t just for overachievers—they’re for anyone who likes extra cash to buy fancy coffee or that gadget you “definitely need.”
Will 2025 Be a Pivotal Year of Recovery for Commercial Real Estate?
🏢 Commercial real estate might finally wake up from its nap. If interest rates and the economy behave, 2025 could be the year investors dust off their hard hats.
Top investing stories sent to your inbox before the market opens. We don't just tell you what's happening, we explain why it matters.
🎬 CASINO
A thrilling, stylish, and violent masterclass by Martin Scorsese that proves the best lessons in business ethics are often taught by those with none. It’s all about the margins, the risks, and the unfortunate problem of having too many greedy friends.
🎯 The Big Idea: Even in a rigged system like an illicitly run casino, meticulous attention to detail, inventory control, and profit margins is everything. When the "blueberries" (money) in the "muffins" (cash flow) aren't perfectly distributed, trouble is brewing.
💡 Why It Matters: It highlights the danger of letting personal drama (greed, jealousy, bad romantic choices) destroy a flawless business operation. Emotional decisions are the number one cause of financial ruin, whether you’re running a mob empire or a retirement portfolio.
🚀 Action Step: Audit your own financial "muffins." Are your expense ratios (fees) getting too big? Are your investments balanced? Control what you can control, because the outside world will always be chaotic.
🔥 Hot Take: This movie should be mandatory viewing for every startup founder. It’s a masterclass in logistics, operations, and why you should never hire your emotionally unstable spouse to handle your money.
The Billion-Dollar Global Game of Hide-and-Seek!
The world is sitting on mountains of forgotten cash, insurance payouts, and stocks, thanks to people changing addresses or just... forgetting. Don't let your money play hide-and-seek!
Regularly review your old accounts and update beneficiaries. A small amount of "asset hygiene" now prevents your heirs from needing to hire a global asset recovery firm later.
Building wealth isn’t flashy—it’s about smart, consistent steps.
Pick your ETF “tree,” mind fees, automate savings, try a side hustle, peek at influencer tricks, and watch bigger opportunities like commercial real estate.
Do these small, boring moves today, and tomorrow your financial orchard might just surprise you with a juicy harvest.
What are you waiting for?
P.S. Some links in here are affiliate links for tools and wealth-building products I personally use and love. If you snag something through one of them, you'd score a sweet deal and I'd get a perk—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping to keep the potpourri fresh!🍃