We used to make good money and save diligently. But our money just sat in bank accounts and retirement accounts while we watched others grow their wealth in ways we didn't understand. It sucked because we felt too embarrassed to ask for help without looking foolish while working at an investment bank. We lived through the 2001 and 2008 market crashes but, investing felt too risky for people like us because we grew up without money. But then, in business school, we learned portfolio theory. We realized most mutual funds were largely a waste of time and that we could manage our own money better ourselves. Which led us to managing our own portfolios, achieving over 22% returns, building $10K+/month in passive income through real estate and the stock market, and retiring at 34. Want to know how we did it? Reply YES and I’ll DM you the details.

Hey Wealth Packers, Your 401(k) balance may look impressive but that doesn’t mean it will provide the retirement income you expect. New research found that many savers feel on track even though their projected income tells a very different story. In today’s newsletter, I broke down the number you should be paying attention to, the costly gap many Gen X savers are facing, and why your 401(k) may need to be only one part of your financial independence plan. Read it now and find out if your retirement confidence matches the math.

When you've waited too long to think about retirement and find it is 💥 boom right around the corner, do you begin investing at 0 to $25/month and keep working? I love my work, but I am now realizing I can't do it as long as I thought I could. 🤔 Need to make my money start to work for me at turbo speed. Suggestions appreciated.

This is what I learned this week. Roth conversion from your 401(k), the IRS has what's known as the five-year rule. This rule says that each converted amount needs to ‘season’ in the Roth IRA for five years before you can access it tax- and penalty-free. So, if you do a conversion in 2026, you’ll need to wait until 2031 to withdraw that specific conversion amount without penalties. It’s a way to keep the system fair and ensure people don’t just flip accounts purely for quick tax advantages.

Just got my number and I actually feel excited! It's not that bad. Time to lock in! 🔥 $795,300 🔥