The Secret Ingredient to Making Money With Real Estate Rentals

The Secret Ingredient to Making Money With Real Estate Rentals

Let’s be honest, the idea of making money with real estate is intriguing.  Even if you haven’t gotten into the real estate game, you likely know or have heard that rental properties can be a great investment. There are some great advantages to owning rental property, but is there really a secret ingredient to making money with real estate rentals? There’s definitely an essential secret sauce, but here’s the deal – it’s not really that much of a secret.  In fact, you’ve probably heard it […]

The Secret Ingredient to Making Money With Real Estate Rentals Read More »

What I've Learned About Blogging Over the Last Two Years

What I’ve Learned About Blogging Over the Last Two Years

I started the Route to Retire site in May of 2015 and quickly learned that blogging is an interesting endeavor.  Like most new bloggers, for the first few months, I would just write and publish and wonder “is anyone even out there?” The analytics showed a nibble here and there, but really… nothing. It took a number of months, but eventually, the traffic started to grow.  The comments on my posts began to slowly trickle in – and that was the most exciting part. Now,

What I’ve Learned About Blogging Over the Last Two Years Read More »

Cutting Expenses is Great But...

Cutting Expenses is Great, But Here’s the Problem…

In an effort to help in cutting expenses, I just changed our cell phone provider.  Here in the part of Ohio where I live, Verizon is the logical choice for a phone provider as they are the most prominent and basically lack any dead spots. I’ve been with them since the beginning – from GTE Wireless, to the transition to Alltel, to the transition to Verizon.  It just made sense.  However, although the pricing is Ok, it’s not great. Last week, I just

Cutting Expenses is Great, But Here’s the Problem… Read More »

My Funding Strategy for Investment Accounts

My Funding Strategy for Investment Accounts

I’ve had friends that have asked what my strategy is for funding my investment accounts.  In other words, what order do I recommend contributing to various retirement accounts? This topic’s definitely going to vary based on your own specific circumstances.  Things like employer matches and tax-advantaged accounts make a difference in which accounts make the most sense for you to fund before others. Depending on what your game plan is and what options are available to you can make all the

My Funding Strategy for Investment Accounts Read More »

Will You Be Part of the 1% to Be Financially Independent by 50?

If you’re not familiar with Paula Pant from Afford Anything, you should take the time to check out her site… especially her podcasts, which are fantastic. I’m usually a little behind on my podcast rotation, but I just listened to another good one recently that fascinated me.  Clark Howard was her guest in #47: How to Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy. I’ve always enjoyed Clark Howard – I’m not sure if it’s how down-to-earth he is for a guy who reached financial

Will You Be Part of the 1% to Be Financially Independent by 50? Read More »

$1 Million Net Worth... Now What?

$1 Million Net Worth… Now What?

Yup, you read that correctly… we now have a net worth of just over $1 million. I logged into Quicken today, updated all my accounts, and was excited to see this: Holy schnikes, a million dollar net worth!  It seems so surreal to think that we’ve reached such a big milestone. I’m really proud of how far we’ve come in our journey to financial independence. By keeping our expenses low, saving and investing as much as we can, and creating additional

$1 Million Net Worth… Now What? Read More »

You’re the Average of the Five People You Spend Most of Your Time With

You’re the Average of the Five People You Spend Most of Your Time With

Jim Rohn, businessman and motivator, once said, “You’re the average of the five people you spend most of your time with.” It’s something that actually makes a lot of sense since those are the people who influence you the most.  It also might make you a little uncomfortable if your friends aren’t the most motivated people. Most likely, you enjoy your time with your friends (they are your friends after all!) and wouldn’t want to think that they might be holding you back in some way.

You’re the Average of the Five People You Spend Most of Your Time With Read More »

Four 401(k) Mistakes That Can Crush Your Retirement Savings

Four 401(k) Mistakes That Can Crush Your Retirement Savings

401(k) mistakes have the potential to easily ruin your retirement savings.  If you have the opportunity to contribute to a 401(k) plan at work, hopefully, you’re taking advantage of it. But even if you do, most of us just hand over our money and don’t think any more of it.  That’s a problem – potentially a big problem and one that can cost you thousands upon thousands of dollars if you’re not careful. The good news is that these 401(k) mistakes are

Four 401(k) Mistakes That Can Crush Your Retirement Savings Read More »

I Had to Fire an Employee Today

I Had to Fire an Employee Today

I had to fire an employee today. I’ve let a number of people go over the years and it’s never something anyone enjoys… not me as the manager and certainly not the employee. But, it had to be done.  His performance was definitely sub-par and it was affecting relationships with customers and hurting morale with good employees. Here’s the thing, though – it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter that it went as good as it could go.  It doesn’t matter that he knew

I Had to Fire an Employee Today Read More »

Identity Theft – Are You Protected?

A good friend of mine at work recently said he’s struggling on his month of trying not to spend money on non-essentials.  He said he’s already had to spend $250 on a plumber and $200 to renew his identity theft protection for the year. Ok, well that makes sense— wait, WHAT?! $200 for identity theft protection?!!  Holy mackerel!!! First of all, I’ve always wanted to work the phrase “holy mackerel” into a post, so mission accomplished. Since that’s out of

Identity Theft – Are You Protected? Read More »