Your passions will fuel a certain part of you. But that money will allow you to fuel your passions.
I’m now 34 years old and all I can think about is RETIREMENT and the different investment vehicles that are going to take me there THAT MAKE SENSE (CENTS).
SMART INVESTING IN 2026 AND GOING INTO 2027
401k with employer match (because of the free money)
This is one of the smartest money moves you can make because YOU CAN GET FREE MONEY just for investing. I work for a company that matches every dollar I put in with 50 cents. So essentially I can get about $12k+ this year alone FOR FREE if I max out my 401k at $24,500. No brainer. I get the money auto drafted from my paychecks biweekly. My job matches me 50% of whatever I get auto drafted. I WIN. Imagine 30+ years of maxing out my 401k and getting that company match. Automatic millionaire in retirement. Go ask ChatGPT to run the numbers for you. Or plug the numbers into a retirement calculator. $36k+ per year invested for 30 years at a conservative 6% return. Now try 8%. Then plug in 10%. It gets BEAUTIFUL. A nice 401k that you stayed consistent with will set you up nicely in retirement.
Roth IRA (for my people that qualify)
If you fall within the income requirements for a Roth IRA, you need to be MAXXING this one out. Currently it’s at $7500 for the year. This is your growth account. USE IT. You will pay less in taxes on this account than your 401k and your personal investment account. GROW IT. There’s a reason why there’s a cap on it and people that make a lot of money are not allowed to do put money into it.
Health Savings Account (MAX THIS OUT)
If you have one of these, you should be using it. TRIPLE TAX ADVANTAGE. This means tax-free contributions, tax-free withdrawals, and tax-free investment growth. This is for those medical expenses you will for sure have in retirement. Medical bills are expensive and health insurance costs a pretty penny when you’re no longer working and retired. This is the account you grow for healthcare.
SET IT AND FORGET IT. Set up auto withdrawals when you get paid. Even if it’s just $50 per paycheck. DO IT.
Seasonal Motivation
As we head into a new quarter, a new season, and a new climate outside (literally and figuratively), it’s always best to have a plan in motion and a play in mind. Never lose sight of the end game. My end game is an early, STRESS FREE retirement. So I’m saving and investing aggressively, constantly updating my plans and tweaking plays, and constantly seeking new information. Don’t feel like you’re alone. I’m 34 and this is all that is on my mind. Live a good life for my last quarters on Earth. It should be on your radar as well. What can you do today to change your tomorrow. That is running through my brain 24/7.
What’s going on outside isn’t necessarily the #1 thing on my mind. Although it does affect me, it doesn’t change the level at which I go on. I was always going to go hard, the economy just happens to be the perfect climate for grinding.
It’s grind season. Don’t let anyone or anything shake you off your pivot foot. Now is the time to get to it. 2 jobs, overtime, side hustles.. They all add up. I’m working full time, taking 12 credit hours, working on FSO, and working on myself. All of that will pay off for me tremendously in 30 years. I just have to maintain it. Figure out what you need to maintain and get to it. Time is ticking. STACK ON.