The FIRE phenomenon has recently resurfaced in the media. FIRE stands for financial independence/retire early. The concept seems to spin the heads of those in the media and 90% of readers who respond in the comment sections below articles. For the refresher, it’s figuring out what you can live on, knocking down the expenses to that level, then saving the appropriate amount that will generate enough to cover said expenses. If you can live on $30,000, you’ll probably need $700,000 returning 4.5% per annum to cover your needs. Getting to the $700,000 (or more) is the hard part. Many of…

It’s been a few weeks of recollection. A decade on since the anniversary of Lehman Brothers collapsing and one of the touchstone moments of the ordeal is being not so fondly remembered. No one really knew if it was the beginning of the end, an ongoing crisis or not far from a recovery. History shows the market bottom took another six months and if you could stand the uncertainty you got the recovery. Today the media seems to be asking all the wrong questions and specifically canvassing for when the next crisis may hit. Usually, it’s just the kooks who…