Just another newbie looking for FIRE

[Jeremy]

Greetings. I've been reading a while, but just today took the plunge and registered. It is great to see so many people come together with similar goals and ambitions, and this positive energy here is good motivation for me.

My wife and I are finally making some headway on our ER plan, but it was a bit slow going out of the gate as we were held back by some outstanding debt just after college. But considering we're both still relatively young, we can make up for some lost time.

Fortunately, I work in finance, so being involved with investments and planning issues every day has helped in making some positive decisions so early on. I'm a CRPC (Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor) and I work with participants that are enrolled in my client's 401(k)/403(b) plan. Over the past few years, I've met with a lot of people who are in just terrible financial situations who may have to work until they die. That certainly isn't for me, so this career has definitely opened my eyes to the benefits of becoming FIRE.

One of the latest things I've done in order to reach this goal was to increase my income. So, now I do a lot of freelance writing on the side which allows me to work part-time in the evenings while almost doubling my income. This has helped tremendously in accelerating our financial situation in pursuit of FIRE. Right now I write for one of the financial topics over at About.com and also run a finance website/blog. I don't want to include the links, as I don't want to come across as someone just looking to pimp my sites. If you want to know, you can ask and I'd be happy to share. Otherwise, I'll just wait until I have integrated with the members of the community and have built a level of trust.

But anyway, I'm glad to have finally signed up, and I look forward to getting help when needed, and hopefully being able to help others in some way as well.

[omni550]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy Greetings. I've been reading a while, but just today took the plunge and registered. It is great to see so many people come together with similar goals and ambitions, and this positive energy here is good motivation for me. My wife and I are finally making some headway on our ER plan, but it was a bit slow going out of the gate as we were held back by some outstanding debt just after college. But considering we're both still relatively young, we can make up for some lost time. Fortunately, I work in finance, so being involved with investments and planning issues every day has helped in making some positive decisions so early on. I'm a CRPC (Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor) and I work with participants that are enrolled in my client's 401(k)/403(b) plan. Over the past few years, I've met with a lot of people who are in just terrible financial situations who may have to work until they die. That certainly isn't for me, so this career has definitely opened my eyes to the benefits of becoming FIRE. One of the latest things I've done in order to reach this goal was to increase my income. So, now I do a lot of freelance writing on the side which allows me to work part-time in the evenings while almost doubling my income. This has helped tremendously in accelerating our financial situation in pursuit of FIRE. Right now I write for one of the financial topics over at About.com and also run a finance website/blog. I don't want to include the links, as I don't want to come across as someone just looking to pimp my sites. If you want to know, you can ask and I'd be happy to share. Otherwise, I'll just wait until I have integrated with the members of the community and have built a level of trust. But anyway, I'm glad to have finally signed up, and I look forward to getting help when needed, and hopefully being able to help others in some way as well.

Jeremy,

Welcome.

Please post your links, I'd like to read more.

omni

[donheff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by omni550 Jeremy, Welcome. Please post your links, I'd like to read more. omni

Yeah, if they are at about.com they are free, right? In that case there should be no conlflict. Oh - and welcome

[Moemg]

Welcome to the board !

[packrat44]

Welcome to the board Jeremy,

Before you post regarding your field, I would advise carefully reviewing the threads started by 'newbies' that were Financial Advisers, etc. It could save a bloodbath.

[Jeremy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by packrat44 Welcome to the board Jeremy, Before you post regarding your field, I would advise carefully reviewing the threads started by 'newbies' that were Financial Advisers, etc. It could save a bloodbath.

I appreciate the warning, and I have certainly read a number of introduction posts where some self-proclaimed professionals were treated harshly. And in most cases, rightfully so as they acted as if they could come into an established community and be perceived as an expert, and even have the nerve to recommend their own products or services.

I'm not a financial advisor. I'm just a salaried employee that happens to have the appropriate licenses and training to service individuals and their employer-sponsored retirement plan needs. I don't/can't sell any products or insurance, or even conduct business with the public.

I don't pretend to know everything, and don't have the intention of telling anyone what they should do. Instead, I found this place to be a new opportunity for me to expand my own knowledge. Most of the people I work with are your average employees who will work their 8 or 10 hour job and then hopefully collect Social Security and draw from their modest retirement savings when they reach 65+. The individuals here have a completely different set of goals and way of thinking that I'm not very familiar with in my line of work. And since I would like to achieve financial independence and retire early, I think it would be best to surround myself with like-minded individuals.

I was hoping to provide some sort of background so that in the future if I do happen to have an opportunity to lend a hand around here, I'm not perceived as someone who is completely clueless or trying to pull a fast one. Understandably, there is a lot of resentment toward people in finance (namely commissioned brokers/advisors/salesmen/etc.) and I expect there to be some skepticism.

I'm just looking to be able to add meaningful discussion to areas where I might be able to help, but more importantly, learn from those who have already reached FIRE or have experience of information that can help me do the same.

[packrat44]

With the above attitude you will do fine on this forum. It is the ones with a swollen ego and infected with "hoof in mouth" disease that run into problems. Again, welcome.

[73ss454]

Sounds like you know the drill so welcome Jeremy.

[citrine]

Good to have you on board Jeremy.....lot of cool people here!

[growing_older]

Welcome. Glad to have you here.