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Lessons on Building Wealth from 2019-2026: Winners and Losers
Real median household net worth in the United States surged by 68% between the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2019 and the second quarter (Q2) of 2026. This rise in median household net worth was largely driven by asset price appreciation. While median income edged up 2.5% in real terms (net of inflation), household balance sheets expanded through two primary asset classes: Equities (Stocks/ETFs/Mutual Funds) and Real Estate (Home/Rental Investment). Home equity plays a major role in a family’s balance sheet. The median housing value jumped 28% from $320,000 to $410,700 by mid-2026. The broader equity market also lifted net wealth. From December 31, 2019, to June 30, 2026, U.S. stocks…
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How to go from zero to a $5M Retirement Portfolio
So you build up your coast fire portfolio to $500,000. Here's how it can grow to $5 Million for Retirement. The goal is to put your money to work for you.
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Going Beyond $2.6 Million in September to Close Out 2026
September 2026 cemented our climb to nearly multi-millionaire investment portfolio status.
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Turns Out, US Median Income Increased. Here are the 2025 Stats by Age, Race and Sex.
If you are feeling poorer, it turns out you are not alone. Household income has increased across the board; however, prices are going up. Inflation is eating and nipping at expenses. If we are being honest, rampant consumerism is also a problem. Every year, the US Census Bureau compiles data on US Household income and poverty rates. Once it’s published, we get inundated with punchy headlines from the media. The data is filtered by age range, gender, race, and even by geographic region. Just another massive data set that can help us make sense of money. To clear the room, household income typically rises. Despite personal malaise and economic disruptions…
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The Power of Time Valued Wealth
Investment repairs and setting goals. Building wealth has never been harder but we can make it through.
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Bitcoin hit 80,000. So What Now?
Yeah. This is a short one. I posted about Bitcoin as it gained momentum and hit $80,000 as of August 27, 2026. Also, Trump signed the order to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America amid the latest trade war, but I digress. Back to the story. Bitcoin is back, and so are bitcoin bros. They usually disappear to lick their wounds when bitcoin is down, but over the last month, the bros are up +19.12%. That’s amazing. While I may be a jerk, I’m happy to see other investors make money since it sucks to be on the losing end. However, I did note that year-to-date, bitcoin is down 7.65%…
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Investment Portfolio Losses Hit $200,000. Is it Time to Panic or Buy More?!
Catastrophic Tech Reverse in July. What happened to the 250th vibes and world cup happiness? Here's hoping for a solid year end close out of 8%-10% growth.
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Not Debt Free But On Track to $2 Million Investment Portfolio
Hooray we all made it through June. Just six months left to reach your Financial Goals.
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Experiencing the Impact of the Financial Wall
No one prepares for the financial wall. It’s not just one of them but a set of micro thresholds that can have a positive or negative impact on your psyche. Like failures, there is always a cost for success. And today, we made +$75,000 on a day in the market. My hands were shaking… To be clear, it wasn’t a violent shake. It’s a slight, unsteady awareness that you might have gone too far. Or more accurately, further than you ever imagined. I mentioned this to the ladies on our financial podcast, “The Financial Griot.” I think we are mutation. Some deviant strand of what you should be. It might…
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How We Spent $1,000,000 in 6.5 Years: A Detailed Breakdown
Wow, we spent over $1 million. I’m just as shocked as you are. Most of my ideas come from spur-of-the-moment questions. Besides, it’s not like we spend it all at once. The expense total (represented by our cash outflows) runs from January 1, 2019, through June 8, 2026. In a technical sense, the total gross expenses tally all the transactions that hit our accounts. That’s still a lot over that timeframe, but it’s a bit refreshing to see. I don’t think most people run their numbers to see what’s really happening in their finances. For context, the median U.S. household spent an estimated $1.5 million in total expenditures from 1995…
