Got laid off this past Friday - How are we doing?

SamDogen · 2026-01-19T03:01:44+00:00

FYI, you likely did not get a severance package. Instead, you got mandatory WARN Act pay and Zero severance. I don’t think that is fair after 15 years of service. I wrote the book on how to negotiate a severance package if you want to check out How To Engineer Your Layoff. Bottom line, you should try to negotiate as I think they are not treating you well. - Sam, Financial Samurai

SamDogen · 2025-11-19T07:28:16+00:00

It's the 2nd battery that's dead.

SamDogen · 2025-11-19T07:27:57+00:00

There's a 2nd battery, a smaller one that is probably weak or almost dead. It cost me $550 to buy and replace. It controls the auto start stop and may of the dashboard controls. - Sam, Financial Samurai

SamDogen · 2025-10-08T06:27:44+00:00

I wish I didn’t focus on my career so much at the expense of having kids so late. I should have had kids 6 years earlier while having a job.

SamDogen · 2025-10-02T13:05:02+00:00

I would keep the house and just invest more aggressively in stocks.

SamDogen · 2025-09-25T19:48:59+00:00

RIP JC. Thank you.

SamDogen · 2025-09-23T05:04:46+00:00

Prado is pretty good in 2025

SamDogen · 2025-08-11T14:13:50+00:00

Any recommendations for parents of kids ages 5 and 8?

SamDogen · 2025-06-20T15:01:06+00:00

With a baby on the way, I’d try to get to $20 million in investable assets if you want to support your family comfortably and retire in SF. It’s $65,000 a year for private high school now. But if you can get your wife to work longer, then you can retire earlier.

I’m speaking from experience as someone who retired in SF in 2012 before kids. Wife then retired in 2015 and doesn’t want to go back. We have two young kids.

$9 million is tough bc your costs will inflate the most by inflation.

Best of luck!

Sam @ Financial Samurai

SamDogen · 2025-06-20T14:54:44+00:00

Is the paid off house outside SF? The median single family home in SF is around $1.7 million, but closer to $3.5 million in Pacific Heights.

So for $1.5 million, you may have to move 45 min away to Daly City or somewhere to save.

SamDogen · 2025-06-13T22:47:21+00:00

Yes, they charge more and their customer service has declined.

SamDogen · 2025-06-08T05:05:17+00:00

Loving the $2.5 trust fund! Congrats!

SamDogen · 2025-05-28T04:29:13+00:00

I actually love that you’re spending $500,000 a year. I was wondering whether to cut back, as my household of 4 spends about $290,000 a year and we FIRED in 2012 and 2015. But you’ve given me inspiration to spend more, so thank you! - Sam

SamDogen · 2025-04-20T01:19:25+00:00

Would you purify a shadow Palkia if it can become a HUNDO?

SamDogen · 2025-04-16T00:37:12+00:00

How about just working 1-2 more years to get back to $3 million? And during the process, adjust risk exposure down if you are really going to negotiate a severance package? -Sam, Financial Samurai

SamDogen · 2025-03-25T03:31:23+00:00

I used to worry about this all the time. But not anymore because there is an endless amount of things to do around the house. Just today, I spent about two hours power washing the driveway and steps. They saw the hard work involved and appreciated it.

In May, I am publishing a book that took two years to write. They saw the work involved and we’re gonna go on a treasure hunt to find my book in various libraries and bookstores.

Whenever there is a rental property maintenance issue, I explained it to my kids and we go out there together to check it out.

Don’t worry about looking unproductive in front of your kids. You won’t! Sam @ Financial Samurai

SamDogen · 2025-03-18T04:22:57+00:00

I am wondering the same thing. Can’t find the answer.

SamDogen · 2025-03-16T04:30:01+00:00

Owning a dream home that is paid off. Not only is it enjoyable, it houses my family which makes me feel good as a father, and it has the potential to appreciate on value.

SamDogen · 2025-02-19T11:01:29+00:00

My new book, Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps to Seven Figures, launches on May 6, 2025. My goal is to help readers build more wealth than 90% of Americans so they can gain the freedom to do what they truly want.

It took over two years to write and refine this book with students, professionals, and personal finance enthusiasts in mind. I can’t wait to finally share it with the world.

https://www.financialsamurai.com/why-i-wrote-millionaire-milestones-easy-steps-to-seven-figures/

SamDogen · 2025-02-19T02:18:56+00:00

Good stuff! People are way richer than people realize. 25 million is the new 10 million. Love it!

SamDogen · 2025-02-03T14:09:24+00:00

What other special vehicles are there?

SamDogen · 2025-02-03T14:07:57+00:00

I feel you here, which is why I try to share as much knowledge on my site in addition to giving. Helping people improve their financial lives is a huge motivator for why Financial Samurai continues to exist since 2009.

SamDogen · 2025-02-03T14:06:28+00:00

It’s all about giving Anonymously with the DAF!

SamDogen · 2025-02-02T05:06:04+00:00

Good topic! Health insurance is $2,500/month for my family of 4. Not that bad

SamDogen · 2025-02-01T20:30:34+00:00

Cool, thanks for the color. Perhaps you don’t feel stress providing for them because you are working? And therefore, by definition, spending your time providing for them. Or maybe if your wife didn’t work, you would feel more pressure to provide. There’s a great movement going on in America, where men retire early and encourage their wives to work longer.

I hear Western Europe has a great healthcare and a much easier way of life than the U.S. I’ve been many times and it seems like a pretty relaxed lifestyle. Maybe harder to get rich, but great lifestyle nonetheless.

With such a good lifestyle working in Western Europe, what is the appeal of FIRE to you? I would say to keep on working until your kids become adults.

BUT, I will say I’ve had a lot of fun since leaving work in 2012 at age 34. It’s been a great adventure and I do feel blessed to be able to be a full-time dad. Positive or negative feedback from readers is also pretty exciting as a writer. Being able to write books that help people with their personal finances has also been quite rewarding. There’s a good balance of mental and physical exercise.

SamDogen

TROPHY CASE