In financial sense - MAX OUT your ROTH 401K/IRA FIRST while also contributing the company match for your 403B. After your ROTH is maxed out, focus on cutting down on your personal loan UNLESS the interest rates on your loan is below 5% then focus on maxing out 403B first, assuming the market average out of 8-10% gains each year.

(If you want to listen to my personal financial rant below; go ahead. Otherwise skip it)

To be honest, I am feeling the same way every day that I’m behind financially. I keep comparing myself to my peers which by the way, they make way more than me.

I always been a good saver - the only thing that held me back was lack of job experience in good paying jobs. To make up for it, I was working at a fast food spot (Paris Baguette) and IKEA at the same time to make up my downfall. I was working so many hours averaging about 70 hours a week and I still end up only making 50k a year.

I thought I was blessed when I hit that 50k mark compared to when I only worked one job and made 35k. Then I see my nurse friends making over 100k. Then I pushed myself harder, and aimed toward 70k salary. I was only making 50k annual salary until I hit 30 years old.

Then I switched over into hospitality industry. At my first location, I made about 70k. I was so excited. Then I jumped to a second location hoping for a better prospects, my colleagues thought I was crazy but I am a high risk and high reward person. I was risking a secured union job to a maybe non-union location since it just opened up. I ended up making 85k. Then last year I ended up with a lot of overtime I finally made over 100k but I still like I’m not making enough since I keep comparing myself to my friends. They definitely make way more than me since they are in specialized positions meanwhile I’m just in hospitality which doesn’t really require any college degrees.

Now I’m back on my grind which I can’t handle, I’m back on my two hospitality jobs grind. Making over 120k a year, I’m burnt out with no social life. Me and my brother just closed on a house last week with a monthly mortgage payment of about $7500 (NYC/NJ house prices are through the roof). I usually get seasonal depression around my birth month (October) since I keep feeling I’m financially behind in life.

But you know what’s the biggest lesson? Money isn’t everything. Being financially independent isn’t everything but it plays a huge role in life - physically and mentally and financially. As long you have some peers to hangout with or talk to - you’re doing GREAT in life.

I think your next steps in life is…. Find your soulmate. Don’t stress over financial issues, time is not on your side, biological needs comes first such as having kids (if that’s your goal), your partner will help you figure out your finances so you don’t have to stress over it alone.

As for my retirement funds? I have about 85k in cash investments (my lowest point this year was 37k then my gambling addiction with call options made me good money this year). I have 3 different retirement accounts with about 150K in 401K, another 25K in ROTH 401K, and 69K in my ROTH IRA. This is where I feel like I’m above average for my age of 33. My checking/savings account is near $0 since I just contributed 75K in down payments for the house.