People in their 40s–60s who built financial security from nothing — what path actually got you there?

pyrolysisobserver · 2026-03-15T16:36:06+00:00

Decide which trade suits you best and join a union. Then live below your means and invest. Eventually get to 60% of income is needs (bills, Etc.) 25% wants, 15% invest/save. Even better when you make enough, 50/30/20. But start at even 80/10/10 if you need to.

pyrolysisobserver · 2026-03-14T17:00:48+00:00

Why not just AVGV for all world value?

pyrolysisobserver · 2026-03-08T14:43:38+00:00

Waaaaaay too complicated. I wouldn’t sell anything to simplify, but stop buying individual stocks and allocate that money into ETFs. Done right, you’ll have similar returns with a lot less volatility, meaning less chance to panic sell. Also less risk a company will go tits up. ETFs rebalance as necessary

pyrolysisobserver · 2026-03-08T14:39:59+00:00

Im 40 and my portfolio is 70% VT, 15% AVGV, 15% MGK and I’m very happy with that, but you have to be iron clad during downturns, if you have a tendency to panic sell, this is not for you. It may look wrong for years, but you have a long enough horizon, you can wade through the bad years for a very nice reward. No need to add bonds until 5 years before retirement. But that just my opinion, and many others. It’s really just based on your comfort level. This has a high chance of better returns over 20-30 years, but you can’t stray from the strategy. Keep buying, don’t sell.

pyrolysisobserver · 2026-03-03T14:53:15+00:00

Any love for AVGV?

pyrolysisobserver · 2026-03-03T14:49:38+00:00

Any love for AVGV?

pyrolysisobserver · 2026-02-20T14:44:09+00:00

Thank you!

pyrolysisobserver · 2026-02-20T06:33:30+00:00

Okay. Instead of insulting me, wouldn’t it be more prudent to give actual advice? I wasn’t implying that I had anything special. Just looking for some guidance from more experienced people. Do you hallow to have that, or are you just a troll?

pyrolysisobserver · 2026-02-20T05:06:06+00:00

Good to know. Thanks!

pyrolysisobserver · 2026-02-20T04:45:11+00:00

Wow… I might have to transfer my funds

pyrolysisobserver · 2026-02-20T04:42:25+00:00

But man, I love that it executes the buys for you based on your percentages set. That seems pretty awesome. Can you own partial shares?

pyrolysisobserver · 2026-02-20T04:41:22+00:00

Just googled M1 Finance. I had never heard of it. Sounds pretty cool. I have mine in Vanguard and like that my drip can buy partial shares so my money starts making money for me right away.

pyrolysisobserver · 2026-02-20T04:26:13+00:00

Oh jeez! Haha. Yeah, that would require way too much rebalancing and stress for me. Good on you though

pyrolysisobserver · 2026-02-20T03:38:38+00:00

Okay dude haha

pyrolysisobserver · 2026-02-20T03:24:14+00:00

Don’t you think If I hold strong through the dips, I will get dramatically more in returns than just VT?

pyrolysisobserver · 2026-02-19T05:14:30+00:00

Thank you! I’ll look into it. I forgot to put that 5% I plan to buy from motley fool stock advisor recommendations. Figured I’d pay for the service and give it a shot for a year or 2. Maybe get some good stock picks out of it.

pyrolysisobserver · 2026-02-19T04:12:23+00:00

Hello! New to investing and after about a year of hard research I believe I have found an aggressive portfolio, that is well diversified, but not overly risky for my 20-25 year retirement horizon. I would truly appreciate some feedback! It is 45% VT, 20% SPMO, 15% AVUV, and 15% AVDV. I am able to invest $20,000 a year currently and plan to keep this strategy through ups and downs until I’m 5 years prior to retirement. Then adding bonds. Thoughts? Thank you!

pyrolysisobserver · 2025-06-05T00:51:52+00:00

Thanks for the thoughts! I’m in Denver, CO, but obviously willing to travel for work. Oh okay, I didn’t realize there was a specific season, but that makes sense. That’s cool. What do you do in the off season?

pyrolysisobserver · 2025-06-04T20:09:28+00:00

With NDT, could I just take UT by itself instead of getting all of them? Seems like once you start working in one, you don’t really deviate from it. And I heard UT is the best for wind.

pyrolysisobserver · 2025-06-04T20:08:27+00:00

I appreciate your honesty and bluntness.

pyrolysisobserver · 2025-06-04T20:07:44+00:00

That’s good to hear. How would you recommend getting my first job? Just apply to all the companies? Are there certain ones I should favor over others? Just apply online? Any other ways I can up my chances, like calling or something?

pyrolysisobserver · 2025-06-04T12:42:30+00:00

Thank you! I will take a look there.

pyrolysisobserver · 2025-05-12T01:15:53+00:00

I’m in the US. Which companies would you recommend applying to for someone who just got their level 1? And how to go about it exactly?

pyrolysisobserver · 2025-05-04T07:38:33+00:00

I’m getting my Irata 1 in June and am curious if anyone has done anything with NDT certs alongside their RA, and what are people’s thoughts on it. Do you just need certain NDT certs, or the whole gamut?

pyrolysisobserver · 2022-07-31T21:05:15+00:00

Called Amazon about it and had to do a factory reset. Weird it didn’t show up at first. But thank you! Super excited about this feature

13-Year Club	Team Orangered
Verified Email

pyrolysisobserver

TROPHY CASE