What It's Like Building A $4+ Million New Home From Scratch
Release Date: 04/29/2025
Housing Security: The Underappreciated Benefit of Owning In A Rising Rent World
The Financial Samurai Podcast
The debate between owning and renting will go on forever — it all depends on your stage in life, finances, and lifestyle. But as you get older, one thing becomes clear: housing security matters more than ever. The last thing you want in retirement is to be forced out of your neighborhood because of rising rent. Yet as a renter, you have little control over how much your landlord raises prices, especially if you’re not in a rent-stabilized home. With housing inflation outpacing wage growth, it’s time to get neutral real estate by at least owning your primary residence. In this episode,...
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Permission To Live It Up In Retirement With Bill Bengen, Father Of The 4% Rule Going To 5%
The Financial Samurai Podcast
Bill Bengen, the father of the 4% Rule, is back with a new book titled . In it, he raises his SAFEMAX—or safe withdrawal rate—from 4% to 5%. This change has major implications: retirees can confidently spend more and enjoy life to the fullest, while those pursuing FIRE or traditional retirement may not need to save as aggressively or work as long to achieve financial freedom. See related Financial Samurai post: Free Financial Analysis Offer From Empower If you have over $100,000 in investable assets—whether in savings, taxable accounts, 401(k)s, or IRAs—you can get a free...
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The End Of The Commercial Real Estate Recession With Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise
The Financial Samurai Podcast
Since 2022, commercial real estate (CRE) investors have endured one of the toughest stretches in decades. Surging inflation drove mortgage rates higher, cap rates expanded, and property values sank. The mantra became clear: “survive until 2025.” Now, with inflation cooling, rates easing, and capital returning, the tide may finally be turning. In this episode, I sit down with Ben Miller, CEO of , who shares why he’s more optimistic about CRE’s future—and why the next three years could be far better than the last. Invest In CRE In A Diversified Way If you’re looking to gain exposure...
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How the Tax-Free Home Sale Exclusion Works
The Financial Samurai Podcast
In this solo episode, I want to clarify how the tax-free home sale exclusion works. For those who want to move back into their rentals to then qualify after two years, there is a pro-rated amount you need to implement. See this post for more details: ( Subscribe To Financial Samurai Pick up a copy of my USA TODAY national bestseller, . I’ve distilled over 30 years of financial experience to help you build more wealth than 94% of the population—and break free sooner. Listen and subscribe to The Financial Samurai podcast on or . I interview experts in their...
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The Acceleration Of AI Growth And Adoption With Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise
The Financial Samurai Podcast
On the latest episode of the Financial Samurai podcast, I sat down with Ben Miller, cofounder and CEO of , for a deep dive into AI, venture capital, and what it really takes to get into the best deals. Key Takeaways from the Podcast 1. AI Growth and Market Dynamics Revenue growth is accelerating in big AI companies like Anthropic. There’s an AI benchmarking race where many products seem similar, but differentiation still matters—Ben Miller doesn’t believe AI is a commodity at all. The biggest AI players continue to extend their lead, creating a “winner-take-most” dynamic. 2....
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How You'll Know When You Finally Have Enough Money
The Financial Samurai Podcast
Figuring out when you have enough money is a mix of math and emotion. You might have enough on paper, but if you’re not emotionally ready to live life entirely on your terms, then you probably don’t have enough yet. As one of the pioneers of the modern-day FIRE movement in 2009, I’ve developed a new framework with clear action steps to help determine if you’ve truly reached “enough.” It goes beyond the typical 4% rule or simply having 25 times your annual expenses in investable assets. Related posts: If You're Interested In 1X1 Consulting For those of you who are interested in...
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The Hidden Dangers of Earning Risk-Free Passive Income
The Financial Samurai Podcast
Earning passive income is the holy grail of personal finance and achieving financial independence. With interest rates still elevated, it's become much easier to generate a larger amount of risk-free passive income. If you're not financially independent yet, this could be a suboptimal choice. Check out the post: Suggestions Check out if you’re looking to gain exposure to some of the top private AI companies. You can view all of its holdings before investing, which adds a welcome layer of transparency. I’ve personally invested over $150,000 so far and plan to add more next month...
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Buying the Dip: A Mindset Guide for the Next Market Selloff
The Financial Samurai Podcast
Buying the stock market dip can be intimidating. As a result, many investors sit on cash, waiting for clear signs of a recovery. However, history has shown that those who bought during downturns and held on have often done well over time. With that in mind, I wanted to share a few strategies to help build the courage to buy the dip when the next opportunity arises. See post: Your shares, ratings, and reviews are appreciated! Every episode takes hours to record and produce. Your positive reviews help keep me recording. Suggestions Check out if you’re looking to gain exposure to some of the...
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Creating a Life on Your Terms with Joe Saul-Sehy of The Stacking Benjamins Podcast
The Financial Samurai Podcast
In this episode, I reconnect with my old friend from to talk about creating your own life curriculum — because when you do, you may no longer be beholden to anyone. With AI eliminating jobs and making the path to financial independence even tougher, I wanted to sit down with another creator who forged his own way—building a business and income stream through podcasting. I firmly believe everyone should build an online brand and develop a side hustle. The era of job security, pensions, and abundant opportunities is fading. You—and your children—need to learn how to create your own...
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The Making Of Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps To Seven Figures
The Financial Samurai Podcast
After three years of writing, revising, and reflecting, I’m excited to share that is now available everywhere—in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook! In this special episode, my wife and I sit down to talk about the journey behind the book: why I wrote it, what readers can expect, and how it ties into over a decade of sharing free financial content on Financial Samurai. We also dive into the emotional side of writing—especially how the process impacted our family, what it means to lead by example for our kids, and what we hope this book will do for readers striving to build lasting wealth....
info_outlineIn this episode, I talk with Harry, a long-time Financial Samurai reader, about his journey to building a $4+ million home in the Los Angeles area. While most people buy move-in ready homes, Harry shares an insightful behind-the-scenes look at how it's done — from financing the project to the timeline it takes to build, and whether it's ultimately a good investment.
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To Remodel With Permits Or Without To Save Time And Money
Wealth-Building Recommendations
This episode is brought to you by Fundrise, my preferred private real estate investment platform. Fundrise predominantly in residential and industrial commercial real estate in the Sunbelt, where valuations are lower and yields are higher. I've personally invested over $300,000 in Fundrise to diversify. The investment minimum is only $10, so it's easy to dollar-cost average in.
If you’re ready to build more wealth than 93% of the population, grab a copy of my new book, Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps to Seven Figures. With over 30 years of experience working in, studying, and writing about finance, I’ve distilled everything I know into this practical guide to help you achieve financial success.
To expedite your journey to financial freedom, join over 60,000 others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter. Financial Samurai is among the largest independently-owned personal finance websites, established in 2009. Everything is written based on firsthand experience and expertise.
To Your Financial Freedom,
Sam