Topic5 articles

Investing.

Where you put the money matters. These articles cover index-fund investing for FIRE, asset allocation through accumulation and drawdown, tax-advantaged account priority, and the case for keeping things deliberately boring.

Every article in this topic.

05 entries
Investing

Best Brokerages for FIRE Investors in 2026 (Index Fund-Friendly, Low-Fee)

A detailed comparison of the best brokerages for FIRE-focused index fund investors — Fidelity, Vanguard, Charles Schwab, M1 Finance, and Empower — scored on fees, index fund quality, tax features, and retirement account support.

8 min read
Investing

Index Fund Investing for FIRE: The Simple Strategy That Wins

The FIRE community has converged on index fund investing as the default strategy — and the data backs it up. Here's what index funds are, why they work for FIRE, and how to structure a simple, effective portfolio.

8 min read
Investing

The Order of Operations: Which Tax-Advantaged Accounts to Max Out First

Most people know they should be using tax-advantaged accounts — but the order you fill them in matters. Get the sequence right and you'll minimize lifetime taxes and maximize early retirement flexibility.

8 min read
Investing

The Best Investments for FIRE: Building a Portfolio That Lasts Decades

Most FIRE portfolios are built around a small set of simple, low-cost investments — and that simplicity is a feature, not a limitation. Here's what works, what doesn't, and how to structure it all.

10 min read
Investing

Real Estate and FIRE: Rental Income as a Path to Financial Independence

Rental income can replace a salary and fund an early retirement — but the math, liquidity, and management realities look very different from index fund investing. Here's an honest comparison.

9 min read