Stock Market Investing for F.I.R.E.
Everything you need to know about investing in the stock market for financial independence & retiring early (F.I.R.E.)
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This course consists of more than four hours of video instruction, more than thirty resources, and a 19-page downloadable pdf investment plan for you to fill out and create based on the information you learn from the course.
The video instruction is broken into twenty-one modules. Each module focuses on different investing topics, with the modules presented in sequential order.
We begin the course by discussing the steps you should take before you begin investing. We also discuss how to calculate your FIRE number and how that number relates to your overall investment portfolio and your withdrawal strategy during retirement. We then share stock market history information, historical market perspectives, and the mentality behind investing.
We go over the different types of investment accounts that may be available to you (including tax-advantaged and non-tax advantaged accounts) and we discuss the various types of fees associated with different types of investments. We discuss the key characteristics to look for when picking a brokerage company and we walk you through how to open a brokerage account, how to fund the account, and how to set the account up for automatic investments.
We discuss how to structure your order of investing and the different types of investments that you can add to your portfolio (including index funds, ETFs, REITs, individual stocks, and bonds). We discuss the key factors you need to consider when deciding on your asset allocation. We walk you through how to research different types of investments and what to look for when you’re investing in different assets, such as index funds, ETFs, REITs, and individual stocks.
We discuss whether you should lump sum your money into your investments or whether you should dollar cost averaging. We also discuss how to rebalance your portfolio, common investing mistakes to avoid, and how to invest during a recession and bear markets.
At the end of the course, we put everything together so that you can take action and invest.
- Aya Laraya
Welcome!
Download Your Stock Market Investing Plan for FIRE!
Module 1 Assignment: Section I of Your Investment Plan
Access the Private Facebook Group
Establishing an Emergency Fund
Pay off High Interest Debt
Module 2: Summary Notes
Calculating Your FIRE Number
The Trinity Study
Module 3: Summary Notes
Module 3 Assignment: Start With a Goal
How it All Began
Crash of 1929 (Black Tuesday)
Crash of 1973-74 (Oil Crisis Crash)
Crash of 1987 (Black Monday)
Crash of 2000 (Dot-com Bubble)
Crash of 2008 (Great Recession)
Crash of 2020 (Coronavirus Crash)
Module 4: Summary Notes
Controlling Your Emotions
How to Behave During a Crash
Module 5: Summary Notes
Module 5 Assignment: Investing Assessment
Two Types of Accounts: Tax Advantage & Non-Tax Advantage
Tax Advantaged Accounts – 401(k)
Tax Advantaged Accounts – Solo 401(k)
Tax Advantaged Accounts – 457 Plan
Tax Advantaged Accounts – 403(b)
Tax Advantaged Accounts – Traditional IRA
Tax Advantaged Accounts – Roth IRA
Tax Advantaged Accounts – Self-Directed IRA
Tax Advantaged Accounts – Health Savings Account (HSA)
Tax Advantaged Accounts - 529 Plans
Non-Tax Advantaged Accounts - Ordinary Brokerage Account
Module 6: Summary Notes
Module 6: Additional Resources
Brokerage Fees
Transaction Fees
Expense Ratios
Front-End Load Fees
Back-End Load Fees
Management Fees
Annual Fees
Impact of Fees
Avoiding or Reducing Fees (Tip 1)
Avoiding or Reducing Fees (Tip 2)
Avoiding or Reducing Fees (Tip 3)
Avoiding or Reducing Fees (Tip 4)
Module 7: Summary Notes
Evaluating the Broker’s Security
Insurance - What to Look For?
Consider the Brokerages Fraud Policies
Checking for Fees
Assessing Customer Service
Platform Interface (Website and App)
Types of Accounts Offered
Customer Reviews
Module 8: Summary Notes
Step-by-Step Instructions
Module 9: Summary Notes
Options for Funding Your Account
Module 10: Summary Notes
Automating - Benefit 1
Automating - Benefit 2
Automating - Benefit 3
Automating - Benefit 4
Setting Up Automated Investments
Module 11: Summary Notes
Why Order of Investing Matters
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Bonus Step for Early Retirees
Module 12: Summary Notes
Module 12 Assignment: Your Order of Investing
Our Investment Plan/How We Invested for F.I.R.E. (Plus Bonus Asset Tracker with our up to date investments)
Actively Managed Mutual Funds
Index Funds
Deciding Between Mutual Funds & Index Funds
Mutual Funds vs. Index Funds – Goals & Fees
Mutual Funds vs. Index Funds – Comparing Performance
Index Fund Preference
Exchange Traded Funds
Comparison - ETFs and Index Funds
Why People Choose ETFs Over Index Funds – Reason #1
Why People Choose ETFs Over Index Funds – Reason #2
Why People Choose ETFs Over Index Funds – Reason #3
Why People Choose Index Funds Over ETFs – Reason #1
Why People Choose Index Funds Over ETFs – Reason #2
REITs
Individual Stocks
Bonds
Module 13: Summary Notes
What Is Asset Allocation
Asset Allocation and Time Horizon
Aggressive vs. Reckless Investing
Role of Bonds
Stock vs. Bond Allocation
Problem With the Rule of Thumb
Our Thoughts When Developing Our Portfolio Allocation
Asset Allocation and Revisiting the Trinity Study
Our Portfolio - Stocks Bonds and Emergency Funds
Our Portfolio - Creating Our Core Investment
Our Portfolio - Supporting Our Core Investment With ETFs
Our Portfolio - Supporting Our Core Investment With REITs
Our Portfolio - Supporting Our Core Investment With Individual Stocks
Module 14: Summary Notes
Module 14 Assignment: Your Targeted Asset Allocation
Module 14: Additional Resources
Researching Investments in General
Researching Index Funds
Comparing Index Funds
Researching and Comparing ETFs
Researching and Comparing REITs
Individual Stocks A Word of Warning
Researching and Picking Stocks – Factor 1
Researching and Picking Stocks – Factor 2
Researching and Picking Stocks – Factor 3
Researching and Picking Stocks – Factor 4
Researching and Picking Stocks – Factor 5
Researching and Picking Stocks – Factor 6
Researching and Picking Stocks – Factor 7
Module 15: Summary Notes
Module 15 Assignment: Your Investments
An Identified Lump Sum
Vanguard Study and Results
The Mindset Role
Taking Into Account the Fear of Investing
The Ultimate Question to Ask Yourself
Module 16: Summary Notes
Module 16: Additional Resources
Strategy of Rebalancing
Sample Portfolio to Rebalance
Rebalancing Strategy #1
Rebalancing to Reduce Risk
Rebalancing to Increase Returns
Rebalancing Strategy #2
Rebalancing vs. Timing the Market
Rebalancing Frequency Option #1
Rebalancing Frequency Option #2
Module 17: Summary Notes
Module 17 Assignment: Rebalancing Strategy
Eight Mistakes – Your Guiding Light
Mistake #1
Mistake #2
Mistake #3
Mistake #4
Mistake #5
Mistake #6
Mistake #8
Mistake #7
Module 18: Summary Notes
Module 18 Assignment: Note to Self - Investment Mistakes to Avoid
Tip 1
Tip 2
Tip 3
Tip 4
Module 19: Summary Notes
Module 19 Assignment: Your Stock Market Crash Plan
Putting It All Together
Module 20: Summary Notes
Continuing Education
Module 21: Summary Notes
Module 21 Assignment: Other Considerations
Hello! We’re Amon & Christina (your instructors) and those two young ladies are our daughters (not your instructors)!
We’re former federal government employees that focused on saving, making, and investing money so that we could grow enough wealth in our investments to never have to work again.
And, guess what? We did it! At the age of 39, we reached financial independence, quit our jobs, and . . . we retired!
If you’re interested in learning how to invest in the stock market on the road to financial independence and retiring early (i.e., FIRE) - this course is for you!
- Amon & Christina Browning
This course is designed for various different investors, including:
Basically, if you’re interested in financial independence and you want to learn more about investing in the United States stock market in order to reach financial independence – this class is for you!
The video instruction is broken up into twenty-one modules, with each module being broken up into smaller sizes that are easy to digest and stay engaged. In total, the video instruction is approximately 4.5 hours. However, the course also contains homework assignments, summary notes, additional resources, and your own personalized investment plan to create. With that in mind, the timeframe and the pace at which you complete the course is completely up to you!
After enrolling in the course, you have unlimited access to the course for as long as you like. You should feel free to watch each module back-to-back or take your time and go through each module at your own relaxed pace. More importantly, once you complete the course, you have unlimited access – so you can come back and watch the videos whenever you want!
While certain portions of the course are applicable to everyone, some content refers specifically to tools, options, and investments available only to people who can invest in the United States stock market. If you are a non-U.S. citizen, certain tools, options, and investments discussed in the course may not be available to you. Accordingly, if you are a non-U.S. citizen and looking to invest in non-U.S. markets, this course is not for you.
There are certain requirements that you must meet if you intend to invest in the U.S. stock market while living outside of the United States – even if you are a U.S. citizen. Because some of the content of this course refers specifically to certain tools, options, and investments available only to people who can invest in the United States stock market, please consider your unique circumstances (and whether living abroad will allow you to invest in U.S. markets) before signing up for this course.
Due to the instant delivery of the course content, we do not offer refunds. If you have any questions about the course, please reach out to us to get your questions answered before you decide to sign up for the class.
The content in this course, our website, and our YouTube videos are for educational purposes only and merely cite our own personal opinions. In order to make the best financial decision that suits your own needs, you must conduct your own research and seek the advice of a licensed financial advisor if necessary. Know that all investments involve some form of risk and there is no guarantee that: 1) you will be successful in making, saving, or investing money; 2) you won't experience any loss when investing; or 3) that once you reach your FIRE number, your money will last forever during your retirement. Always remember to make smart decisions and do your own research!