I’m a 42 year old man living with my family in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA. I’m married to an awesome woman and I have two great kids.

I’ve always been interested in investing. Since I was in high school I’ve read voraciously about all things financial. I’ve read biographies of famous investors like Warren Buffet. I’ve read lifestyle books like “The Millionaire Next Door” and investing books like “The Intelligent Investor”. In addition, for the past few years I’ve been working towards obtaining the CFP® (Certified Financial Planner®) certification.

I currently have a great job in the software industry.  Unlike many people who blog about early retirement, I actually like my job. It’s challenging, it’s fun, it gives me a sense of accomplishment, and I like my colleagues. However, I know I might not feel this way forever. Companies change and managers come and go.  

As a result, I’ve spent the last few years turning my love of learning about all things financial into my next career. I’ve completed the educational component of the Certified Financial Planner® program. In 2017 I successfully passed the CFP® exam. In addition to my regular job I work for a financial planning firm on nights and weekends to earn hours towards the CFP® experience requirements.

I draw on this experience when writing this blog.

Why The Money Commando?

Why did I choose the name The Money Commando? Well, a commando is a somebody who uses unconventional methods to achieve a goal. For me, that goal is to achieve financial independence as a means to a better life.

The reason I started this blog is to challenge conventional wisdom about finances. So many of the blogs I read tell the same story – work hard, save money, invest, get rich by age 65. However, they never dig into the technical details of the process. What about trusts? Estate planning? How can you use annuities to reduce risk? What kind of tax planning opportunities are available to the average person to reduce their tax bill? What are the things that I don’t know that I don’t know that might help me achieve my goal?

We do things differently here at The Money Commando. My work as a financial advisor has taught me that many of the money rules that we accept as fact are just plain wrong. I use what I’ve learned in my work as a financial planner to help my readers improve their finances, often using little-known tips and tricks of the trade.

Follow along on my blog as I post updates on my passive income streams, net worth updates, and some general thoughts on retirement planning, working, traveling, investing, and saving.