Jay Zigmont's Blog, page 16

Alison – A Portrait of Freedom

Alison shares her story of Childfree Freedom. She moved from creative writing to trucking and is heading towards being a “lady of leisure.”

Understanding Student Loan Forgiveness

On August 24th, the Biden administration announced a series of changes to student loans and forgiveness of up to $20,000.�� There is a lot in what they have announced, so let���s look at how it can help you.��

Forgiveness of up to $20,000 in student loans (for people who received Pell Grants) and $10,000 for others.

A couple of things to keep in mind:�� There are income caps of $125,000 for single and $250,...

Caring for Elderly Family Members

You may have heard of the ���Sandwich Generation��� (who are caring for both their kids and their parents), but those without kids are said to be part of an ���open face sandwich��� when caring for elderly family members. Childfree people are often expected to care for their parents and others as they don���t have children. It is not always fair, but it is something we need to plan for.

Set Boundaries

The f...

A Childfree Portrait of Accidental FIRE

This is one of 26 stories featured in “Portraits of Childfree Wealth.”

Lorna
52 years old, Female, Widowed, Massachusetts
Master���s in Computer Science
Retired

Lorna came to the U.S. from Scotland approximately 25 years ago. She has gone from growing up in the lower working class to retiring last year at age 51. She has faced multiple sclerosis and lost her wife, and yet still achieved great things in that t...

Celebrating International Childfree Day

August 1st is International Childfree Day. Originally it was called Non-Parents��� day (formed in 1973) but since has been renamed International Childfree Day and even includes annual awards for Childfree Person and Group of the Year. This year���s winners are here.

All of the winners got a free paperback copy of my book, ���Portraits of Childfree Wealth��� and you can get your own free ebook copy at https:...

Choosing the FILE Lifestyle ��� Financial Independence, Live Early

If the days of working 25 years to ���get the watch��� and retire are gone, why are we still setting retirement as our goal? Living a life of Childfree Wealth means you have the time, money, and freedom to do what you want. Do you want to work for most of your life to retire? If so, that is great. If not, the FILE Lifestyle (Financial Independence, Live Early) might be an option for you.

Retirement can be t...

The Sabbatical ��� A tool to recenter and find yourself.

The bonus of being Childfree is that may have the time, money, and freedom to do what we want to do. The challenge is in knowing what we want to do. We may have too many options and may get stuck in analysis paralysis. Taking a sabbatical, a 3-6 month break from work, may be just the tool to help recenter and find yourself. The two big questions then are: What is a sabbatical? Can I afford to take a sabbati...

Ryan A ��� A Portrait of Freedom and No Regrets

There are many ways to achieve financial independence, but then what? Ryan and his wife are living the FILE life and have no regrets.�� This story is one of 26 portraits in my book “Portraits of Childfree Wealth”.�� ��Ryan shares about how retirement did not really fit, how he adjusted his life, and what happens when your spouse changes their mind about having children.����

Ryan A
47, Male, Married, Utah
Bach...

Get your paperwork right, now! ��� Wills, Beneficiaries, Living Wills, POAs and more

Many people say they are too young to think about a will and other paperwork. In our current political climate, it is more important than ever to make sure you have all of your documents in top shape. In particular, if you are Childfree, single, a couple who is not married, an LGBTQIA+ married couple, or in a group, you need to get your paperwork done now. If you don���t get your paperwork in place, you are...

5 questions to ask yourself before buying a house

The classic advice is that the way to wealth is built around home ownership. This advice is part of the standard script of what is expected. What about if you are living a Childfree lifestyle? Childfree people have more time, money, and flexibility to do what they want. The bottom line is that for us, home ownership is an option, not a requirement. You do not have to buy a house to secure your financial fut...