-
From Salary to Wealth: Michael Chan’s Investment Journey – Focused Finance #2
How patience, discipline, and smart diversification turned a modest salary into generational wealth. A Risky Decision in the Heart of Silicon Valley In 1996, Michael Chan was a 32-year-old software engineer living in San Jose, California—the beating heart of Silicon Valley’s tech boom. Like many in his field, he had job offers from well-known companies…
-
Focused Finance: Maria Delgado’s American Dream and the Diner That Bought Her Freedom
In the early 1990s, while much of Wall Street chased dot-com dreams and day traders glued themselves to their fax-fed stock tickers, Maria Delgado was chasing something quieter—stability, ownership, and the kind of freedom you could feel in your bones. Hers is a story of sweat equity, family grit, and how a single diner in…
-
🧠 Why Budgeting Still Feels Hard — And What You Can Do About It
Understanding the Psychology of Overspending and the Habits That Help Us Regain Control “Why make a budget?”It’s a question that every generation seems to rediscover and ask again — usually after hitting a financial snag. The idea of budgeting isn’t new. And in truth, most people already have a budget — at least in theory.…
-
How Can I Save More Money When the Cost of Living Is So High?
By The Solo Investor | May 2025 Rising rent. Higher grocery bills. Subscription price hikes. Everywhere you look, the cost of living is climbing — and it’s leaving many wondering: How can I actually save money right now? At The Solo Investor, we believe smart money habits start with awareness and intentional action. Even when…
-
Is a Recession Coming, and How Can I Prepare?
Earlier this month, I came across three powerful quotes—each from a completely different source and occasion. On the surface, they had nothing to do with one another. But as I reflected on them, I realized how deeply relevant they are to our current economic climate. I’ll share those quotes throughout this piece, as we work…
-
Small Steps to Big Goals: Invest in Yourself
A couple of weeks ago, the world quietly marked “Quitter’s Day” — that infamous second Friday of January when many people give up on their New Year’s resolutions. For many, the excitement of the fresh start that January 1st promises begins to wane, leaving behind frustration and a sense of defeat. But here’s the truth:…
