After recording a podcast together Katie and I decided that we needed to get some energy. So we headed out for a walk in the forest on a grey August day in England. As we walked and talked about the podcast we had just recorded, the conversation turned to the question “how quickly could we get back to financial independence if we started again?"

If we lost everything, but kept the skills, the knowledge, the attitude we have today, how long would it take us to get back to financial independence?

With the skills that we have and the opportunities that we have created over the last few years we felt that it would only take us about five years to get back to Financial Independence from scratch! So why do most people never get there?

How did you end up in Mexico? Aren't you worried about Covid? Isn't it illegal to leave the UK at the moment? Let's start from the begining..........

We were worried about Trump getting into office in November'16 because we thought the market would drop, we were worried about Brexit and potential currency risk.  We worried about investing and the market crashing immediately and loosing a fortune.  We worried about EVERYTHING!  This worry stopped us from investing.  The question we have only just asked ourselves is "What did this worry cost us?  What did we miss out on through our indecision?"

For an overview of which Index Fund to choose start here.  This article is to help you decide whether to invest in the Vanguard Developed World Ex. UK Fund or the Vanguard FTSE Global All-Cap Index Fund and what the differences are!

​We are going to break down the differences between the two funds and, given that nearly all of our money in invested in the Developed world fund, whether we are going to change that going forwards. 

I didn't notice the weight slowly piling on week by week. A year passed and I was obese!  I hadn't noticed the small change each week until it was too late. ​

Fees are very similar.  They are small enough that you don't really notice them at the time, they are hidden from you and they just gradually erode your wealth over time.  You wake up a decade or two later and you aren't worth what you thought you would be!  Fees are the hidden element in investing that makes everyone else wealthy apart from you! Let's tackle fees together

You panic, close the laptop and go back to watching Netflix! When Katie and I started to look at the Vanguard site to choose which fund we had several false starts and were nearly put off investing!  Open up the Vanguard site and let's go through it line by line together...... (this is the UK site but most of the terms are the same globally)

In fact all of us have access to this knowledge.  We have YouTube, the internet, podcasts and a wealth of knowledge that our ancestors could only have wished they could have access to.  So why aren't we all millionaires with Lamborghinis and philanthropic foundations that cure diseases?  Is more information the answer?

I wandered around the counters in a trance, staring at an incredible selection of food.  I didn't know what to choose or even where to start!  After what seemed like 20 minutes of wandering I decided I needed to limit my options.  I decided to have soup and headed to the soup section.  There were 20 different soup flavours to choose from.  I nearly had a melt down.  I was just hungry and tired! I needed food!

This is the paradox of choice.  The more options there are the harder it is to make a decision. This was just deciding what to have for lunch!  Can you imagine how I felt looking at investment options for the first time?  Maybe you can?

What is an index fund? The language of investing can be hugely complex at the best of times! Even a simple term like index fund takes a lot to properly explain.  If you want to feel confident investing then the first step is to build your investing knowledge and financial vocabulary. The more you understand something the more confident you will feel starting!  Writing this article has double Katie and my knowledge about index funds!  We hope it does the same for you!

The short explanation: Index funds give you an easy and cost-effective route to diversify your investments across the globe and partake in the growth of the global economy. Sounds sexy; but what the hell does it mean! What is an index fund? What is contained in an index fund? Which index funds should I buy? Why do I care? Let's get geeky together!

He worked for a multi-national logistics company and specifically in aviation.  His area of expertise was airlines.  So he had taken his money and invested it into aviation and travel companies.  In March 2020 when Covid-19 knocked the stock market sideways his stocks plummeted.   When the stock market recovered in May; his stocks didn't.  He had the opposite of a diversified portfolio!  What is diversification?

One of the most interesting questions I have been exploring this year is "If things continue as they are am I happy with the direction?" 

To be able to answer that question you need to be able to know whether you are going in the right direction or not.  The only way to do this is to measure something...….

The first thing I did was create a graph obviously.  Scroll down to see which way my belly is heading!  And FAR more importantly to start to think about where you are heading? Where's your destination is likely to be? Are you are going to like it or not!???

This photo was taken on the exact spot where, in Spring 2018, and over the course of about 200-300ft or so of run, my life totally changed. The “a-ha” moment came while stumbling across Alan Donegan for the first time on a podcast.

Nine months later, I quit a 100k / year job, never to return.

Do you know how much you are saving of the money that you earn every month? Do you save any of the money that you earn each month?

The average savings rate in the United Kingdom is 6%. Only 6%!

Do you save more money than the average person? Do you save less money than the average person? Do you know how much you’re saving?

Your savings rate is one of the key indicators of when you can retire! Knowing this number you can predict how long you have to work in paid employment

How can this be possible? How can we have more money than we earnt? Does that mean that we have lived for free for our entire life so far? Is this normal? Could you do the same? Do you have anything to show for your years of labour?

How do you calculate your net-worth?  The first step to change is to take a good look at where you are right now.  If you don't know your starting point it is difficult to know if the change you are creating is moving you in the right direction or not.  If you can't clearly give a £ or $ figure for your net-worth then this article will help you figure it out.

As you know I like to write articles about Financial Independence, business and positivity.  But occasionally I write about what is going on with me to share the ups and downs and hopefully inspire you

I use supply and demand theory in my business to this day ​but no one taught me about personal finance. I learnt through books, courses that I paid to go on and through trial and error; the good old fashioned way.  I have paid a high price for the skills I have developed and I think it is time I gave it all away for free...…...

I have been doing that with entrepreneurship for the last decade now. Giving away the course I wish I had when I was launching my business.  Katie and I have decided to do this for personal finance next. 

If you finances weren't in a good state when Covid hit this situation probably did nothing to help.    So many business and families lost their income overnight and they weren't prepared for it!

The people that benefit the most from the opportunities arising from Covid19 are the ones that are in the best financial position.  

​Now is the time to take control of your finances and set yourself up for the future

This is the first in a series of posts about self-care, what I have learnt that you can use and tips & tricks to keep you on tip top form.  

So here are all your questions about the 4% rule, early retirement and financial independence answered!  Let's jump straight into "How much does it take to retire? The Q&A" with Alan...…..

For many years I had a bad relationship with money and it took a lot of work to overcome that and find a new love for our friendship.  Read on to work through your relationship issues!  If this scares you then remember changing your relationship with money will change your results with it...……..

Why am I doing this?  Because I want to further the PopUp mission of giving away the very best entrepreneurial education for free for all of you.  I want to help you and everyone to build businesses and make your own income; without debt! I want to help you get going and this gives me a platform to share what I have learnt and help more people.  Taking the PopUp message globally.

This is a warning against unscrupulous companies that are going to try and take advantage of you during this time.  They are going to do it under the guise of helping you through the situation but in reality they are going to leave you far worse off in the long run than if they didn't help at all!

Update 25/08/2020: This  was written just as lock down was starting in March 2020 and this is still going on now and always will do.  Car dealerships make more money on the financing and insurance than they do the car itself.  Online catalogue companies offer you "anything you want" buy now, pay later at 39.9% APR. Companies that lend money make more, when you pay slower!  The debt warning isn't just for the height of a pandemic it is something you need to be wary of always!