Alan Donegan's Blog

Vanguard Developed World versus Global index fund.  Investor Series

3/1/2021

 
You have decided you want to start to invest.  Yay! You are on your way to financial independence!  You have decided Vanguard index funds are the way forward. Super!  You log on to their website ready to invest and you see the HUGE selection of funds available to you!  Which one do you buy?  Where do you start? â€‹ What does it all mean?
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The clash of the titans! The FTSE Global All Cap Index Fund versus the Developed World ex. UK. Vanaguard!
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. 

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Take Control of your Finances!

5/7/2020

 
Where did you learn to manage your money? School? Books? Family?  Did you ever learn?

I don't remember learning anything particularly useful about finance at school.  I did economics at college but that didn't teach me anything I could particularly apply to my personal finances.
Alan Donegan burning £50. Personal finance. FIRE
How good are you at managing your finances? Does it feel like you just burn through money faster than it comes in?
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. 

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Financial Independence in uncertain times

20/6/2020

 
The market has crashed!  The Zombie apocalypse has happened!  Life is ending!  Who gives a #?@! about investing and financial independence? 

I would ask is there a better or more important time to take control of your finances? 
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What do you do in uncertain times? You don't panic that is for sure!
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

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4% Rule Questions - Retirement

26/5/2020

 
A few weeks ago I wrote a post "How much does it take to retire?".  This particular post sparked a lot of questions and comments that needed addressing! 

There is so much mis-information and bad advice out there I wanted to give you my perspective!  And it is only my perspective! Read with a pinch of salt!
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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...…..

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Debt Warning

25/3/2020

 
How many companies have messaged you this week offering to extend your credit limit? Offering you free overdrafts for a month?  Offering to lend you money?

With the Coronavirus lock-down in full swing, flow of money slowing and businesses having to lay people off we are at our most vulnerable in many years!
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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! 

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Playing with FIRE - Documentary Review

15/12/2019

 
A documentary about Financial Independence and early retirement?  Really?  Can you make a feature length documentary about money and retirement and make it interesting? 

Yes.  You really can!  It has even ended up in the top 10 best finance movies of the decade!!!  I went to the London Premier and then saw it in Los Angeles a month later and was lucky enough to meet Scott and Taylor the stars and executive producer of the doc in Portugal this year at Chautauqua. 
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Read on for the full review of the documentary...…….

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The FIRE movement in the UK

20/8/2019

 
The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement started in the USA.  That is where all the biggest bloggers and podcasters live and where a lot of the FIRE Community is based. But just because all the blogs write about 401ks, Roths and other American terms doesn't mean that there isn't anything going on in the United Kingdom!
Alan Donegan and the Playing with FIRE Documentary Screening in London
A packed audience at the London premier of the Playing with FIRE Documentary
The movement in the UK is a lot smaller.  It has taken more time to catch on but it is growing fast.  Is it possible to be Financially Independent (FI) in the UK? Are there any good blogs about Financial Independence from a UK perspective? Is there a community? Read on to find out more about Financial Independence in the UK

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What is financial independence?

8/2/2019

 
Updated: 26/05/2020
Financial independence (FI) is when your investments bring in more income than you need to live on.  This means that you have decoupled your time from your finances.  You can spend your time doing anything you want without having to worry if money is going to come in or not.
Alan Donegan wondering what to do with his FI time!
What would you do with the time you buy back with Financial Independence?
Income from passive sources is greater than expenditure; equals financial independence.  Sounds simple?  There are some nuances!

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What do I do with my savings? Invest? How?

4/2/2019

 
Buy small liabilities and instead invest in assets was the end of my last blog post.  This sounds great but how the hell do you actually do that? How do you buy an asset? Are you asking me to go out an buy an investment property now? I don't have the cash!
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Alan shocked at how low Vanguard's fees are for an index fund!
You have saved up some money and you are wondering what to do with it.  Where do you start? My plan for this article is to break down some different types of investment and then lay out Katie and my strategy so you can see what we do.  This is NOT investment advice rather it is an article exploring options and sharing our approach. 

This article was first published 4th February 2019.  Updated 8th September 2020

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What do you spend your money on?

3/2/2019

 
Where does all the money go?  What are you spending it on? We have HOW MUCH LEFT?!??? Most people have no idea where all their money goes and are shocked at how little they have left at the end of the month.  Where is your money going and what are you spending it on?
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This post is about lifestyle inflation, conscious spending and buying the future you really want!

As part of the Take Control of your Finances (TCF) course I have updated this article on 11th August 2020.  Enjoy.  Get conscious with your spending!  

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    Author

    Alan Donegan: PopUp Business School Co-Founder, Entrepreneur, Financially Independent Pizza Lover, Marvel Movie fan and soon to be Script Writer

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