This week’s newsletter:

• Is there a recession coming? 🔮
• Tyler’s creative pursuits 🤫

The newsletter got a bit too long when we finished writing, so next week, we'll share about: Our investment budget cut ✂️💰 and Mega Backdoor IRA 🚪.

Thanks for hanging in there! Your eyeballs (and attention span) deserve a break! 😉

First, let’s address the alarming red numbers on our portfolios. 😅

Is there a recession coming?

Nobody knows.

Remember 2008? Almost nobody saw it coming, including the Fed and major banks who were blindsided by the crash.

So if someone tells you otherwise, label them as sharks. 🦈

What we do know is

• The market naturally moves through historical cycles of growth and correction – we've seen this pattern repeat for centuries (so don't stress about today's headlines or short-term factors 🗞️)*
• Financial media make money from predictions, not from being right (and they're rarely right 🤫).

Here’s a few data points

• Even Wall Street "gurus" can't predict markets – A study shows financial newsletters are right only 34% of the time 😵 (worse than a coin flip!)**
• Corrections (10-20% drops) happen on average once per year, while bear markets (20%+ drops) occur roughly every 3-5 years – they're normal, not catastrophic.***
• Trying to time these predictable-but-unpredictably-timed cycles costs average investors ~6% returns annually. 💸****

Bottom line

• Stop watching prediction shows and start building a portfolio that doesn't need a crystal ball 🔮

• If you're in for the long game, aggressively tune out the news bombardment—it'll protect your mental health and help you avoid fear-based decisions (and spare your partner from the rants) 🙊

  • Tyler is actively avoiding having politics news (either left or right) pushed into his face. On YouTube, every time a political video ambushes his feed, he aggressively smashes that "Do not recommend" button.

    After a few months of this digital detox, no more politics news cluttering his brain space. 😌

    Now he can choose when and where he wants to get his news.

  • Try the same ruthless approach with those panic-inducing financial headlines! 📉🙅‍♂️

  • And forget about your portfolio like your exes, but keep those recurring investments flowing!

• Rejoice if you have extra cash reserves – time to buy everything on SALE! 🥳🤑

*Based on Ibbotson market history data

**Hulbert Financial Digest study

***From JP Morgan's "Guide to the Markets"

****DALBAR study

Tyler’s Creative Pursuits 🤫

2025 is the year we're encouraging each other to seriously pursue our creative passions ❤️‍🔥 (emphasis on seriously, not just scratching a surface).

After all, what's the point of achieving Freedom if not using it to add more joy to our lives? 🤭

While Angie's knee-deep in acrylic painting 🧑🏻‍🎨🎨, Tyler—the man with a trillion interests—is naturally juggling multiple creative endeavors.

One of them? Baking! 👨‍🍳

Tyler's previous pastry attempts generally fell into three categories:

• "Doesn't remotely resemble the photo,"
• "Technically edible but no one's having seconds,"
• and the classic "Is it done? Maybe?"

But this time? He whipped out a kitchen scale 😳 (yes the man is getting serious!) and actually followed the recipe instructions precisely.

Last Sunday, he made the most incredible banana bread 🍞 (packed with walnuts and dates) EVER. 🤤💣

Angie was so impressed that she's now secretly plotting to groom Tyler into her personal pastry chef.✨😈

Another endeavor? Tyler's also tinkering with this tiny handheld game system #iykyk—but he's keeping that project under wraps for now. 🤐 Mysterious creative genius at work! 🕹️

May we have the determination and patience to build a lifestyle that brings endless joy. 🧡

Hope it's helpful for your journey to Freedom 🙏

Love you to freedom and back, 🫰

Angie & Tyler

Things We are Loving Right Now ❤️‍🔥

🍪 Baking

• Banana bread with dates and walnuts recipe 🤤: The exact formula Tyler used to create that mind-blowing banana bread we mentioned above. This healthy whole-grain masterpiece is naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup and dates—making it completely refined-sugar free!

📱 Phone

• Lit phone case 🔥: Angie received her 4th case in the mail today. That's how much of a loyal fan she's been to this brand. The case is always in solid condition, protected her phone countless times. And all the design collaborations always hit home.