Why the Security Model Cannot Stabilize and Must Collapse to Functional Zero An incentive-based analysis of the post-subsidy security cliff, the compounding fragility trap, and the absence of a stable low-equilibrium state. Note: This article is attracting readership well outside the usual BiggerPockets Money audience. If you understand Bitcoin’s security model and mining economics, and…

The New Critique of FIRE Math I’ve started seeing more articles questioning whether traditional FIRE math actually works. While I don’t agree with all of the conclusions – some critiques toss aside decades of solid research a little too quickly – there’s one argument that deserves serious attention. Unstable or unexpected spending is a major…

Health insurance premiums rise dramatically with age in the United States. This is not a theoretical risk or a pessimistic/overly conservative assumption. It is a core feature of the healthcare system, explicitly permitted under the Affordable Care Act. The earlier someone retires, the longer they are exposed to predictable, age-driven increases in healthcare costs before…

If you make a high income or already have a sizable net worth, it’s tempting to believe you’ve “graduated” from the basics of FIRE. You max your accounts.You invest consistently.You’ve read the books.You know the math. And yet, this is exactly the stage where many FIRE plans quietly break. Not because the basics stopped mattering…

When it comes to personal finance, there’s no shortage of advice floating around. But not all money books are created equal. Some are packed with timeless wisdom, others with quirky stories that actually stick, and a few will make you question every purchase you’ve ever made. To save you time – and a few wrong…