Well, here we are, at the end of 2022. Is it just me or do the years seem to go by faster every year?
Anyone looking forward to 2023? I have been for awhile. As you read this, I’ll be driving my way down to The Villages for four months of sunshine, pickleball, and travel around the state.
I want to start today’s post by wishing you the happiest of New Years! I hope 2023 is as amazing for you as the past few years have been challenging for most of the world.
As for the post itself, I wanted to share what I feel were my best posts of 2022. After all, you may have missed some of them and it would be a shame if the year passed and you didn’t get a second chance at them. π
This year I focused more on letting people tell their stories — which I find fascinating, inspiring, and utterly more valuable than most content on the web these days because they are the stories of real people having real financial success.
So with that said, here are what I would consider my top posts of the year in no particular order…
- Review of The Villages, Florida, Part 1 and Review of The Villages, Florida, Part 2 — This was certainly the year of The Villages, wasn’t it? These two posts were my summary thoughts from 2.5 months there from mid-January to the beginning of April. It obviously went well as we are going back and my dad bought a place there (also found out a former work colleague bought a place near my dad’s — in the same village). I’ll be doing a monthly update from there in 2023, so stay tuned if you want all the insights. And if you live in the area and want to meet up, drop me an email and we’ll see what we can do.
- IGE: An Alternative to ISE — This is an alternative point-of-view from simply spending all your savings on yourself. I know it’s not for everyone, but it is for us and I hope it encouraged others to consider alternative ways of “spending” their riches and increasing their own happiness. With a new year comes a completely new giving budget, so it’s time to gooooooooooooo…
- Do Not Panic: Thoughts on Dealing with a Falling Market, High Inflation, Rising Interest Rates, and Other Financial Perils — It was a difficult financial year for many and this was my attempt at keeping people focused on the long-term success factors.
- My Fourth Experience at a Direct Mail Retirement Seminar — Will we go to any more free financial dinners in 2023? Who knows — we appear to be hooked! LOL. Maybe we’ll pick up one or two in The Villages!!! Haha! This was our latest adventure — we went because we wanted to check out the food where they were having it more than anything else. π
- Retirement Update: 6 Years — Six years in and I’m still in the honeymoon phase. Here’s to 30 more retirement years!
- Millionaire Interviews — Ok, this isn’t an article, but a series! We started the year with Millionaire Interview 292 and ended with Millionaire 345. That’s a lot of millionaire interviews! I had so many because 1) the Millionaire Money Mentors forums seem to bring millionaires out of the woodwork (free membership for those who do interviews) and 2) I made a specific plea for people to tell their stories. There were so many great ones with very interesting stories. If you’re interested in stats about the millionaires, here’s a summary of the interviewees through 300 interviews. We will most likely get past 400 in 2023 and my ultimate goal is to at least get to 500 before I dial it back a bit…but we’ll see. Of course, if anyone wants to participate…send me an email!
- Retirement Interviews — Retirement is one of the greatest things ever IMO and yet it remains a source of anxiety for many. This is because 1) it’s a HUGE decision that usually involves hundreds of thousands of dollars if not millions and 2) it’s something unknown (like stepping off into the abyss). So by hosting retirement interviews, I hope to demystify retirement and show how people have successfully made what can be a tough transition for some. If you’re a retiree for at least six months and want to be interviewed, drop me an email and I’ll send you details.
Those are my favorites for the year — what are yours? Are there any I missed that you especially liked?
Happy New Year!!!
Jeff Anderson says
Happy new year to you also! I am looking forward to your further views regarding The Villages and what you will experience being snow birds or 4 months!
Diogenes says
Happy New Year!
Bernd Doss says
Happy New Year to all. 2023 undoubtedly will bring many changes, many that shall affect those who have been retired and those that anticipate their own changes to a different lifestyle and planned course of living.. thus ESI , IMO, becomes more relevant to many seeking to understand what is going to be necessary in their future. Looking forward to reading more personal stories and reviews.
Brenda says
I most enjoy the posts about your own life, your family, your travel, and really liked hearing about “the Villages”. More of that please. π
Wayne Berryhill says
Happy New Year to you and yours. I have many family members who to the villages over twenty years ago and still very happy there. My cousin met and married her husband there.
Do you have any insights in investing in Bitcoin or the type of advisors one would seek out.
My broker at Charles Swabb believes in them however Swabb does not invest in Bitcoin.
ESI says
Nope. I don’t invest in crypto at all.
Terri says
Happy New Year! Love the Retirement Interviews and your updates. π
MJ says
Happy new year to all. I appreciate the millionaire interviews, the updates, your retirement updates, book reviews are fantastic, and your review and journey in settling in TV. Funny, although I like the articles on TV, it is said posts that likely made me say no , after reading , and visiting while in the area. Various reasons, not a Florida person in general. Enjoy ur stay. Happy New Year allβ¦..
Daryl says
Happy New Year. Always enjoy your insights, and the Millionaire Interviews. Have fun at the Villages this winter – sure beats the cold, right π
Phillip says
Happy holidays ESI! Although not top hits, I really enjoy your book reviews. Thanks for your tireless efforts!