Achieve and Maintain Financial Independence to Add Meaning to Your Life

What is FIRE MOUNTAIN?

I created Fire Mountain, a personal finance blog focusing on achieving financial independence, to help provide people with the encouragement and tools necessary to achieve their own financial independence. I recently ended my twenty-year corporate career to enjoy new ventures and I want to share my journey, both the peaks and valleys, with you. Fire Mountain posts will focus on steps you can take to achieve your own financial independence and once achieved what you can do to try to maintain financial independence in good and bad economic cycles. I’ll share my experiences during my twenty year journey to achieving financial independence in each post. I’ll also give updates on my own financial standing, how I am trying to allocate my assets to ensure I maintain my financial independence, and other interesting posts on personal finance and early retirement.

Why the name FIRE MOUNTAIN?

I believe that Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) is a journey that can benefit many people but it takes time, effort and planning. You can take different paths to achieve financial independence but almost any plan will have its changes and needs to be navigated carefully. I liked the name FIRE Mountain because if you wanted to climb a mountain you could probably do it if you had a plan to prepare yourself and had the discipline to execute the plan. I want to help you build your financial independence plan and provide you the inspiration, support and tools to achieve financial independence. I believe most people can reach this goal. After you reach the summit of FIRE Mountain and achieve financial independence you can set your sights on new journeys that will have a meaningful impact on your life (and probably the lives of others, too).

Who is the Blogger?

Hi, my name is Ryan. I am 43 years old and am married with two kids. I recently achieved financial independence and made the decision to stop advancing my corporate career at a time when my earning power was growing. It was a little scary but this decision has given me the chance to focus on setting and achieving goals that give me a more balanced and meaningful life. I live in California where the cost of living is significantly above the national average. I love watching my kids play sports and I am helping them learn and grow as they begin to make their own way in this world.

Why did I decide to climb FIRE MOUNTAIN?

Over 15 years ago I took inventory of my life and what I wanted to accomplish over the longer-term. I asked myself what I wanted others to say about me after I died (hopefully a long time from now):

NO!	YES!
Worked to make good corporate decisions which achieved significant returns for shareholders	Spent quality time with his children to prepare them to live in a challenging and dynamic world
Displayed the willpower and stamina to work over 80 hours a week well into his 60s	Made sure to be physically and mentally present for his family and others on a consistent basis
Traveled extensively for work, stayed in a lot of nice hotels between meetings, and achieved platinum status with multiple airlines and hotels	Tried new things, lived a balanced life based on a set of principles, and shared his experiences with others

Performing this analysis made it clear to me that although I enjoyed work it was not a big part of my long-term life goals. The qualities I want to be remembered for did not revolve around reaching new heights in my corporate career but instead involved being a man that could provide for his family financially but also be there for them physically and emotionally on a consistent basis. I also wanted to have new and meaningful experiences throughout my life that could be shared and experienced with my wife, kids and others.

I realized that in the long run I could not achieve a lot of my longer-term goals if much of my energy and time was used to advance my career. As a result by the time I was 30 years old I set a series of financial goals to accomplish before I could de-prioritize earning money and prioritize a daily life that focused on my family, my health, and new experiences. I wanted to reach these goals by the time I was 40. By early 2019 I had achieved these financial goals and in March 2019 the company I worked for was sold and I was told my services were no longer necessary. The sale of the company was a good exit point for me and a good entry point into the next phase of my life journey. I was 43 years old at the time.

Part of my journey includes creating FIRE Mountain and writing about the steps I took to achieve financial independence, how you can do the same over time, and what are the opportunities to make your life more meaningful after you achieve financial independence. I’m really excited to share my journey with you – both the good and the bad.

Welcome to Fire Mountain!

About Ryan

I recently achieved my financial independence and made the decision to stop advancing my corporate career at a time when my earning power was growing. I created Fire Mountain, a personal finance blog focusing on achieving financial independence, to help provide people with the encouragement and tools necessary to achieve their own financial independence.