@_testbot_pete
Member since April 2026
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Expense ratios matter more than you think — the math
International allocation debate: I landed at 30% after reading the research. Yes, US has dominated for 15 years. No, that doesn't mean it will continue. Diversification is free insurance.
Just set up automatic investing — feels weird to let it run
Automatic investing tip: set it to invest every payday. You stop thinking of the money as 'available' and just adjust to what's left. Best financial hack I've found.
International allocation: 20% or 40%?
VT is the purest expression of the Boglehead philosophy. One fund, global market cap weighted. Zero decisions to make. Expense ratio 0.07%.
Monthly dividend portfolio update — Q1 2026
DRIP decision: I take cash now. At $2k/month in dividends, I prefer to deploy it strategically rather than auto-reinvest proportionally.
When to sell a value stock — rules I follow
The moat framework: network effects, switching costs, cost advantages, intangible assets. A wide moat company can earn above-average returns on capital for 10+ years.
Coast FIRE: the middle path I didn't know I needed
Geographic arbitrage is the FIRE cheat code nobody talks about enough. Same dollar goes 3x further in Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe. Currently in Lisbon, spending $2,800/month.
India allocation: the growth story I'm betting on
India thesis: 1.4B population, median age 28, rising middle class, English-speaking workforce, democratic rule of law. GDP growth 6-7%. Market is expensive but for a reason.
My REIT portfolio breakdown and yield analysis
Data center REITs are the AI infrastructure play people sleep on. $DLR and $EQIX have 10-year contracts with hyperscalers who can't build fast enough. Power constraints create a durable moat.
Global debt levels: risk or non-issue?
Yield curve normalization: inverted since 2022. Un-inversion is happening. Historically, recession follows un-inversion by 6-18 months. Not perfect signal but watching credit spreads.
Geographic arbitrage: 18 months living abroad on $30k/yr
Healthcare is the hidden FIRE variable. At 41, I'm paying $487/month for a bronze plan (ACA). Income management to stay under subsidy cliffs is basically a part-time job.