> no credit card debt
> emergency fund in HYSA
> $100,000+ in the portfolio
> maxed Roth IRA
> contributing to 401(k)
> Paying your mortgage on your house
Investmentmaxxing
POV: You're 46 and just told your job you're retiring, leaving management (all 55+) stunned as they're all still trapped from inflating their lifestyles while you diligently lived below your means and aggressively invested in index funds for past 25 years.
The Order of Investing:
1. Emergency Fund (at least $2k)
2. 401k/403b/457/TSP up to Employer Match %
3. Debt>8% interest
4. Emergency Fund (at least 3 months expenses)
5. Roth IRA ($7k/year max in 2025)
6. HSA ($4300/$8550 max)
7. 401k, etc...up to $23.5k max
8. Up to you...crypto, individual stocks, extra mortgage payments, investment real estate, etc.