My Average Week As A Financially Free Investor

My Average Week As A Financially Free Investor

I was recently asked fellow community member Erwin, what an average week looks like for me as a financially free investor.

As I love getting questions asked from you guys, I put together a quick blog post.

My Quick Bio

First off, for those of you who don’t know me yet, here are some key facts about me:

• Born in 1978 near Munich 🇩🇪
• Studied international marketing & management
• Moved to Singapore in 2002
• Founded a marketing service agency in 2004
• Sold the agency in 2017 for $1,5 Mio US (got cash & shares)
• My current net worth
• Invested in 4x other private companies
• Two of which are paying dividends (combined total of $69,000 US)
• High-Level portfolio allocation
  
     💵 $0.4 Mio in cash
     📈 $1.0 Mio in my dividend portfolio
     🌐 $1.3 Mio in my crypto portfolio
     🏆 $0.3 Mio in my precious metals
     🏠 $0.4 Mio in real estate
     💼 $1.8 Mio in private equity (shares in four companies)
     💡 $0.4 Mio in my thematic portfolios

             💵 $5.6 Mio in approx total net worth

What I Love About Being Financially Free

I love not having a boss.
I love not having to attend any lengthy meetings.
I love not having to attend boring annual parties.
I love not having to prepare reports for executives I have never met.
I love not having to polish any shoes or getting a brown nose ;-).

My Investments In Private Companies

The majority of my time isn’t dedicated to researching investment ideas; instead, it’s focused on providing assistance and support to the companies in which I hold shares.

While I don’t have an operational or active role in any of them, I frequently roll up my sleeves and actively contribute where needed.

I describe myself as a passive activist investor, signifying that while my name may not appear on any organizational charts, I actively strive to contribute meaningful value and often lend a hand to the management by doing things that free them up to focus on their core competence.

My Average Work Day

A consistent daily routine is essential for me as it sets the right mood; thus, my weekdays follow nearly identical patterns.

As investors, our compensation isn’t tied to time but rather to the decisions we make and the temperament and patience we exhibit. Embracing the adage “It’s not about the hours you put in, but what you put into the hours,” my aim is to cultivate a mindset conducive to making sound decisions.

Working from home since May 2017, my wife and I have established an arrangement that simply works for us. There’s no one-size-fits-all; both parties must be clear about their desires and limits.

In our case, mornings are devoted to the kids, and we enjoy a delightful family dinner every evening. Consequently, we have separate lunch times—my wife opts for yogurt and fruits, while I enjoy having a proper meal.

Here’s How My Typical Week Looks Like For Me

*breakfast + notes – Armed with a blank sheet of paper, I jot down ideas and plans for the day ahead

*meditate (5-10 min) – I don’t meditate for long, but do it daily, love the InsightTimer app

*Think & Grow Rich (5 min) – I re-read one page a day of books I love. See below for a sample page with highlights

*deep work (10-12 am) – According to my experience (and biorhythm) I do deep work at 10-12 am & 4-5.30 pm

Reading One Page Of Think & Grow Rich 

Things I Help The Companies I Am Invested In With

• Marketing (help with website copy, blog post ideas, ad campaigns, email lists, ..)
• Management (be a sparring partner for the managers, discuss emergencies, ..)
• Strategy (advisory board, director role, corporate strategy, M&A or build, ..)
• Operations (increase SOPs, use automation tools like ChatGPT, Zapper, ..)
• HR (help to interview candidates, talk with headhunters about current needs, ..)
• Company Structure (help set up companies, talking with tax advisors, ..)

This always changes, but at the moment, I work 4 hours per week for one specific company I am invested in, and about 2 hours for another one.

How To Reach Financial Freedom?

To become financially independent and reach financial freedom, your passive income needs to exceed your fixed costs + expenses.

You either were able to put away enough cash that you don’t have to worry about your expenses anymore (which is rather unlikely), or, you need to reach what I call escape velocity.

Reaching Escape Velocity Feels Great

Escape velocity is a fundamental concept in space exploration, defining the minimum energy required for a spacecraft to break free from the gravitational pull of its home planet.

Now, let’s draw a parallel in the realm of finances: Imagine your full household fixed and variable expenses as the metaphorical gravitational pull, set at, for instance, 100.

To achieve financial freedom and independence, you reach escape velocity when your passive income surpasses this gravitational force (>100).

At exactly 100, you lead a somewhat comfortable life as your passive income covers all your expenses. However, it can be stressful, as any generated passive income is immediately absorbed by your financial obligations. That’s why it’s advisable to aim for a passive income that exceeds your needs by at least 20%.

Once you’ve reached this financial escape velocity, you find yourself with surplus money at the end of each month, providing additional funds for investments.

In essence, reaching escape velocity in your finances signifies a state where your passive income exceeds your financial obligations, offering the freedom to allocate surplus funds strategically.

An awesome feeling.

Our Family’s Finances

In 2023, my total passive income exceeded our family expenses by over $30,000 US, providing me with an additional $30,000 for investments.

While I anticipate 2024 to be less favorable in terms of passive income, I’m optimistic that gains from capital appreciation can offset potential setbacks.

By the way, I am using the 100% free app Portfolio Performance to track all my investments.

Conclusion

My average week as a financially free investor may not be extraordinary, but adhering to certain routines gives me the necessary space and time to think and reflect on what investments to make.

📘 Read Also

• The 3 Best French Dividend Stocks To Buy
• How To Explain Bitcoin In 10 Easy Steps
• My Story Of How I Reached Financial Independence

FAQ