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# Simpli-FI.money

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://simpli-fi.money/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [Thought Experiment: On Compounding (Part V): Mean Reversion Investing](https://simpli-fi.money/thought-experiment-on-compounding-part-v/): Across the first four parts of this series, we have slowly built a single, coherent way of understanding wealth.
- [Thought Experiment: On Compounding (Part IV)](https://simpli-fi.money/thought-experiment-on-compounding-part-iv/): In the first three parts of this series, we built a bridge step by step:
- [One Share per Year Methodology and Data Tables](https://simpli-fi.money/one-share-per-year-methodology-and-data-tables/): This article is intended to describe the methodology used in Part III to baseline an ETF (as a proxy for the “market”) so we can make a comparison to Farmer’s Compounding Garden. Below are Coach Holdren’s description of the methodology, observations of the data presented in raw data form.
- [Thought Experiment: On Compounding (Part III)](https://simpli-fi.money/thought-experiment-on-compounding-part-iii/): In the first two articles of this series, we explored compounding through metaphor and framework.
- [Thought Experiment: On Compounding (Part II)](https://simpli-fi.money/thought-experiment-on-compounding-part-ii/): In the first part of this series (Part I), we met a patient farmer who devoted fifty years to nurturing a small field, planting one seed each year, and trusting the quiet work of time to transform those seeds into a thriving, self-sustaining garden. His results were neither instant nor dramatic. For a decade, he saw almost nothing happen. Yet by the end of his life, he stood in a field that no longer needed his hand. It had become its own living system, producing far more fruit than he could ever plant himself.
- [Thought Experiment: On Compounding (Part I)](https://simpli-fi.money/thought-experiment-on-compounding-part-1/): The Core Financial Habits series laid the foundation for how you build wealth: Spend Less than you earn, Invest the Difference, Avoid Debt, and Give It Time to Grow. Those habits describe what disciplined investors do, and why behavior matters more than brilliance. The On Compounding series takes the next step by showing why those habits work so powerfully over decades. If the Core Habits are the daily practice of planting seeds, then On Compounding is the story of what happens to that garden when patience, consistency, and time are allowed to do their quiet work. Together, these two series form a complete framework: habits create the conditions for success, and compounding is the force that ultimately turns those habits into financial freedom and independence.
- [My First Introduction to Financial Literacy](https://simpli-fi.money/my-first-financial-literacy-lesson/): Rich Dad, Poor Dad was a game-changer in my life. It totally opened my eyes to how money actually works. ~ Coach Holdren
- [Building Financial Resilience: A Lesson from the “Three Little Pigs”.](https://simpli-fi.money/building-financial-resilience-a-lesson-from-the-three-little-pigs/): Every investor eventually meets the Big Bad Wolf of Wall Street: the bear market. He arrives without invitation, bringing fear, volatility, and loss. When he huffs and puffs through the economy, some portfolios collapse while others stand firm. The difference lies in how the investor has built his financial “house.”
- [2026 IRS Contribution Limits (TSP, IRA, 401K): More Room to Build Your Freedom Fund.](https://simpli-fi.money/2026-retirement-contribution-limits-tsp-ira-401k-more-room-to-build-your-freedom-fund/): ~Coach Holdren
- [Final Review: Tracking Progress, Live Intentionally, Take Action.](https://simpli-fi.money/final-review-tracking-progress-live-intentionally-take-action/): Developing the Core Financial Habits Series
- [Review of Financial Freedom/ Independence](https://simpli-fi.money/review-of-financial-freedom-independence/): Developing the Core Financial Habits Series
- [Review of the Core Financial Habits](https://simpli-fi.money/review-of-the-core-financial-habits/): Developing the Core Financial Habits Series
- [Core Habit #4: Give It Time to Grow](https://simpli-fi.money/core-habit-4-give-it-time-to-grow/): Developing the Core Financial Habits Series
- [Core Habit #3: Avoid Debt.](https://simpli-fi.money/core-habit-3-avoid-debt/): Developing the Core Financial Habits Series
- [Core Habit #2: Invest the Difference](https://simpli-fi.money/core-habit-2-invest-the-difference/): Developing the Core Financial Habits Series
- [Core Habit #1: Spend Less Than You Earn](https://simpli-fi.money/core-habit-1-spend-less-than-you-earn/): Developing the Core Financial Habits Series
- [Developing the Core Financial Habits – Introduction](https://simpli-fi.money/developing-the-core-financial-habits-introduction/): Developing the Core Financial Habits Series.
- [Money on the Field: Bonus Section. The Simpli-FI.money Formula](https://simpli-fi.money/money-on-the-field-bonus-section-the-simpli-fi-money-formula/): Bonus Post to the “Money on the Field” Series
- [Money on the Field: Building a Financial Legacy.](https://simpli-fi.money/money-on-the-field-building-a-financial-legacy/): Part of the “Money on the Field” Series within Developing Long-Term Habits
- [Money on the Field: Teaching Responsibility and Risk Management.](https://simpli-fi.money/money-on-the-field-teaching-responsibility-and-risk-management/): Part of the “Money on the Field” Series within Developing Long-Term Habits
- [Money on the Field: Teaching Awareness and Independence.](https://simpli-fi.money/money-on-the-field-teaching-awareness-and-independence/): Part of the “Money on the Field” Series within Developing Long-Term Habits
- [Money on the Field: Teaching Routine and Purpose.](https://simpli-fi.money/money-on-the-field-teaching-routine-and-purpose/): Part of the “Money on the Field” Series within Developing Long-Term Habits
- [Money on the Field: Teaching Patience and Balance.](https://simpli-fi.money/money-on-the-field-teaching-patience-and-balance/): Part of the “Money on the Field” Series within Developing Long-Term Habits
- [Money on the Field: Teaching Effort and Reward.](https://simpli-fi.money/money-on-the-field-teaching-effort-and-reward/): Part of the “Money on the Field” Series within Developing Long-Term Habits
- [Raising Financially Fit Kids: What Soccer Can Teach Us About Money](https://simpli-fi.money/raising-financially-fit-kids-what-soccer-can-teach-us-about-money/): Over the next several posts, I’ll be sharing a series of articles for parents on how to develop financial habits in children—habits that grow naturally with age and maturity, just as athletic skills do. Each post will offer simple, practical ways to teach financial discipline at home, building a foundation that will serve your children for life. We will call this our "Money on the Field" series.
- [When Congress Benches Your Paycheck: Why Every Gov’t Worker or Military Member Needs a Financial Goalkeeper](https://simpli-fi.money/when-congress-benches-your-paycheck-why-every-govt-worker-or-military-member-needs-a-financial-goalkeeper/): It’s day 11 of the government shutdown, and Congress has gone home until at least day 14. That means it's very likely that military members will not receive their mid-month paycheck (around October 15th) unless the budget issue is resolved quickly.
- [Capitalism vs. Consumerism: Know Which Game You’re Playing](https://simpli-fi.money/capitalism-vs-consumerism-know-which-game-youre-playing/): Most people were never actually taught how money works. They were taught how to spend it, not taught how to invest it. From the moment we got our first paycheck, the world around us has been coaching us to consume: upgrade the phone, lease the car, chase the lifestyle. But here’s the thing, those are the rules of consumerism, not capitalism.
- [Thought Experiment: The 80-20 Portfolio Mix Strategy](https://simpli-fi.money/thought-experiment-the-80-20-mix-strategy/): At the heart of my coaching philosophy for investing is a formation inspired by Warren Buffett’s own guidance: always keep at least 20 percent of a portfolio in U.S. Treasuries. Buffett has long reminded us that while equities are the great compounding engine of wealth, Treasuries provide the ballast that keeps an investor upright through every storm. In my version of this approach, 80 percent of the portfolio is committed to stocks; the forwards and wingers driving growth, scoring the goals that ultimately build wealth. The other 20 percent is allocated to short-term Treasury bills, the goalkeeper of the lineup. These bills do not aim to score, but they preserve capital and steady the portfolio when the counterattack comes.
- [Thought Experiment: The Real Cost of a Car](https://simpli-fi.money/thought-experiment-the-real-cost-of-a-car/): Warren Buffett often describes buying a new car as one of the most expensive financial mistakes people make—not just because of the sticker price, but because of the opportunity cost. The moment you drive it off the lot, the car starts losing value, while the money you spent could have been invested in something that compounds wealth. Buffett himself avoids the hassle and depreciation hit by buying used cars and keeping them for years, while he channels his capital into assets that grow. His view is simple: every dollar tied up in a car is a dollar that’s not working for you.
- [Furloughed – Now What?](https://simpli-fi.money/furloughed-now-what/): If you’re furloughed, you’re not just dealing with lost workdays; you’re staring at an uncertain financial horizon. So what does a government shutdown really mean, and what should you do about it? Let’s dig in.
- [When Policy Becomes Psychology: OMB’s Shutdown Memo, Project 2025, and What Federal Workers Should Do Next.](https://simpli-fi.money/when-policy-becomes-psychology-ombs-shutdown-memo-project-2025-and-what-federal-workers-should-do-next/): If you’re a federal employee, the headlines this week probably hit like a gut punch. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has directed agencies to prepare reduction-in-force (RIF) plans in the event of an October 1 government shutdown. In plain English: not just furloughs, but potential permanent layoffs. That’s a major shift from previous shutdown protocols, where most employees returned to work when funding resumed.
- [Develop YOUR TSP Game Plan](https://simpli-fi.money/develop-your-tsp-game-plan/): Every great team needs a solid game plan, and when it comes to your financial future, the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is your playbook for success. Whether you’re just starting your career or nearing retirement, the TSP offers you the tools to build wealth and achieve financial independence. But just like in soccer, success requires discipline, strategy, and consistent effort. Here’s the playbook to help you make the most of your TSP:
- [Kick Off Your Financial Future: A Guide to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)](https://simpli-fi.money/kick-off-your-financial-future-a-guide-to-the-thrift-savings-plan-tsp/): For military personnel and government employees, the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is like your team’s star striker. It’s a powerful, reliable tool that can help you score big in the game of financial independence. But just like in soccer, you can’t rely on one player alone. You need to position yourself wisely, pass the ball (your money) with purpose, and take the right shots to achieve your goals.
- [Why Today’s Military Must Save Like Champions](https://simpli-fi.money/why-todays-military-must-save-like-champions/): Listen up, team. I hung up the uniform in 2015 after 27 years of service. I enjoyed my time in service to the nation; the camaraderie, the mission, the sense of purpose. I retired under the old system, the “High-3,” which gave me a pension worth 67.5% of my base pay for life. That pension gave me options; the ability to slow down, take a breath, and thoughtfully consider what I wanted my next stage in life to look like after military service.
- [The TSP Advantage](https://simpli-fi.money/the-tsp-advantage/): For those who work for the government and have access to the Thrift Savings Plan, this is a huge benefit. Take full advantage of it. If you have access to a similar 401k plan, also take advantage of it.
- [Thrift Savings Plan: Your Home Field Advantage](https://simpli-fi.money/thrift-savings-plan-your-home-field-advantage/): There is nothing like the home field advantage to cheer you on to victory. For military and government workers, the Thrift Savings Plan is like having the home field advantage for that one important game.
- [Coach Holdren’s Simple Economic Model](https://simpli-fi.money/coach-holdrens-simple-economic-model/): You can run your own numbers using Coach Holdren's Simple Economic Model, Savings rate calculator. Go to the tools/ calculator tab and plug in your numbers. This will give you an idea of how long your journey will take.
- [Creating a Winning Playbook](https://simpli-fi.money/creating-a-winning-playbook/): Lesson learned: Financial freedom comes from playing solid defense (low expenses), not just flashy offense (high income).
- [Choose FI’s – FI Number vs. Simpli-FI.money’s Simple Economic Model](https://simpli-fi.money/choose-fis-fi-number-vs-coach-holdrens-simple-economic-model/): Two Paths to Financial Independence:
- [Why Your Savings Rate Matters](https://simpli-fi.money/why-your-savings-rate-matters/): When I look back over sixty years of life, I can tell you that my biggest financial lesson didn’t come from Wall Street, a business school classroom, or a slick stock tip. It came from something far simpler and far more powerful: my savings rate.
- [Money Is Simple—Notes from a 60-Year-Old Coach Who Learned the Hard Way](https://simpli-fi.money/money-is-simple-notes-from-a-60-year-old-coach-who-learned-the-hard-way/): Stop trying to be clever. Be consistent. Automate transfers the day your paycheck lands. Keep your fixed costs low so raises actually boost your savings rate. When markets wobble (they will), keep contributing. Let the law of compounding do what it always does, quietly, reliably, like gravity.

## Pages
- [FI Resources](https://simpli-fi.money/fi-resources/): When I first started my journey toward financial independence, I didn’t have a clear roadmap, just a deep desire for freedom and a belief that life could be lived with greater purpose and intention. Along the way, I discovered mentors and ideas that reshaped not only how I viewed money, but how I approached life itself. These resources didn’t just teach me about investing or budgeting; they taught me about habits, discipline, mindset, relationships, and the power of simplicity.
- [Money Playbook](https://simpli-fi.money/coach-holdrens-money-playbook/): I’m Coach Holdren, a high school soccer coach, retired military officer, and a 61-year-old who’s made more money mistakes than I care to admit. I also hold master’s degrees in Systems Engineering, Economics, and Strategic Studies. You’d think those degrees would have made me immune to financial blunders. Nope. I chased “hot” stocks, tried to time the market, and let lifestyle creep nibble away raises. None of that built freedom.
- [S.E.M. Savings Rate Calculator](https://simpli-fi.money/coach-holdrens-s-e-m-calculator/): Simpli-FI.money's Simple Economic Model (SEM) Savings Rate Calculator (Scroll down for actual calculator).
- [Blog](https://simpli-fi.money/coach-holdrens-blog/): COACH HOLDREN's BLOG
- [About](https://simpli-fi.money/about/): At its core, Simpli-Fi.money is about cutting through the noise of investing and showing you the simplest, most reliable path to wealth. I built this site to share what I’ve learned over the past two decades: that while there are countless flashy strategies and “hot” investment ideas out there, the game is ultimately won by saving aggressively, keeping things simple, and playing the long game.
- [Home](https://simpli-fi.money/): Welcome to Simpli-FI.Money with Coach HoldrenMoney doesn’t need to be complicated. With the right habits, anyone can achieve financial freedom. At Simpli-FI.Money, we break it down into a simple formula: