About Ben

Hi, I'm Ben — your financial freedom genie.

My middle name is Eugene. I know. My parents didn't see it coming either — but here we are. Ben Eugene, at your service. Three wishes not included, but a free 30-minute call is.

I reached financial independence through a mix of good decisions, good timing, and — I'll be honest — a fair bit of luck along the way. Anyone who tells you luck had nothing to do with it is probably selling something.

What I can help with is the decisions part. A healthy, happy life is the goal. Money is the tool that gets you there — and most of us were never taught how to use it.

✨ Ben Eugene → Financial Freedom Genie (yes, really)
Ben at the Acropolis in Athens
FI Reached it
🧭 Your turn
My Philosophy

Money is a tool. Not the destination.

A healthy and happy life is the real goal. When you get clear on that, every financial decision becomes easier — because you're no longer chasing a number, you're building a life.

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Personal Finance Education

Understanding the basics changes everything. You don't need a finance degree — just the right mental models.

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DIY Review Sessions

Already doing something? Let's review it together. A second set of informed eyes can spot what you can't.

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Retirement Planning

From accumulation to drawdown — I help you think through the full arc, not just the saving part.

Words I Return To

Quotes that shaped how I think

Know Yourself

Three types of investors — no wrong answer

Most people fit into one of three categories. Knowing which one you are is the starting point for making smarter decisions — and finding the right kind of help.

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The DIYer

You love learning, enjoy being in control, and are willing to do the research. You just want to make sure you're not missing anything obvious.

You've got this — let's check your work
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The Validator

You have a plan, or at least an instinct — but you want a second opinion before committing. You're not looking to hand over the wheel.

A sounding board, not a replacement
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The Delegator

You'd rather hand it off to someone you trust and focus on the rest of your life. Totally valid — just know what you're paying for.

Know your costs & your advisor's incentives
Wherever you land, one question matters: Do you know what you're paying, and do you understand what incentives your advisor works under? Those two things will tell you almost everything you need to know about the advice you're getting.
The Hidden Math

That "1% fee" is closer to 25% of your gains

A 1% AUM (assets under management) fee sounds small. But when inflation is running at 2–3% and markets return around 7% on average, your real after-inflation gain is roughly 4–5%. That 1% fee isn't 1% of your return — it's 20–25% of it. Every year. For decades.

That's not to say advisors aren't worth it. Sometimes they absolutely are. But you should go in with eyes open — knowing exactly what you're paying, and what you're getting in return.

Where your average market return goes

Gross market return ~7%
After inflation ~4–5%
After 1% AUM fee ~3–4%

Illustrative only. Actual returns vary. The point: fees matter more than they appear.

My Incentives

Why I charge — and why it's less than you'd expect

"If you know somebody's incentives, you can predict somebody's behavior." — Charlie Munger, longtime partner of Warren Buffett and Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. One of the great thinkers in investing history.

So here are mine, plainly: I charge a fee because I want you to be invested in the process, not just me. When there's nothing on the line, it's easy to skip sessions, ignore the plan, and drift back to old habits. A modest fee means we both show up ready to work.

I charge below market rates because my goal isn't to maximize revenue — it's to help people reach financial independence.

I'm not paid commissions. I don't sell products. I don't benefit if you move your money anywhere specific. My only incentive is your progress.

The Reading List

Books that changed how I think about money

If you're just getting started, there are two things I'd point you to before anything else. After that, here are some of the books and resources that have genuinely shaped how I think.

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Start here: ChooseFI Podcast — Episode 500

A masterclass in the FI mindset. And then read JL Collins' The Simple Path to Wealth. These two together will give you a foundation that most people spend years piecing together.

01

The Psychology of Money

Morgan Housel

The best starting point for understanding why we make the financial decisions we do. Less about strategy, more about behavior — which turns out to matter more.

02

Rich Girl Nation

Katie Gatti Tassain

Katie also hosts the Diabolical Lies podcast (formerly Money with Katie). Sharp, no-nonsense, and genuinely useful for anyone who feels like personal finance has been written for someone else.

03

Why Does The Stock Market Go Up?

Brian Feroldi

What most of us should have learned in school but didn't. If markets feel like a black box, this is where to start.

04

Risk Parity Radio

riskparityradio.com — Frank Vasquez

The best resource I've found for thinking seriously about drawdown portfolio design. If you're approaching or in retirement and wondering how to actually spend your money without running out of it, start here.

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Wait But Why & Mr. Money Mustache

waitbutwhy.com  ·  mrmoneymustache.com

Two blogs worth reading in full. Tim Urban (Wait But Why) will change how you think about time and decisions — not just money. Mr. Money Mustache makes early retirement feel achievable and quietly reframes what "enough" actually means.

What Matters Most

The top five regrets of the dying

Bronnie Ware spent years as a palliative care nurse, sitting with people in their final weeks of life. She asked them about regrets. The same five came up again and again.

1 I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2 I wish I hadn't worked so hard.
3 I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
4 I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5 I wish that I had let myself be happier.

Notice what isn't on that list. Nobody wished they'd spent more time optimizing their portfolio. Nobody regretted not working longer hours. The things people regret are about time, connection, and the freedom to live on their own terms.

That's exactly what I help people plan around. Money is the part I can help you get right — so you have the freedom and the time for what actually matters.

Let's Talk

I'd love to hear where you are — and where you want to go

In our first call I'll ask you a few questions. Not to judge — just to understand. Things like:

What are your goals? How do you feel about money? What would you do with a billion dollars? How much do you enjoy your job?
Book a Free 30-Minute Call

No commitment · No judgment · Just a real conversation