$830K Net Worth, $130K Income, Considering Geo-Arbitrage + FIRE Strategy Advice

[Nycginger]

I'm looking for some general advice and feedback on my financial situation, mindset, and next steps. I'm 38.

🔢 Financial Snapshot
Net Worth: ~$830,000

Crypto: ~$440,000 total

~$400K in Bitcoin, rest in Ethereum and XRP/meme coins

Retirement Accounts (Roth + SIMPLE IRA): $261,000

Land (Owned Free & Clear): $105,000

Stocks: ~$3,000

Cash: ~$5,000

Art: $2,500

Total Net Worth: ~$830K

Annual Income: $130,000 (fully remote)

Post-Tax Monthly Income: ~$6,800

Monthly Spending (I spend way too much): ~$6,500 (but flexible depending on location)

Retirement Savings: Maxed out annually

🧠 Background & Values

Ran a super cool start up that created housing units for a few thousand dollars each (so 1/100th of what cities can build them for) but ultimately likely isn't scalable in our current venture environment. In the middle of selling it (but likely not for a major gain) and will likely take some time to chill, ideate for what's next, and go from there. I've always managed to start some business or another and generate income (likely will either have modest income or have some sort of very big win with one of these). Will potentially be without an income for a bit between businesses (last time I was between businesses I drove a car from Mongolia to London and love going on adventures).

Created millions in income for formerly homeless individuals via a social staffing company

Raised $3.3M from top-tier VCs (investors in Robinhood, Hinge, ClassPass, Coinbase, etc.)

Public speaker (TEDx, BBC), strong writer, mission-driven entrepreneur

I’ve never chased money first—my focus has always been meaning, service, and mission. That said, I’ve had periods of being a very strong saver, and the fact that I’ve saved this much without prioritizing wealth is something I’m proud of.

I love to work and plan to continue working on mission-aligned projects long term—but I want more freedom and flexibility to design a life I will continue to love and enjoy.

🤔 What I’m Wrestling With

Spending vs. Geo-Arbitrage

Spending is currently around $6,500/month. I know that’s high—but I also know I could cut that in half or more by relocating to:

Colombia

Mexico City

Southern Italy

Somewhere else

I’m remote and open to living abroad while continuing to build something meaningful.

Top 5–10% Net Worth, But I Still Feel Behind

I understand that I’m doing well on paper—top 5–10% for my age. But emotionally, I still feel financially insecure, especially when spending time in high-cost cities like New York, Miami, San Francisco. It’s a mindset I’m actively trying to shift.

Crypto vs. FIRE Conservatism

At a 4% withdrawal rate, I’m at $33K/year in passive income.
But if Bitcoin and stocks perform and I get a 10% return on crypto and stock, that’s $80K/year.

Land + Construction Opportunity

Own land valued at $105K

Estimated build cost: $260K–$280K

Comps sell for $480K–$500K

Considering using BTC as loan collateral, building the house, and holding as a cash-flowing asset. Not sure if this is a smart FIRE-aligned move or an unnecessary project.

💬 What I’d Love Your Thoughts On:

Would you consider me CoastFIRE or LeanFIRE-ready if I relocate?

Would you pursue the land build or liquidate and simplify?

What would you do if you were me?

Any other thoughts?

Thanks for the help. Really appreciate the MMM mindset and any insight you can share.

P.S. I remember when I posted 7 years ago someone said I'd surely figure out a way to get to $1 million in net worth by 40, so we are still working on that (I was actually without an income for 4-5 years in my 30's when I was traveling and then transitioning into tech and learning to fundraise for my first company, and any income gap should NOT be that long again in the future).

[catccc]

What's the source of your current income, and how does that work align with your values?

Where are you living now and who are you supporting spending 78K/year?

Does your crypto allocation scare you at all?  (It scares me, but IDK enough about that stuff to touch it.)

You are calculating LeanFIRE based on $33K annually, but I think it's really closer to $29K that you can really draw, because I assume the land and the art are illiquid.

For the build opp, would this be to rent?  There's probably a way easier path to rental income investing $105K elsewhere, if a RE portfolio is your goal.

[Nycginger]

What's the source of your current income, and how does that work align with your values?

Where are you living now and who are you supporting spending 78K/year?

Does your crypto allocation scare you at all?  (It scares me, but IDK enough about that stuff to touch it.)

You are calculating LeanFIRE based on $33K annually, but I think it's really closer to $29K that you can really draw, because I assume the land and the art are illiquid.

For the build opp, would this be to rent?  There's probably a way easier path to rental income investing $105K elsewhere, if a RE portfolio is your goal.

Source of income is my current start up. It def aligns with my values though it's coming to an end due to circumstances outside of my control. I have something new that I'm excited about. It could flop, generate $500k-$1 million plus income in a few years if it works, or become VC backed and much bigger, that's a wide range I know.

I live in Miami and I just pay rent and act like a fool on the weekends. I could stop those things or do both and spend much less in many other places.

It doesn't scare me in the sense that I reason if it all goes to $0 and I keep maxing our retirement then I'm still fine in life. I've never bought a home, live with my head in the clouds, am in tech, and I'm overall more comfortable with bitcoin/crypto. I'm not very handy to fix a home lol.

Yes, land and art are illiquid, though I'm considering building on the land and then I could get cash flow from that.

A RE portfolio isn't my goal exactly, but I'd love to find a way to generate income from the land I own. I bought it in a not great part of town but one that's rapidly growing. I bought it for 12k in 2018 and it's appreciated to $105k today.

Any other thoughts or questions? Thanks for the advice and help!

[SweatingInAR]

The 4% rule doesn't apply to cryptocurrency, real estate, or single-company stocks. It applies to highly diversified stock index funds that include a large portion of the US stock market. So, when I see your assets, I only see $261k to which the 4% rule might apply... if your IRA is invested in index funds. The rest is either too volatile and recently-invented to have the necessary history, or too illiquid to be drawn down by 4% per year. So, from that point of view, I would also feel financially insecure with that asset allocation. I think you'll find that most people on this forum are way more risk-averse than you currently appear to be.

I'm glad that crypto has done well for you, but it conflicts so much with my values that I cannot willingly do anything to help boost its value. The global warming impact sickens me. If the value of BTC dropped to $0 tomorrow and all of those mining computers were unplugged, we would reduce our global electricity consumption by 0.5%. Basically the same consumption as all of Australia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_bitcoin

Here's what I would do:

• Crypto and meme coins: This is gambling half of your net worth. Consider the tax implications as you gradually sell this off. Keep some if you feel the need to scratch the gambling itch, but make sure it is a low enough amount that you wouldn't be destitute should its value plummet.
• Retirement accounts: make sure they are in low-fee index funds like VTSAX or VTI
• Land: Building homes is time consuming and expensive. It sounds like you wouldn't be doing any of the work yourself, it's purely an investment. Sell, and put the money into VTSAX or VTI or potentially a REIT if you really want Real Estate exposure.
• Stocks: Make sure this is in a low-fee index fund like VTSAX or VTI
• Cash: If your income might drop to zero soon, you should start buffering your cash to cover your necessary expenses.
• Art: Its value is relatively small, so keep it if it brings you joy and you would buy it again today. Otherwise sell.

[ChpBstrd]

Some thoughts:

1) What's the problem? You're earning six figures, building wealth at a rapid pace with a 40% savings rate, getting to act like a fool on the weekend, doing work which aligns with your values... Wouldn't geoarbitrage just mess up the good thing you've got going? I guess I'm looking for a statement of the problem you are seeking to solve.

2) Restlessness? Reading a bit between the lines here, so correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like you enjoy adventure and profit-seeking risk-taking. Is building new start-up projects from Miami getting dull? Would a move to a different country make it more adventurous? If boredom/restlessness is the problem, let's face it and generate some options. Let's also ask if you need much more stimulation than most people need, why that might be the case, and what you can do with it? Do you have the focus to see a company through a 15 year journey from startup to breakeven to growth to rapid growth?

3) Feelings of economic insecurity: If I put myself in your shoes, I would experience feelings of economic insecurity from two sources:

First, your investments are mostly in volatile cryptocurrencies so you're watching the balance go up and down massive amounts each day. Yea, I'd get a little bit of vertigo too. Is the upside worth it? Maybe so for you, but let's not deceive ourselves that there isn't a tradeoff with enduring such volatility.

Second, your spending practices (or more accurately your feelings about spending practices) mean that your $830k net worth amounts to less than 11x your annual expenses. Usually, I'd advise people in this situation to just try living somewhere that is cheaper and watch that multiple expand. It doesn't have to be Mexico City or Bogota... it could be a small town in Georgia or New Mexico. However in your case, it appears you might be tied to places where it is possible to meet with deep-pocketed venture capitalists on a moment's notice. That pins you down to just a couple of very expensive locations in the world, where the lifestyle is make-it-or-go-broke workaholism. Most of the FIRE advice is oriented toward more working-class situations, people buying homes and settling down, etc. Not saying you need to stay or go; just that you need to accept the consequences that come with either decision. Maybe it would help to pencil out an "if all else fails" lifestyle where you could live on half the money for a few years, and then walk away from that exercise and into the risk and uncertainty you prefer? If you invested everything in boring ole bonds you could cover $41,500 of your income needs, and that might be enough to afford a crash pad in Dothan, AL while you build your next thing.

4) Double Check The Estimates On That Real Estate: I find it hard to believe that the price of a plot of land is truly $100k less than the value if you hired a contractor and put a building on it. If that was the case, you should liquidate all your crypto, buy more such lots, and get about 5 or 6 of these going at a time! But my skeptical sense is tingling that there's more to it or else everybody would be doing it, and the pricing would be different. So maybe go over the math with a fine toothed comb to see if you missed anything, such as loan fees, permits, construction insurance, project management, inspections, carrying costs, utility installation, driveway installation, adding elevation, septic, environmental or regulatory barriers, lawyer fees, tax lawyer, a contingency fund, etc. Talk to a developer and pencil out a very rough estimate. Whatever you do, either figure out if you're really sitting on a $100k arbitrage opportunity or if you can actually sell the land for more than you think it's worth. Resolve this ambiguity and take action either way.

[Nycginger]

Some thoughts:

1) What's the problem? You're earning six figures, building wealth at a rapid pace with a 40% savings rate, getting to act like a fool on the weekend, doing work which aligns with your values... Wouldn't geoarbitrage just mess up the good thing you've got going? I guess I'm looking for a statement of the problem you are seeking to solve.

2) Restlessness? Reading a bit between the lines here, so correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like you enjoy adventure and profit-seeking risk-taking. Is building new start-up projects from Miami getting dull? Would a move to a different country make it more adventurous? If boredom/restlessness is the problem, let's face it and generate some options. Let's also ask if you need much more stimulation than most people need, why that might be the case, and what you can do with it? Do you have the focus to see a company through a 15 year journey from startup to breakeven to growth to rapid growth?

3) Feelings of economic insecurity: If I put myself in your shoes, I would experience feelings of economic insecurity from two sources:

First, your investments are mostly in volatile cryptocurrencies so you're watching the balance go up and down massive amounts each day. Yea, I'd get a little bit of vertigo too. Is the upside worth it? Maybe so for you, but let's not deceive ourselves that there isn't a tradeoff with enduring such volatility.

Second, your spending practices (or more accurately your feelings about spending practices) mean that your $830k net worth amounts to less than 11x your annual expenses. Usually, I'd advise people in this situation to just try living somewhere that is cheaper and watch that multiple expand. It doesn't have to be Mexico City or Bogota... it could be a small town in Georgia or New Mexico. However in your case, it appears you might be tied to places where it is possible to meet with deep-pocketed venture capitalists on a moment's notice. That pins you down to just a couple of very expensive locations in the world, where the lifestyle is make-it-or-go-broke workaholism. Most of the FIRE advice is oriented toward more working-class situations, people buying homes and settling down, etc. Not saying you need to stay or go; just that you need to accept the consequences that come with either decision. Maybe it would help to pencil out an "if all else fails" lifestyle where you could live on half the money for a few years, and then walk away from that exercise and into the risk and uncertainty you prefer? If you invested everything in boring ole bonds you could cover $41,500 of your income needs, and that might be enough to afford a crash pad in Dothan, AL while you build your next thing.

4) Double Check The Estimates On That Real Estate: I find it hard to believe that the price of a plot of land is truly $100k less than the value if you hired a contractor and put a building on it. If that was the case, you should liquidate all your crypto, buy more such lots, and get about 5 or 6 of these going at a time! But my skeptical sense is tingling that there's more to it or else everybody would be doing it, and the pricing would be different. So maybe go over the math with a fine toothed comb to see if you missed anything, such as loan fees, permits, construction insurance, project management, inspections, carrying costs, utility installation, driveway installation, adding elevation, septic, environmental or regulatory barriers, lawyer fees, tax lawyer, a contingency fund, etc. Talk to a developer and pencil out a very rough estimate. Whatever you do, either figure out if you're really sitting on a $100k arbitrage opportunity or if you can actually sell the land for more than you think it's worth. Resolve this ambiguity and take action either way.

A few points/answers:

- Regarding 1) I don’t know that I have a real problem other than the human condition and some general financial anxiety. Yes, I do have a good thing going and a lot to be grateful for. Blew $500-600 over the weekend on going out, had a blast, felt bad on Sunday, and today I’m back enjoying my life and working.

- Living somewhere else (Colombia, Italy etc.) would be a way to have as much or more fun for lower cost, especially if I’m in between start up gigs.

- I def love other countries in general and value their cultures and cities more so than US ones, and so I would naturally enjoy going there.

- It would also be nice to be a bigger fish in a smaller pond where I enjoy the culture and urban walkable city.

- While I can work remotely anywhere, yes, in terms of geographic US Cities that work for me it’s a rather small, very expensive, hyper competitive and focused list. That’s actually less because of needing to be close to a VC (though that’s nice) and more because I enjoy highly urban, walkable cities. I personally have a tough time in the suburbs and get very bored and lonely.

- I think that the interim plan is to actually stay in these expensive cities for another 3-6 months. Even if I don’t have an income, I have another idea that I think will either be a bust, could make $500-$1,000,000 for me personally after a few years of grinding.
Then, if that’s not working (or perhaps even if I get it off the ground and it is), move to another country where I can lower my burn anyways and work on building a life, or just stay for a bit and go back to my home city here in the USA.
I’m not opposed to going into so called boring bonds, especially if it creates FIRE in a lower cost place while I build the next thing.

- I also drove a car from Mongolia to London and I want to drive one from Patagonia to Mexico City and then London to South Africa.

- Def have a need for speed.

- Spent 7 years on my first business and 5 on this one, so I can stay at it for a while but I’m not sure if I would be a 15 year guy or not.

- Regarding this, “Maybe it would help to pencil out an "if all else fails" lifestyle where you could live on half the money for a few years, and then walk away from that exercise and into the risk and uncertainty you prefer? If you invested everything in boring ole bonds you could cover $41,500 of your income needs, and that might be enough to afford a crash pad in Dothan, AL while you build your next thing.” are you saying to try living somewhere much lower cost where I could live off $41,500 generated by bonds and build from there?

I could do that but would personally prefer a foreign country over a smaller town in a the US.

- You might be right. I bought it for $12k and the area has appreciated a lot. The builder quoted me roughly $260 - $280 k for everything, and the same house they would build sold for $480k. I’m basing it off that math. I’d love to just hold onto it and rent it out.
Thanks for the thoughts and if you have any others I’d love to hear them!

[J.P. MoreGains]

I don't have much advice but I can say that living in Mexico City can be much more affordable than Miami and you could keep a lot of the fun for less of a cost. I've lived in Mexico City and it's not for everyone but a lot of people do like it.

My whole FI plan is based on living in a more affordable city in another country so I think it can be a great strategy.

[Laura33]

It sounds to me like you really enjoy the ups and downs -- the chase of a new business venture for a while, then downtime doing crazy travel or going out or whatever.  If that's the life you enjoy, then why not create a financial plan that supports that?

Success is always a combination of chasing gains and protecting against downside risk.  Right now, you are all in on the former -- your finances seem to be just as volatile and ever-changing as your lifestyle.  Which is great while the good times are rolling!  But there's always a downside.  And if the economy crashes at the same time crypto does, you're fucked. 

If you want to be free to take chances and change up your life at the drop of a hat, then develop a more conservative financial plan to counterbalance that income risk.  Diversify away from crypto; focus on liquid assets; keep a chunk in individual bonds or accessible cash that can cover a 6-month venture through the Western Hemisphere; keep a chunk in speculative investments if you need to scratch that itch, but don't build your future on it.  Yes, it's boring.  But money is supposed to be boring -- particularly when you need that solid foundation to support a much more volatile lifestyle.  If you have $800K in index funds throwing off $30-40K/yr, that gives you the freedom to do whatever you want, because you don't actually need a job right away.  You can chase an idea and take the time to develop it, you can take off 6 months to travel wherever you want, you can relocate to somewhere cheaper and live forever.  And the best part is that you don't actually have to choose one; you can do them all in series if you want to.  And as long as you keep feeding that kitty when times are good, it will continue to grow and even better-position you for more freedom in the future.

I'd also suggest you ask yourself what it was about the weekend that was fun, and then why you felt bad the next day.  Was there some particular thing that you did with that $600 that was special or memorable?  Or was the "fun" really just the feeling of freedom and excess that comes with knowing you can blow $600 on a night out if you want to?  The latter can be an awesome feeling -- but it also fades very rapidly, when you find yourself going out weekend after weekend, throwing money around, but not getting the same high that you used to.  Because there's nothing inherently "fun" about throwing around money just for the sake of throwing around money -- it's not going to give you any long-term happiness.  Partying every weekend can itself become boring and routine -- it's just one more pretend-fun thing after another.  The fact that you felt bad the following day suggests that what you've been doing isn't as satisfying any more (as does your itchy-feet pondering major life changes).  The first step is to figure out what it is about those weekends that makes you feel good, and why that isn't working as well any more.  Once you have figured that out, you can start thinking about other ways to get that feel-good feeling without the day-after guilt and blues. 

[Paper Chaser]

I'd sell the land to harvest profits. Especially if it's in FL. If it has appreciated that much, then take the free money and run. Then invest it into something stable and liquid.

I'd guess that a lot of your financial anxiety stems from having a relatively small portion of your net worth in "safe", traditional liquid assets. Crypto is volatile, and the land appreciation that you've seen is pretty uncommon, so a lot of what you currently hold is due to some extremely good luck rather than consistent investment. The portion of your portfolio that you've diligently worked for is really just the retirement accounts which are only about 30% of your net worth.

I also think that on some level you recognize that your current spending is probably not sustainable and that's what is motivating you to move to a less expensive location so that you can stretch out the party a little longer. If that's worth it to you, then fine, but be self aware enough to recognize if that is the case.

[Nycginger]

It sounds to me like you really enjoy the ups and downs -- the chase of a new business venture for a while, then downtime doing crazy travel or going out or whatever.  If that's the life you enjoy, then why not create a financial plan that supports that?

Success is always a combination of chasing gains and protecting against downside risk.  Right now, you are all in on the former -- your finances seem to be just as volatile and ever-changing as your lifestyle.  Which is great while the good times are rolling!  But there's always a downside.  And if the economy crashes at the same time crypto does, you're fucked. 

If you want to be free to take chances and change up your life at the drop of a hat, then develop a more conservative financial plan to counterbalance that income risk.  Diversify away from crypto; focus on liquid assets; keep a chunk in individual bonds or accessible cash that can cover a 6-month venture through the Western Hemisphere; keep a chunk in speculative investments if you need to scratch that itch, but don't build your future on it.  Yes, it's boring.  But money is supposed to be boring -- particularly when you need that solid foundation to support a much more volatile lifestyle.  If you have $800K in index funds throwing off $30-40K/yr, that gives you the freedom to do whatever you want, because you don't actually need a job right away.  You can chase an idea and take the time to develop it, you can take off 6 months to travel wherever you want, you can relocate to somewhere cheaper and live forever.  And the best part is that you don't actually have to choose one; you can do them all in series if you want to.  And as long as you keep feeding that kitty when times are good, it will continue to grow and even better-position you for more freedom in the future.

I'd also suggest you ask yourself what it was about the weekend that was fun, and then why you felt bad the next day.  Was there some particular thing that you did with that $600 that was special or memorable?  Or was the "fun" really just the feeling of freedom and excess that comes with knowing you can blow $600 on a night out if you want to?  The latter can be an awesome feeling -- but it also fades very rapidly, when you find yourself going out weekend after weekend, throwing money around, but not getting the same high that you used to.  Because there's nothing inherently "fun" about throwing around money just for the sake of throwing around money -- it's not going to give you any long-term happiness.  Partying every weekend can itself become boring and routine -- it's just one more pretend-fun thing after another.  The fact that you felt bad the following day suggests that what you've been doing isn't as satisfying any more (as does your itchy-feet pondering major life changes).  The first step is to figure out what it is about those weekends that makes you feel good, and why that isn't working as well any more.  Once you have figured that out, you can start thinking about other ways to get that feel-good feeling without the day-after guilt and blues.

Thanks for this. What do you think a more ideal allocation would be for me?