Be intentional with your money

This is what I just learned from a youtube video talking about what you should be doing with your money. (They're all kind of the same, but it's probably is still important to put the notes down somewhere.)

Notes are:

Step 1: Optimizing your investment strategy

Tax advantage account (IRA, 401K), max out, invest

529 plan is for education, can be used for anyone

Backdoor IRA for high income people

Taxable brokerage account (once you max out the above)

DO NOT try to time the market, consistency is the key

Short term goal is < 5 yr, keep in cash, CD

5-9 year goal is medium term

> 10 yrs is long term, can be more stock heavy

Step 2: Leverage passive income, less reliant on job income (more of stock, dividend)

Real state is a lot more complex

Step 3: Create your financial independence plan: what is the life you are building

putting number on those goals

(having kids, move, travel, any hobby that costs money)

The rule of 25 (based on 4% rule)

Update beneficiary

Simple term life insurance, if you have dependence

Be intentional with your money

Resist the urge of panic sale (of your stocks)

End of 2024

2024 has not been my favorite, a hundred percent.

Research/work wise, absolutely a shit show. Achieved absolutely nothing, or let's say, I know it's time to leave, and  hopefully leave the entire bench work behind. (That's the hope but it's not easy to fully transition out, so we'll see.)

I did a bunch of outreach tho! (High schoolers, summer undergrads, and SciSat to smaller kids) It's all fun and kinda made me feel ok about doing all these. And I for sure learned (or knew) what I can do better in terms of teaching. Well, at this point, I don't see why I'll use these experience for my teaching statement cuz I'm not gonna try TT positions at all. LOL 

Sad but real.

Other stuff, hmm, visited the lab gangs early summer, it was really nice to catch up with people. Relationship wise, I think it's been good! Well, really need to figure out how to come out to the hen. I just really don't see how to deal with that. That whole emotional blackmail is just absolutely I can'e deal with.

Health wise LOL

Somehow got Lyme disease in July. Hiking in MA, of course. The whitest moment of my life LOL. 

Travel, hmm, March back to Taiwan (and visited nowhere), October to Hawaii, very pretty and tropical, June and July back to CT and MA. That's about it I think? It's a "I thought if I don't go anywhere and just focus on research I will get good returns" but at the end I was soooooo burned out that I am at this very moment really don't want to do any research anymore. Like, why did I get myself into all these BS.

All the stress, bruised self esteem. 

In 2025, I honestly just want to prepare to get a new job. And research here, I mean, work is work. I will do what I was told and push it forward, that's it. I cannot deal with this guilt anymore. Do whatever I can and move on.

But, a more streamlined work flow would be nice! That's maybe the one thing I learned.

Fingers crossed!