steve bargdill

Many people think that compound interest is only useful if you start saving early, but that’s not the whole story. Even if you’re over 50 and have no retirement savings, compound interest can still be a game changer—if you know how to make the most of it. The key is maximizing your contributions and leveraging catch-up opportunities. Take advantage of 401(k) catch-up contributions, which allow you to stash away up to $30,000 per year, and watch how compound interest accelerates your progress. By focusing on boosting your income, cutting unnecessary expenses, and investing wisely, it’s possible to build substantial savings, even if time isn’t on your side.

Purpose isn’t a fixed point. It evolves with us, changing as we grow and adapt to new seasons of life. I used to think teaching was my lifelong purpose—a vocation that defined me. But when I found myself standing in front of a classroom, wondering if the paycheck even covered my gas for the week, I began to question everything. What was once a calling had become a burden, an Ahab-like obsession dragging me deeper into burnout.

Purpose, I realized, should uplift, not destroy. It should offer hope, not sink us into frustration. Much like Ahab, I had confused a goal for a purpose. My goal was to stay in education, but my deeper purpose—bringing hope and clarity to others—was more fluid than I allowed it to be. And so, when the classroom door closed, a new opportunity opened. Real estate wasn’t Plan A, but it became a way to fulfill my purpose in a different context, where I could still educate, guide, and bring hope to people in another transformative moment of their lives.

On top of Florida weather, we are also still struggling with inflation. Thank you transportation costs and insurance rates. I saw eggs at Walmart yesterday for over six dollars. Halloween candy prices are experiencing an increase, yet consumers are still splurging with many incorporating candy purchases into their grocery budgets this month. The latest figures reveal that prices for sugar and sweets have risen by 0.8% annually, with sugar and sugar substitutes seeing a notable 3.3% increase.

This is a repost from the September 15th An Email By Steve Last year, a couple clients of mine said they wanted to purchase a fixer-upper, not something they necessarily needed a renovation loan for, but something they could move into and tinker with. And this past January, we closed…

A 5 minute read. The US labor market just pulled a power move last week, flexing more strength than anyone expected. The Longshoremen and Automation: A Battle for the Future Wages got in on the action, rising 4% year-over-year (up from 3.9% in August). I don’t know though, did you…