Sep 30, 2025
While we adhere to strict editorial guidelines, partners on this page may provide us earnings.
Former Goldman Sachs analyst Sam Dogen — also known as the Financial Samurai online — decided to cash in on a huge chunk of his investments last year to buy a “forever home” for his family.
But by selling his stocks and bonds, he lost about $150,000 a year in passive income.
“My family and I could have been set for life. Instead, due to my inability to beat back real estate FOMO (fear of missing out), I blew up our passive income,” Dogen wrote in a blog post.
“Desire is the cause of all suffering.”
Sacrificing FIRE for 'desire’
Dogen’s been investing for a long time. In fact, he first made headlines back in 2012 for championing the “financial independence, retire early” (FIRE) movement by retiring at the age of 34 with a $3 million net worth.
However, after Dogen’s financial misstep, he made the decision to return to work — a move that lasted only 4 months.
“It’s too bad, because it could have been a perfect fit,” Dogen wrote. “The good thing about this is that I realized what I don’t want.”
One way Dogen could supplement his income without having to return to work is earning passive distributions through real estate investing.
If you want to dip your toes into real estate, you can do so without buying or managing property.
You can tap into this market by investing in shares of vacation homes or rental properties through Arrived.
Backed by world-class investors including Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of vacation and rental properties, earning a passive income stream without the extra work that comes with being a landlord of your own rental property.
To get started, simply browse through their selection of vetted properties, each picked for their potential appreciation and income generation. Once you choose a property, you can start investing with as little as $100, potentially earning quarterly dividends.
If you, like Dogen, are an accredited investor looking for a larger stake in real estate, you can still invest in the sector without the work of buying property or becoming a landlord — and your options aren’t limited to residential real estate.
For example, Firms like First National Realty Partners allow you to do just that.
FNRP is a private equity firm that gives accredited investors access to necessity-based commercial real estate without the hassle of being a landlord with the potential to passively collect distribution income.
FNRP has developed relationships with the nation’s largest essential-needs brands, including Kroger, Walmart and Whole Foods, and provides insights into the best properties both on and off-market.
FNRP’s team makes investing in commercial real estate convenient and simple by offering white-glove service to investors. They act as the deal leader, providing expertise and doing the legwork streamlining the process, while investors can use the secure platform to explore available deals, engage with experts and easily make an allocation.
Must Read
- Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — here’s what it is and the simple steps to fix it ASAP
- Robert Kiyosaki begs investors not to miss this ‘explosion’ — says this 1 asset will surge 400% in a year
- Vanguard reveals what could be coming for U.S. stocks, and it’s raising alarm bells for retirees. Here’s why and how to protect yourself
Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise’s best stories and exclusive interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.
Is the Financial Samurai being too greedy?
Is Dogen the victim of a high cost of living or lifestyle creep?
He admits there are some areas he could cut back on, but for many high-earners, it can be difficult to see the big picture as costs for non-essentials mount.
Making sure you have the right budget can be a hard task to tackle on your own. This is why consulting a professional is important.
Advisor.com connects people to fiduciaries, financial advisors and financial planners who can help.
Advisor.com makes it easy to find a financial advisor who can help you organize your finances and establish goals. When you answer a few questions about yourself, Advisor.com will match you with a curated list of financial professionals, and you can book a free, no-obligation consultation to see if they’re the right fit.
Another course to pursue is to get the best stock market insights available to ensure your portfolio is properly balanced.
The team of former hedge fund analysts and experts at Moby spend hundreds of hours each week sifting through financial news and data to provide top-tier stock and crypto reports to keep you up-to-date on what’s moving the markets.
Moby’s superior research can help you reduce the guesswork when selecting stocks and ETFs. In four years, across almost 400 stock picks, Moby's recommendations have beaten the S&P 500 by almost 12%, on average. With their easy-to-understand formats, you can become a wiser investor in just five minutes — that’s even faster than Dogen’s 13 years at Goldman Sachs.
You May Also Like
- Turning 50 with $0 saved for retirement? Most people don’t realize they’re actually just entering their prime earning decade. Here are 6 ways to catch up fast
- This 20-year-old lotto winner refused $1M in cash and chose $1,000/week for life. Now she’s getting slammed for it. Which option would you pick?
- Warren Buffett used these 8 repeatable money rules to turn $9,800 into a $150B fortune. Start using them today to get rich (and stay rich)
- Here are 5 easy ways to own multiple properties like Bezos and Beyoncé. You can start with $10 (and no, you don’t have to manage a single thing)
The Moneywise Editorial Team is a group of passionate financial experts, seasoned journalists, and content creators who are deeply committed to providing unbiased, relevant, and accurate financial information. With years of combined industry experience, our team is dedicated to maintaining the highest journalistic standards and delivering informative and engaging content. From personal finance and investing to retirement planning and business finance, we cover a broad range of topics to suit the financial needs of our diverse readership. You can trust the Moneywise Editorial Team to empower you with the knowledge and tools necessary to make wise financial decisions.
