Posts by Peter Civitarese
Escaping the Middle-Class Trap: A Real Plan to Retire Before 60
I’ve spent most of my adult life doing what I thought was smart. I got a good job. I bought a home. I contributed to my 401(k). I played by the rules. And yet here I am at 53, still grinding, still planning, and still trying to figure out how to actually retire before I’m…
Read MoreBuilding Wealth with What You Have: How a HELOC and 401(k) Loan Helped Me Buy a Rental Property
About two and a half years ago, I made one of the best financial decisions of my life and one of the scariest. I bought my first rental property. Not with a big savings account or a fat bonus check. I used a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) for the down payment. Later, I…
Read MoreBe Careful What You Wish For… (or How Writing a Good Prompt Can Save You from a Genie’s Tricks)
Ever wonder how a genie might twist your wish into something you technically asked for—but absolutely didn’t want? Bad wording leads to bad results. And honestly, it’s the same with writing good AI prompts or clear instructions in real life. If you’re vague, you get vague (or disastrous) results. If you’re too broad, you risk…
Read MoreRetirement Game-Changer: My BRRRR Strategy That Built Wealth One Property at a Time
What is BRRRR? BRRRR Strategy is a real estate strategy that helps you grow your rental property business using the same money again and again. BRRRR stands for: Buy – You buy a property, usually one that needs some fixing up. You try to buy it below market value. Rehab – You fix the property.…
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Unlock the Power of Your HSA for Retirement and Wealth Building
Most people think Health Savings Accounts or HSA for Retirement are just for paying medical bills. But I found out they can also be a powerful tool for saving money and planning for retirement. HSAs come with something special called a triple tax advantage. This means: That’s a big deal! I use my HSA to…
Read MoreChatGPT: Your Virtual Contractor and Legal Assistant
I recently had a problem with a contractor. The work wasn’t done right, and I didn’t know what to do next. I felt stuck and unsure about how to speak up or ask for a refund. That’s when I decided to try ChatGPT. I typed out my situation and asked for help. ChatGPT gave me…
Read MoreChatGPT for Beginners: Simplify Your Everyday Life
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is starting to be part of our everyday lives. You may not even notice it, but it’s there, helping in small and big ways. When your phone suggests videos you might like, or your smart speaker reminds you to buy milk, that’s AI at work. But AI is more than just…
Read MoreCrafting Accurate and Engaging Podcasts with Notebook LM
If you want to create fun, clear, and engaging podcasts or audio stories, you should try Notebook LM. It’s like ChatGPT’s smart and focused sibling. While ChatGPT gives you ideas and helps with writing, Notebook LM helps you stay organized and get all the details right. Notebook LM is great for people who want their…
Read MoreWhy Peter Might Choose a Roth Conversion Strategy – Why It Could Make Sense for You Too?
I recently gave Peter some advice on a retirement strategy that I think could benefit many of you who are just getting started or maybe thinking about retirement. Peter has a traditional 401(k), which means he’s putting money away now and deferring taxes until he withdraws the money in retirement. Since he believes his tax…
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