The Reader Profiles series has been pretty popular around here. So far we've done over 110 posts and, while I still have a few in the hopper, I wanted to let you all know that I NEED MORE of them to keep the series going.
So if you're willing all you have to do is email me the answers to the following questions (it's all anonymous -- don't worry about your name getting out, I use initials to hide real personalities):
- Please tell us a bit about yourself.
- Describe your financial situation (who works in your family, how your income is (general), how your expenses are, etc.).
- What are the current financial issues you're facing (saving, paying off debt, etc.)?
- What are your plans for the future (retire early, build your career, etc.)?
- What's your best piece(s) of financial advice and/or your general philosophy on personal finances?
Take as much time/space as you like answering them, but don't be too short or people won't get the "meat" of your situation. If you want to see what others have done, all the posts can be found here.
Thanks!
I would submit, but I don't want to depress anyone.
Posted by: Melissa | December 09, 2011 at 08:09 PM
Melissa --
We're here to talk about all sorts of financial situations -- and offer help if we can.
Posted by: FMF | December 10, 2011 at 09:35 AM
I would like to but wifey does not want me to.
Must keep the partner happy.
Posted by: Matt | January 31, 2012 at 08:00 PM
I wrote one, but it's very long and kind of controversial--controversial in a personal finace kind of way.
What's the maximum length?
Posted by: Melissa | February 01, 2012 at 11:41 AM
Melissa --
there isn't really a maximum length. Send it to me and I'll look it over -- and we can discuss.
Posted by: FMF | February 01, 2012 at 01:12 PM
FMF,
I'm still working on putting a complete post together for you. I also have some of the same issues Matt has :-).
In the meantime, I do have a specific question I'd like to throw out for your readers to chew on, and it's somewhat time sensitive. Would you consider posting that query in the meantime? I can go ahead and send it via email if you like.
Posted by: jeffbone | February 02, 2012 at 08:08 AM
Jeffbone --
If I can fit it in. I have posts set about two weeks in advance. Sometimes I can move them around and sometimes I can't. The sooner you send me something the more likely it will post early...
Posted by: FMF | February 02, 2012 at 08:12 AM
I still need to get mine done. I get *really* depressed every time I look at it and quit working on it then. So it's taking a long time.
Posted by: BD | February 02, 2012 at 04:20 PM
I think any story can inspire someone out there in a similar or near situation- at least that's the theory.
Posted by: Mike Hunt | May 31, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Please send in more reader stories. Mine was published a few months ago and I still think about and use the advice I got from the readers. Everyone's story is different and the more personal finance "true stories" we hear, the more realistic we can be about our own situation and perception of the world.
Posted by: Rose | May 31, 2012 at 02:11 PM
Melissa - Yeah, I'm in the same boat as you.
I offered to do one for FMF a while ago, but man, just thinking about it depresses me, so I haven't done it yet. Especially when I keep seeing how successful and happy and rich everyone else is when they post theirs.
One day, I'll overcome my depression and write it out.
Posted by: BD | May 31, 2012 at 07:42 PM
OK, OK, I'm starting to draft mine.
Posted by: 08graduate | May 31, 2012 at 11:52 PM
I like the reader posts, but one thing I think could help it is a bit of feedback from FMF himself and not just from the random comments of readers. Just my opinion. But it's been great content so far.
Posted by: RichUncle EL | June 01, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Rich Uncle El --
I have refrained from giving my thoughts on both these posts and the "help a reader" ones because I didn't want to bias the responses from the readers.
Posted by: FMF | June 01, 2012 at 12:31 PM
I understand where you are coming from, I just figured anybody who submits reader profiles with financial issues will definitley benefit from the advice of somebody who is successful and smart with money aka Mr. FMF.
Posted by: RichUncle EL | June 04, 2012 at 09:49 AM
Rich Uncle EL --
Thanks, I appreciate that.
They kind of do get advice from me, though, by reading FMF. :)
Posted by: FMF | June 04, 2012 at 09:53 AM
Hey FMF - you know what might be interesting? A compile of data on all the Reader Profiles so far. We could have some stats on stuff like age, gender, marital status, job function / level, income, net worth, 401k / IRA balances, as well as monthly expenses like mortgage / rent, car / transportation, groceries / food, etc. Some of this stuff might be missing in some profiles, and some might not be apples-to-apples or consistent across profiles, but it would be an interesting exercise, I think.
I might even volunteer to take a cut at laying this out in an Excel sheet if you asked nicely. :-)
Posted by: Bad_Brad | August 10, 2012 at 07:04 PM
Bad Brad --
Pretty please! :)
Posted by: FMF | August 11, 2012 at 10:19 AM
FMF - incoming. I'll work on it today and hopefully have it done sometime this week. Will email it to you.
Posted by: Bad_Brad | August 13, 2012 at 01:25 PM
Bad Brad --
Thanks! Looking forward to it!
Posted by: FMF | August 13, 2012 at 02:42 PM
FMF - might take a bit longer than I initially thought. I spent an hour on it today and only got through about 15 profiles. I can get more efficient than that but it might take some time to get through 101 profiles. But I will complete it. I'm already seeing some interesting trends that I didn't notice when reading them individually.
Posted by: Bad_Brad | August 13, 2012 at 06:16 PM
Bad Brad,
I'm looking forward to reviewing the information as I have wanted to analyze the data myself. I started once but it proved to be labor intensive and that was several profiles ago.
Posted by: PEG | August 14, 2012 at 07:00 AM
The Reader Profiles is a great feature and I love the idea of a data compilation. This is why I like coming to this site- lots of interesting people in diverse situations, but all with a passion for good personal finance. Leads to some great Reader Profiles and comments on the articles.
Posted by: JM | October 05, 2012 at 08:45 AM
The Reader Profiles series is one of my favorite features of this blog. I hope to see more, so keep writing, people. I learn quite a bit from these series.
Posted by: Melissa@LittleHouseintheValley | October 05, 2012 at 02:58 PM
Can we submit for a family member?
Posted by: JY | January 03, 2013 at 11:26 AM
JY --
Yes. Just explain that you're doing so in the intro.
Posted by: FMF | January 03, 2013 at 11:53 AM
would non-US profiles be of any interest?
Posted by: param | January 04, 2013 at 05:49 AM
Param -
I think so - as long as there are not technical, financial issues readers couldn't understand.
Posted by: FMF | January 04, 2013 at 07:16 AM
I have definitely enjoyed reading the reader profiles. It's what got me to start reading FMF regularly, and I've actually gone back to read a lot of the reader profiles of the past.
That said, has there been any thought to do follow-ups to reader profiles? It would be interesting to see the progress that has been made and/or any changes that have occurred since the original profile was put together.
-Jon
Posted by: JTS | February 24, 2013 at 11:45 PM
JTS --
Yes, there has been consideration of that idea, but since the series isn't that old (maybe a couple years -- and most of them have been in the past year), I'm not sure there's enough substantial change to make an update interesting.
Meaningful financial change often takes many years, so perhaps an update five years out would work. Otherwise I think we'll get a lot of pieces with the same thoughts: "I started paying off debt", "I took your advice and began networking", etc. This will make the updates pretty vanilla IMO.
Besides, we still have thousands of readers we are yet to hear from in the first place. :)
Posted by: FMF | February 25, 2013 at 07:46 AM
Ah yes, I see your point. A longer time frame definitely makes sense.
-Jon
Posted by: JTS | February 25, 2013 at 09:23 AM
I will submit a profile to you. :)
Posted by: Nick @ ayoungpro.com | February 25, 2013 at 01:00 PM
Just emailed mine!!
Posted by: Dan | February 25, 2013 at 02:36 PM
Come on anyone in your 40s or later!...I'd love to see more from people in the mid-point rut to FI that's such a LONG stretch of any true saver's life...
Posted by: Steve | May 05, 2013 at 03:47 PM
I considered doing it, even had a draft written! It probably would been different from most profiles as I'm retired at 57 with 2.5 M net worth as opposed to the "average" profile where most are from people at the peak of their earning years still doing the daily grind....
...but then I realized I'm very happy with my financial situation and didn't feel the need to have total strangers review and advise me (I'm not looking for advise or "atta-boys"). Also felt that anything I may have said could be taken as boasting/vanity.
To summarize, posting my financial position to the world does not appeal to me, even if it is anonymous,BUT I do like reading them!
Posted by: At_the_cottage | May 06, 2013 at 09:39 PM
A very interesting idea, I'm writing mine out today.
Posted by: Sam H | June 03, 2013 at 03:00 PM
I LOVE this series! I will draft ours, tonight!
Posted by: Pam R. | September 18, 2013 at 08:59 PM
Coincidence! I started writing my profile today. I want to think it over for the next weekend or two and submit something good. @All: writing this stuff is actually quite enlightening!
Further to Bad Brad's comment, I think it would be good to suggest a format for readers to present their budgets in (a few basic spending categories, where do 401k and other saving fit in, etc.) This more systematic presentation would make budgets easier to understand for the reader, and help 'newbies' see their own budgets in a more sophisticated way, as if looking through the eyes of someone like FMF himself.
Posted by: Concojones | October 27, 2013 at 08:48 PM