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Japan's 5% Wage Hike Made Headlines. My Raise Was Zero.
Income

Japan's 5% Wage Hike Made Headlines. My Raise Was Zero.

A 40-something salaryman breaks down his ¥350K take-home pay and explains why he stopped caring about raises

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Japan iDeCo Exit Tax Calculation: Lump Sum vs Pension Payout for ¥10M Retirement + ¥10M iDeCo
Tax & Systems

Japan iDeCo Exit Tax Calculation: Lump Sum vs Pension Payout for ¥10M Retirement + ¥10M iDeCo

How much tax do you actually pay on iDeCo at age 60 in Japan? I simulated lump sum vs pension for a ¥10M company retirement benefit + ¥10M iDeCo. The lump sum saved roughly ¥480K — here's the full calculation.

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I Owe $170K on My Mortgage at 0.6% Interest. Here's Why I Won't Pay It Off Early
Investing Practice

I Owe $170K on My Mortgage at 0.6% Interest. Here's Why I Won't Pay It Off Early

With a 0.6% variable-rate mortgage in Japan, should I prepay or keep investing in index funds? Eight years of real decisions, including getting rejected for mortgage insurance because of a therapy visit.

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Gas Prices Jumped Overnight, My Portfolio Dropped $4,700 — Here's What I Actually Did
Investing Practice

Gas Prices Jumped Overnight, My Portfolio Dropped $4,700 — Here's What I Actually Did

A Japanese index fund investor faces the Hormuz Strait blockade, surging gas prices, and a $4,700 portfolio loss. Why dollar-cost averaging proved its worth — and why he didn't change a thing.

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I Invest $2,500/Month and Run a Deficit. Am I NISA-Broke?
Investing Practice

I Invest $2,500/Month and Run a Deficit. Am I NISA-Broke?

62% investment rate, a deliberate $1,400/month deficit. I sat down and actually worked out whether I qualify as 'NISA-binbo' — turns out I don't.

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Why I Picked FANG+, NASDAQ 100, and ACWI for My $2,500/Month Portfolio
Investing Practice

Why I Picked FANG+, NASDAQ 100, and ACWI for My $2,500/Month Portfolio

$670 into FANG+, $330 into NASDAQ 100, $1,330 into ACWI. Why these 3 funds, and why not S&P 500.

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My S&P 500 Gains Dropped $13K. Now It's a Waiting Game.
Investing Practice

My S&P 500 Gains Dropped $13K. Now It's a Waiting Game.

The Iran conflict wiped out S&P 500 year-to-date gains. An 8-year index investor explains why he's not changing a single setting.

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We Hit $330K Without a Side Hustle — Why Dual Income Was Enough
Income

We Hit $330K Without a Side Hustle — Why Dual Income Was Enough

A dual-income dad explains why he skipped the side hustle entirely and still built $330K in assets over eight years.

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Gold Is Up 6x in 8 Years. I'm Still Dollar-Cost Averaging Into Index Funds
Investing Practice

Gold Is Up 6x in 8 Years. I'm Still Dollar-Cost Averaging Into Index Funds

Gold hit ¥30,000/g. My wife suggested buying it 8 years ago. I didn't. Here's why I still choose index funds over gold, even after comparing the data.

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My Bank Paid Me ¥10,000 in Interest. Japan's Zero-Rate Era Is Officially Over
Investing Practice

My Bank Paid Me ¥10,000 in Interest. Japan's Zero-Rate Era Is Officially Over

After 30 years of near-zero rates, Japan's interest rates are climbing. How a salaryman investor is navigating the shift — mortgages, deposits, and everything in between.

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