oppl321[at]op.pl wrote:
- quote -

I would start by suggesting to SAVE 10% of your GROSS yearly earnings.
If you make 129k, then trying to save 13k per year puts you on the path
to freedom. Increasing this rate to 15-20% of your wage accelerates
this process.

Once you SAVE, the next decision is what to invest in. Gold.
Equities. Real estate. Many other choices. The primary decision is
how much to save (as a percentage of income), with what to invest in
being a second important decision.

Tom, I think answering your query with intelligence is
impossible without knowing the many parameters for your
country that parallel those in the U.S. that are much
discussed here.

The big picture with retiring is accumulating enough savings
(in the form of xzy investments) so that one may live off it
(or perhaps just the income from it) until death. Computing
about how much a couple needs to save each year to retire by
X years is not difficult as long as one knows the expected
returns on one's investments. But I wouldn't dare try to
guesstimate what those would be for you. Even if you wrote
me that you can invest in U.S. stocks and bonds (whose
history is well-publicized), I don't know how your country
taxes your income or investments or property. I don't know
if you have any state-supported or company-supported
retirement investment vehicles, or how they work. If you
have socialized health care, that also would be a factor
that distinguishes your situation from that of people in the
U.S.

Even the much mentioned notion of "asset allocation" may be
irrelevant to you, because of, say, the instability of your
country and its currency, etc.

Are there anything like "for fee" financial planners in your
country who are known to be competent?

You do seem thoroughly organized. Whatever part of the world
a person may find him/herself, I think this sort of
organization, awareness of one's situation, and attention to
income and expenses is the first step to financial freedom.

I am from Eastern Europe. Most of subjects on this group are general
and may be relevant to my situation. I have seen many valuable posts on
this group. That's why I would like to ask about your opinion.

Information about my country
(I use local curreny)
- average annual salary 32k, (after tax 21k)
- average annual salary in capital 46k (30k)
- bank deposits - ROI minus tax and inflation: 1%
- state bounds - ROI minus tax and inflation: 2%
- flat to let - ROI minus tax and expenses: 3-5%

My family
- she: 33 years old, works at university, 54k (after tax 36k)
- me: 34, software developer, 75k (50k)
- small flat, rented out, value 170k, income 7k/year
- townhouse, paid off, value 450k
- car, 3 years old, value 20k
- bank deposit 80k
- total outgoings (including funds for new car) - 36k
- no children

Goals
- 2 children soon
- financial freedom as soon as possible
- even if we have freedom we want to work till we are 50-55

Question
- How should we invest income to achieve financial freedom?
(flats to let, mutual founds, part time business, other?)

All your comments would be highly appreciated.

Thanks.. Tom