Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC copy.

Sequel to the 2016 bestseller, "The Simple Path to Wealth" (SPW), Pathfinders comprises dozens of stories from readers who were inspired by SPW and who managed to achieve some level of financial independence (FI) and maybe retire early (FIRE). Brace yourself for short forms "SPW", "FI", and "FIRE" throughout the book.
Collins' voice appears at the beginning of each chapter with his own reflections.

While most accounts are from American readers, there are a few from Russian, Japan, Taiwan, and Nigeria too.
Admittedly the book was a bit of a culture shock because I grew up in a place where student debt upward of $100,000 is just unheard of. Also piling on credit card debt to live beyond one's means is considered reckless and foolish. Loan recovery sharks are a real thing in some parts of the world. That said, I liked Pathfinders and found the precepts quite universal.

Right from the word go, you'll come across words like "exchange-traded fund," "backdoor conversions," "dollar cost averaging," etc. Don't worry if you don't know what they mean - read on like I did! The stories are interesting and there are some useful life lessons in here: don't be shackled to your job to keep that money coming in, learn new skills to save hiring costs, save more, spend less, hustle if you must, and remember that financial advisors have their interests first, not yours. Self-education is paramount.

The book closes with an insightful Q&A session with the author and his daughter. Overall, I'll give Pathfinders a 4* rating because I'm convinced that sound financial knowledge and planning can offset the volatility of life.

#thesimplepathtowealth #jlcollins #financialfreedom #investingtips #retirementplanning #netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #retireearlyandtravel #indexfundsforbeginners

3 stars
🌕🌕🌕

Thanks NetGalley, Harriman House publisher and the authors for a great advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review!

I like the overall structure of the book; how every chapter starts with the author's point of view and ends with other people's stories on the topic.

Although the book was neat and nicely structured, I can't really recommend it for people like me who grabbed it and hoped that it would give some clear advices on how a person can gain financial independence. After reading the book, nothing lingered in me. The first reason is because I grew up learning The Simple Path already from my parents. For me, the concept is too much of a common sense. Maybe in the US, the lifestyle is based too much on loan, people are not really aware of this. Secondly, I think the book is mainly for the folks in the US. Since I'm now living in Europe, the advices are not really relevant. Thirdly, I think this book is a means for advertising the author's old book more than introducing new concepts or sending out applicable advices. Last but not least, it really feels to me that the book has a very naive perspective when it comes to savings or the salary and the living cost in the US is too different compared to Europe. I think in Europe, many people can't afford to put aside 50% of their salary for savings. Not including the fact that some people have to help their family as well.

All in all, I can't recommend this book. At the beginning of the book I had a very high hope because the author seems to have a mindset of a person who is not the typical "privilege" person. However, the more I read, the more I feel that he is one. The book only scratches the surface of the topic, and I think I didn't really get anything out of it at the end. I give 3 stars for the fact that the author is a bit different than the typical authors who write this kind of book, and he seems to be genuine.

As being part of the FIRE movement, the author is well known. He is probably like the grandfather of the FIRE movement.

I read his previous book, A Simple Path to Wealth and I dived head first into this book.

The magic wasn't there.

In this book there is an introduction written by Mr. Collins for each chapter and then stories from other people relating to the introduction of that chapter.

here is where things broke down for me. Some of the "stories" were 2 paragraphs long. Some were so generic it was hard to even fathom why they were included.

There was just 2 stories that stuck out to me, the cop who went for detective and then began to question whether more money equaled more happiness (the burrito).
AND
The Canadian lady diagnosed with PLS. She really was truly a light on how to live within your means while living with a disability.

Maybe it was because these two stories were longer then most in the book, but they really hit home for me.

Overall, if you are starting out in the FIRE movement, just skip this book. Read the blogs, join the facebook groups, you will get better "stories" then what is in this book.

Pathfinders is the perfect follow up to JLCollins previous book, "The Simple Path to Wealth".
Each chapter begins with a blurb, if you will, from JL, then proceeds with "real life stories" from readers. Chapters are just long enough and encouraging. I would recommend reading the Simple Path first, but if not, reading this as a stand alone is fine.
Thanks to Mr Collins, Harriman House publishing, and NetGalley for the preread in exchange for an honest review

"Pathfinders" by JL Collins is a must-read for anyone seeking financial independence and control over their money. Collins simplifies complex financial concepts, offering a clear and practical roadmap. Using real-life stories, he demonstrates that financial security is attainable for all, regardless of background or income. The book's logical progression, from setting goals to conquering debt and making sound investments, makes it accessible to all. Collins emphasizes the freedom that comes with financial independence, making this book a powerful tool for achieving one's dreams. "Pathfinders" encapsulates the essence of financial wisdom and empowerment.