It's another Q&A edition of Optimal Finance Daily, episode 1522, and I'm your host and

personal finance enthusiast, Diana Mariam.

We're going to change it up today and address some audience questions on the show.

But quick disclaimer, just like all the content shared here, this is for informational and

entertainment purposes only, or infotainment, if you will.

I am not a certified financial planner and encourage you to take my opinions with a green

of salt.

That being said, if you want to send a question to be answered here on the show, just send

a message to Finance at OLDPodcast.com.

But for now, let's get to today's questions and start optimizing your life.

Our first question comes from Lillian, who says, I've been interested in financial independence

for a while, just to create options, but I don't have any clear goals around retiring

early.

I'm wondering if I'm putting too much money into retirement vehicles, and if I'll regret

it one day when I figure out what I actually want to do.

Maybe I want to start my own business, or take time off, or add real estate investing to

my portfolio.

I'm not really sure yet.

I'm in my mid-30s with a net worth of about 400 grand.

I'm holding a year of expenses in cash as an emergency fund, so $36,000.

I've got the bulk of my investments in retirement vehicles that's $253,000.

A chunk in an after-tax brokerage, so about 40 grand, and 75,000 of equity in my house.

...