Ian Bloom
@ianhbloom.bsky.social
Financial Life Paladin, Nerd 🤓, CFP® Professional, RLP®.
openworldfp.com is my firm. Posts are not advice. Author of http://GamersGuideToMoney.com He/him.
openworldfp.com is my firm. Posts are not advice. Author of http://GamersGuideToMoney.com He/him.
Almost three weeks ago I released my first book since 2019. Achieving Accumulation is about helping you build a financial foundation and get ready to invest.
It's a quick read. I think it's less boring than so many finance books out there. It's also the precursor to my next book on investing.
It's a quick read. I think it's less boring than so many finance books out there. It's also the precursor to my next book on investing.
September 17, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Almost three weeks ago I released my first book since 2019. Achieving Accumulation is about helping you build a financial foundation and get ready to invest.
It's a quick read. I think it's less boring than so many finance books out there. It's also the precursor to my next book on investing.
It's a quick read. I think it's less boring than so many finance books out there. It's also the precursor to my next book on investing.
In financial planning, things have to happen in order. There's not precise order to goal achievement, but there is a pretty precise order to the fundamentals.
Get your income above your expenses.
Pay down debts.
Save up an emergency fund.
Invest extra savings.
Achieve goals.
Get your income above your expenses.
Pay down debts.
Save up an emergency fund.
Invest extra savings.
Achieve goals.
Amazon.com: Achieving Accumulation: A Gamer's Guide to Money: Level 2: 9798291857571: Bloom, Ian H, Leonard, Haylee: Books
Amazon.com: Achieving Accumulation: A Gamer's Guide to Money: Level 2: 9798291857571: Bloom, Ian H, Leonard, Haylee: Books
a.co
September 15, 2025 at 7:30 PM
In financial planning, things have to happen in order. There's not precise order to goal achievement, but there is a pretty precise order to the fundamentals.
Get your income above your expenses.
Pay down debts.
Save up an emergency fund.
Invest extra savings.
Achieve goals.
Get your income above your expenses.
Pay down debts.
Save up an emergency fund.
Invest extra savings.
Achieve goals.
The dollars you will earn throughout your life are like skill points. They are fungible. You could spend them on coffees, on trips to the store, on fun vacations, or save them toward bigger goals.
The key is that you're doing things with them that you want to. You only have a limited amount of
The key is that you're doing things with them that you want to. You only have a limited amount of
September 10, 2025 at 2:45 PM
The dollars you will earn throughout your life are like skill points. They are fungible. You could spend them on coffees, on trips to the store, on fun vacations, or save them toward bigger goals.
The key is that you're doing things with them that you want to. You only have a limited amount of
The key is that you're doing things with them that you want to. You only have a limited amount of
I've noticed a lot of changes in employment throughout my client base this year. Changes necessitate a revisit of your spending plan. You can streamline figuring out a new plan with the proper tools.
Tools like Monarch and YNAB can be super useful in resetting your spending plan.
Tools like Monarch and YNAB can be super useful in resetting your spending plan.
Achieving Accumulation: A Gamer's Guide to Money: Level 2
Amazon.com: Achieving Accumulation: A Gamer's Guide to Money: Level 2: 9798291857571: Bloom, Ian H, Leonard, Haylee: Books
a.co
September 9, 2025 at 1:31 PM
I've noticed a lot of changes in employment throughout my client base this year. Changes necessitate a revisit of your spending plan. You can streamline figuring out a new plan with the proper tools.
Tools like Monarch and YNAB can be super useful in resetting your spending plan.
Tools like Monarch and YNAB can be super useful in resetting your spending plan.
A big part of success in a financial plan is what you define success as. Is success achieving a very specific goal that you set ten years ago? Is success any forward progress?
Knowing what you would be content with achieving enables you to know what you can spend today.
Striking that balance is
Knowing what you would be content with achieving enables you to know what you can spend today.
Striking that balance is
September 8, 2025 at 2:09 PM
A big part of success in a financial plan is what you define success as. Is success achieving a very specific goal that you set ten years ago? Is success any forward progress?
Knowing what you would be content with achieving enables you to know what you can spend today.
Striking that balance is
Knowing what you would be content with achieving enables you to know what you can spend today.
Striking that balance is
An (un)fortunate side effect of my choice of Open World Financial Life Planning as my business name is that I have a unique, odd measurement of how the economy is doing. There is a financial company that offers payday loans with a not-so-close, but close-enough-to-be-confused google listing to me.
September 5, 2025 at 4:02 PM
An (un)fortunate side effect of my choice of Open World Financial Life Planning as my business name is that I have a unique, odd measurement of how the economy is doing. There is a financial company that offers payday loans with a not-so-close, but close-enough-to-be-confused google listing to me.
Taxes suck.*
There are various strategies and methods for reducing them, but they are largely unavoidable.
The key math is reducing how much in taxes you pay across your lifetime, via legal means. 😂🤓 You can do this a number of ways. Here are a few of my favorites:
There are various strategies and methods for reducing them, but they are largely unavoidable.
The key math is reducing how much in taxes you pay across your lifetime, via legal means. 😂🤓 You can do this a number of ways. Here are a few of my favorites:
September 4, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Taxes suck.*
There are various strategies and methods for reducing them, but they are largely unavoidable.
The key math is reducing how much in taxes you pay across your lifetime, via legal means. 😂🤓 You can do this a number of ways. Here are a few of my favorites:
There are various strategies and methods for reducing them, but they are largely unavoidable.
The key math is reducing how much in taxes you pay across your lifetime, via legal means. 😂🤓 You can do this a number of ways. Here are a few of my favorites:
Matching your income types with your expenses can be a way to reduce your financial stress. Have big, irregular bonuses? Use them to fund your goals and keep your monthly bills aligned with your salary. Read more in Achieving Accumulation!
www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKZ36RZY
www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKZ36RZY
Achieving Accumulation: A Gamer's Guide to Money: Level 2
Amazon.com: Achieving Accumulation: A Gamer's Guide to Money: Level 2: 9798291857571: Bloom, Ian H, Leonard, Haylee: Books
www.amazon.com
September 3, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Matching your income types with your expenses can be a way to reduce your financial stress. Have big, irregular bonuses? Use them to fund your goals and keep your monthly bills aligned with your salary. Read more in Achieving Accumulation!
www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKZ36RZY
www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKZ36RZY
Last Friday I completed a major milestone and goal of mine - I self-published a book about cash flow, savings, spending, and debt. It's a small book. A quick read, to be sure.
But it's still a big deal to me. It feels awesome to be putting a written work
But it's still a big deal to me. It feels awesome to be putting a written work
September 2, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Last Friday I completed a major milestone and goal of mine - I self-published a book about cash flow, savings, spending, and debt. It's a small book. A quick read, to be sure.
But it's still a big deal to me. It feels awesome to be putting a written work
But it's still a big deal to me. It feels awesome to be putting a written work
The book is out! You can order paperback or download the eBook today!
www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKZ36RZY
I'd appreciate any reposts, likes, comments, or purchases. I'm very proud of this book and would love your support in ensuring it does well!
www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKZ36RZY
I'd appreciate any reposts, likes, comments, or purchases. I'm very proud of this book and would love your support in ensuring it does well!
Achieving Accumulation: A Gamer's Guide to Money: Level 2
Amazon.com: Achieving Accumulation: A Gamer's Guide to Money: Level 2: 9798291857571: Bloom, Ian H, Leonard, Haylee: Books
www.amazon.com
August 29, 2025 at 1:48 PM
The book is out! You can order paperback or download the eBook today!
www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKZ36RZY
I'd appreciate any reposts, likes, comments, or purchases. I'm very proud of this book and would love your support in ensuring it does well!
www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKZ36RZY
I'd appreciate any reposts, likes, comments, or purchases. I'm very proud of this book and would love your support in ensuring it does well!
Today is a good day.
Nothing big, nothing major. Just a good day.
But TOMORROW is book release day 🤩 see you then!
Nothing big, nothing major. Just a good day.
But TOMORROW is book release day 🤩 see you then!
August 28, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Today is a good day.
Nothing big, nothing major. Just a good day.
But TOMORROW is book release day 🤩 see you then!
Nothing big, nothing major. Just a good day.
But TOMORROW is book release day 🤩 see you then!
The final day of my firm anniversary posts is all about commitment (much like my wedding in November will be!) A few goals of mine by year 8 are as follows:
-Publish my current book (easy, it comes out Friday! Stay tuned: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNFM4W9S <- This is the eBook preorder link)
-Publish my current book (easy, it comes out Friday! Stay tuned: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNFM4W9S <- This is the eBook preorder link)
Achieving Accumulation: A Gamer's Guide to Money: Level 2
Achieving Accumulation: A Gamer's Guide to Money: Level 2 - Kindle edition by Bloom, Ian, Leonard, Haylee. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Achieving Accumulation: A Gamer's Guide to Money: Level 2.
www.amazon.com
August 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The final day of my firm anniversary posts is all about commitment (much like my wedding in November will be!) A few goals of mine by year 8 are as follows:
-Publish my current book (easy, it comes out Friday! Stay tuned: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNFM4W9S <- This is the eBook preorder link)
-Publish my current book (easy, it comes out Friday! Stay tuned: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNFM4W9S <- This is the eBook preorder link)
The final day of my firm anniversary posts is all about commitment (much like my wedding in November will be!) A few goals of mine by year 8 are as follows:
-Publish my current book (easy, it comes out Friday! Stay tuned: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNFM4W9S <- This is the eBook preorder link)
-Publish my current book (easy, it comes out Friday! Stay tuned: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNFM4W9S <- This is the eBook preorder link)
Achieving Accumulation: A Gamer's Guide to Money: Level 2
Achieving Accumulation: A Gamer's Guide to Money: Level 2 - Kindle edition by Bloom, Ian, Leonard, Haylee. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Achieving Accumulation: A Gamer's Guide to Money: Level 2.
www.amazon.com
August 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The final day of my firm anniversary posts is all about commitment (much like my wedding in November will be!) A few goals of mine by year 8 are as follows:
-Publish my current book (easy, it comes out Friday! Stay tuned: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNFM4W9S <- This is the eBook preorder link)
-Publish my current book (easy, it comes out Friday! Stay tuned: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNFM4W9S <- This is the eBook preorder link)
As part of day 6 of my anniversary analogies, I figured I'd share something today to inspire other entrepreneurs who may feel stuck in a rut. As a self-employed person, you face two major emotional hurdles - the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship and imposter syndrome.
August 25, 2025 at 1:47 PM
As part of day 6 of my anniversary analogies, I figured I'd share something today to inspire other entrepreneurs who may feel stuck in a rut. As a self-employed person, you face two major emotional hurdles - the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship and imposter syndrome.
Today is the day! My actual seven year anniversary of being a firm owner. I specifically want to say thank you to four people (or categories of...)
First, thank you to my family and friends who have supported me. It's been incredible to have the backing of such an amazing group of people.
First, thank you to my family and friends who have supported me. It's been incredible to have the backing of such an amazing group of people.
August 22, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Today is the day! My actual seven year anniversary of being a firm owner. I specifically want to say thank you to four people (or categories of...)
First, thank you to my family and friends who have supported me. It's been incredible to have the backing of such an amazing group of people.
First, thank you to my family and friends who have supported me. It's been incredible to have the backing of such an amazing group of people.
One of the most difficult windows of my life happened early in my business ownership. I transitioned from being a homeowner to being a renter again. I started a business. Within two years I also got divorced and COVID happened.
Day 4 of my business ownership thoughts and analogies.
Day 4 of my business ownership thoughts and analogies.
August 21, 2025 at 2:51 PM
One of the most difficult windows of my life happened early in my business ownership. I transitioned from being a homeowner to being a renter again. I started a business. Within two years I also got divorced and COVID happened.
Day 4 of my business ownership thoughts and analogies.
Day 4 of my business ownership thoughts and analogies.
Day 3 of my business anniversary week musings is just a statement of absolute gratitude.
I have been able to do this for seven years! Entrepreneurship has been a huge blessing to me. It allows me to spend more time doing the things I love (working with clients and solving real problems) and
I have been able to do this for seven years! Entrepreneurship has been a huge blessing to me. It allows me to spend more time doing the things I love (working with clients and solving real problems) and
August 20, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Day 3 of my business anniversary week musings is just a statement of absolute gratitude.
I have been able to do this for seven years! Entrepreneurship has been a huge blessing to me. It allows me to spend more time doing the things I love (working with clients and solving real problems) and
I have been able to do this for seven years! Entrepreneurship has been a huge blessing to me. It allows me to spend more time doing the things I love (working with clients and solving real problems) and
To my friends or clients that are in Student Loan repayment, this chart is very helpful!
More details: kitces.com/blog/student...
Credit Kitces.com
(They just haven't posted it on BlueSky yet.)
More details: kitces.com/blog/student...
Credit Kitces.com
(They just haven't posted it on BlueSky yet.)
August 20, 2025 at 2:41 PM
To my friends or clients that are in Student Loan repayment, this chart is very helpful!
More details: kitces.com/blog/student...
Credit Kitces.com
(They just haven't posted it on BlueSky yet.)
More details: kitces.com/blog/student...
Credit Kitces.com
(They just haven't posted it on BlueSky yet.)
Day 2 of my week of cheesy business ownership thoughts.
The nature of running a firm is like being a player in a Dungeons & Dragons module. You have some idea of the structure and story you will be telling, but factors outside your control have more total input than you do. In D&D, it's the DM,
The nature of running a firm is like being a player in a Dungeons & Dragons module. You have some idea of the structure and story you will be telling, but factors outside your control have more total input than you do. In D&D, it's the DM,
August 19, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Day 2 of my week of cheesy business ownership thoughts.
The nature of running a firm is like being a player in a Dungeons & Dragons module. You have some idea of the structure and story you will be telling, but factors outside your control have more total input than you do. In D&D, it's the DM,
The nature of running a firm is like being a player in a Dungeons & Dragons module. You have some idea of the structure and story you will be telling, but factors outside your control have more total input than you do. In D&D, it's the DM,
This week (Friday) will mark 7 years of me running my own firm. To honor this, I've got 7 days of cheesy analogies/lessons that I think are both fun and insightful.
1) Since starting to take care of our own home, I've learned a lot about maintenance. All the maintenance on a home works the same way
1) Since starting to take care of our own home, I've learned a lot about maintenance. All the maintenance on a home works the same way
August 18, 2025 at 8:08 PM
This week (Friday) will mark 7 years of me running my own firm. To honor this, I've got 7 days of cheesy analogies/lessons that I think are both fun and insightful.
1) Since starting to take care of our own home, I've learned a lot about maintenance. All the maintenance on a home works the same way
1) Since starting to take care of our own home, I've learned a lot about maintenance. All the maintenance on a home works the same way
Investments and account types often get confused. Roth IRAs are not an investment, they are an account with special tax rules. You can have a ton of different investments in a Roth! If you’re looking for some delineation in account types, check out Achieving Accumulation. It comes out August 29th!
August 11, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Investments and account types often get confused. Roth IRAs are not an investment, they are an account with special tax rules. You can have a ton of different investments in a Roth! If you’re looking for some delineation in account types, check out Achieving Accumulation. It comes out August 29th!
An oft-asked question to financial wizards like me is something like "What do you think of the market right now?" or "How are you feeling about the economy?" I struggle to answer this most times, as I'm no macroeconomist. I have only the plain facts I see and I have no degree in
August 7, 2025 at 4:49 PM
An oft-asked question to financial wizards like me is something like "What do you think of the market right now?" or "How are you feeling about the economy?" I struggle to answer this most times, as I'm no macroeconomist. I have only the plain facts I see and I have no degree in
"Half of Americans don't have a written financial plan."
www.investopedia.com/half-of-amer...
I'd imagine that's actually an underestimate. Our modern world is full of distractions and fun things to do. I would guess most people wouldn't call writing down their financial plan "fun"
www.investopedia.com/half-of-amer...
I'd imagine that's actually an underestimate. Our modern world is full of distractions and fun things to do. I would guess most people wouldn't call writing down their financial plan "fun"
Half of Americans Don’t Have a Written Financial Plan—Here’s Why That’s a Problem
Nearly half of Americans lack a financial plan. Learn the psychological reasons for delaying, how planning reduces stress, and how to get your plan started.
www.investopedia.com
August 6, 2025 at 2:19 PM
"Half of Americans don't have a written financial plan."
www.investopedia.com/half-of-amer...
I'd imagine that's actually an underestimate. Our modern world is full of distractions and fun things to do. I would guess most people wouldn't call writing down their financial plan "fun"
www.investopedia.com/half-of-amer...
I'd imagine that's actually an underestimate. Our modern world is full of distractions and fun things to do. I would guess most people wouldn't call writing down their financial plan "fun"
Last week I started putting the finishing touches - final edits, cover uploading, and formatting - on my book! Achieving Accumulation comes out on August 29th.
Want a sneak peek of the cover? I know this creature does 👀👀👀
Want a sneak peek of the cover? I know this creature does 👀👀👀
August 4, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Last week I started putting the finishing touches - final edits, cover uploading, and formatting - on my book! Achieving Accumulation comes out on August 29th.
Want a sneak peek of the cover? I know this creature does 👀👀👀
Want a sneak peek of the cover? I know this creature does 👀👀👀
www.marketwatch.com/story/youre-...
I was featured in this article -- If I'm honest, I think Morey is a great writer, but I don't love the title. It implies that only people who meet these criteria struggle to see the long-game early in life.
I have some thoughts on that...
I was featured in this article -- If I'm honest, I think Morey is a great writer, but I don't love the title. It implies that only people who meet these criteria struggle to see the long-game early in life.
I have some thoughts on that...
You’re young, single and rich. Why your financial future matters now.
Be flexible and forward-looking with your money.
www.marketwatch.com
July 22, 2025 at 2:20 PM
www.marketwatch.com/story/youre-...
I was featured in this article -- If I'm honest, I think Morey is a great writer, but I don't love the title. It implies that only people who meet these criteria struggle to see the long-game early in life.
I have some thoughts on that...
I was featured in this article -- If I'm honest, I think Morey is a great writer, but I don't love the title. It implies that only people who meet these criteria struggle to see the long-game early in life.
I have some thoughts on that...