From $9K to $295K
Hi, I'm Cole
In 2016, I made $9,000. The whole year. I was 26 and had no plan.
In 2025, I made just under $295,000. That's not a flex — it's the most useful thing I can show you. Most personal finance content skips the part where you're broke. Nobody walks you through the climb. I'm going to.
Trainer in my 20s. Air National Guard at 22. Deployed overseas in 2015. Staff Sergeant by 2018. Pivoted into tech sales as a BDR at $69K — climbed to nearly five times that nine years later.
Today I'm 36. Married, two young kids, one income. Net worth around $1.17M. On track to retire at 47, with about $4M by 52.
That's the arc. This newsletter is the story of how it happened, what I'd do differently, and what's working now.
Who this is for
Ages 25–40, high-income career, feeling behind. Veterans, sales pros, corporate climbers.
What you'll get
Real numbers. Mega Backdoor Roth, ESPP, HSA — $130K+/year tax-advantaged. The boring strategy that's actually working.
Why anonymous
I work for a tech company you've heard of. The lessons are real. The numbers are real. The name isn't.
One email per Tuesday. No spam, no upsells, no stock picks.