Doug Nordman

We’re military veterans, not financial advisors. We’re trying to share what we’ve learned and to pay it forward – but you have to make your own decisions.

Doug Nordman served for 20 years of active duty in the U.S. Navy’s submarine force and retired in 2002 at the age of 41. He and his spouse, a retired Navy Reservist, reached financial independence in 1999 on a high savings rate.

They’ve lived in Hawaii for over 29 years, and their daughter was born & raised on Oahu. These days Doug enjoys surfing, slow travel, writing, reading, home improvement, and more surfing.

Doug is the author of “The Military Guide To Financial Independence And Retirement” and founder of The-Military-Guide.com. (He donates all of his writing revenues to military-friendly charities.) Their daughter and her spouse are both active-duty Navy, so military personal finance is an important family topic… almost as important as surfing.

In 2020, he published a second book, Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence, with his daughter, Carol Pittner, as co-author.

watch playing with fire

A documentary about the FIRE movement and one family's quest to achieve financial independence and retire early. Available on the following:

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book

A perfect follow up on the film to dive deeper into the philosophies and "how-tos of the FIRE movement"

THE BOOK

Reading material

We have assembled the foundational information to get your start on the right foot down the FIRE path to financial independence.

The Role of Frugality in FIRE

Dive into the transformative world of financial independence with a refreshing take on frugality versus being cheap. Embrace the art of living well without living beyond your means, and find out how being frugal, not cheap, can unlock the door to your financial liberation.

Understanding the 4% Rule

Retirement withdrawal strategies are anything but one-size-fits-all. For many FIRE fans, determining how much to withdraw each year requires a balance between ensuring your savings last and meeting your current financial needs.

The Importance of Savings Rate in FIRE

Explore the essential role of savings rate in the FIRE movement for achieving financial independence and early retirement. Learn how to balance frugality, investment strategies, and lifestyle to accelerate your journey towards financial freedom.