Retire Before Mom and Dad

by Rob Berger

It’s time to claim your financial freedom.

All you need is a roadmap to follow and you can create a life most people only dream about. A life free from financial stress. A life full of what matters most to you.

In Retire Before Mom and Dad, you’ll learn how to unlock the superpower inside of you that is capable of transforming almost any income into lasting financial freedom. And, you’ll discover that it’s not about scrimping and sacrificing to get there.

Forbes Deputy Editor and Personal Finance Expert, Rob Berger, will teach you:

The 5 money myths that are keeping you from a life of financial freedom
The step-by-step plan you need to save money without giving up your favorite hobbies
How the rule of 857 turns pocket change into thousands in savings
The superpower you have to become wealthy on just about any income
How to achieve financial freedom with AutoPilot investing
The 7 Levels of Financial Freedom and what it takes to reach each level
Change the way you see money. Instead of trying to buy happiness that is always one more purchase away, your money will buy your freedom. What you do with that freedom is up to you.

You only have one life to live. Make it count.

Genres: Finance, Personal Finance, Money, Nonfiction, Business, Self Help, Audiobook

268 pages, Paperback

First published August 29, 2019

About the author

I run a Youtube channel and website focused on retirement planning and investing. I also publish a weekly newsletter covering these topics and anything else I find interesting (e.g., AI, tech, fitness, movies/TV shows, books, chess). In a past life i was a Forbes Deputy Editor, blogger, podcaster, and lawyer. Oh, and I published a book, Retire Before Mom and Dad. I'm working on several other fiction and non-ficiton books.

Reviews

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5* but rounding up to a 5* since this is a life-changing book and my life changers get 5*.

This was a great audiobook until Part 4: Investing. The percentages and examples just fell into gobbly goob in my earbuds. I checked out the book from the library and read most of parts 4 and 5. Then I liked the book so much, and found the resources oh so sexy that I decided to BUY THE BOOK. You read it here, ladies and gents: MOLLY MANTEI BOUGHT A BOOK AT FULL PRICE! It wasn't even on sale; I mean, who am I? But you better bet cha ass I used a gift card so the book was "free", #plottwist.

Rob Berger offers real examples and math. He gives you guides of how you can invest, where to invest, save, and where to save. My biggest "beef" with the book was two-fold. In my opinion, this book is for someone who is already familiar with the FI/RE community. I'm not sure a non-FI/RE person would pick it up. If they did pick it up, I think they'd be surprised to not find a lot of budgeting information. That worked well for me...I got dat budget downnnnnnnn bish. I don't have saving and investing down though so that's why I picked up this book. I think it would have been wise for Berger to stress that to start anywhere, you have to do a monthly budget to even figure out your expenses/saving rate. Maybe he did this, but it doesn't come to mind quickly for me. (Also the savings rate example was hella cool. I realized our savings rate is the shit, but we aren't profiting from a lot of this saving.) This side comment leads me to my second "beef" which is, I wish there was just a little more information of how to save for purchases to avoid debt.

Berger goes into how you should save rather than take out a car loan, and save for a house, etc. all while investing. This is great! What he doesn't do though, is speak to the overwhelmed money manager in a household. We gotta save for a car, down payment, children, and then do all this while investing in our 401Ks, IRAs, and HSAs? It's a lot. I don't mind the priorities section of the book. I liked that! But I guess I'm just saying, I wish he would have dove into how you can keep savings for things while hardcore investing. It felt like saving for purchases was implied more than a direct "every month, automate a savings goal for a target....once that target is hit, move on".

I liked how he really went through a lot of financial jargon and gave a ton of resources. I plan to go through all these resources in-depth once I get the book.

I want all my friends to read this. I want my family to read this. I want to shove this book in everyone's brains. I want people to start living below their means. I want to keep living way below my means but also adding a bit more fun but not too much fun...I'm here for FI/RE people, lol. I want people to start thinking outside the box. I actually made lists when Berger said to. I wrote out what all makes me happy and I slapped that post-it note on my "Wants/Needs" purchase list. That way, before I decide if I want to make a "want" purchase, I can see if it is one of my top 10 things that makes me happiest! Just a super good read over all. Read it. Enjoy it. Make money. Dolla dolla makes me holla.

[Gabe Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic read for anyone interested in learning more about how to work towards financial freedom. Rob demonstrates the power of saving and investing on any income and drives home the message that financial freedom is achievable, investment doesn't have to be complicated, and how you can become a millionaire on a middle class salary. I'd highly recommend young people read this book so that they can reap the benefits of smart money management sooner. But there is plenty to offer for people of all ages.

If you've found investment mystifying or confusing, this book simplifies everything into easy to understand terms. Better yet, Rob teaches you how to determine the savings and investment strategy that's best for you and your lifestyle.

I really wish this had been written when I initially graduated college, but I'm grateful to have read it now!

[Jen G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this a 3.5. It was informative, but a bit simplistic. Good book if you are just starting out and don’t know what a mutual fund is. I still think a more comprehensive book for starting out is The Total Money Makeover. This book is geared more toward investment information than personal finance. Still definitely worth a quick read if you are into finances.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a lot of books about managing money, and this one explains things better than most.

I would've liked a little more on specifically why the author recommends a Roth 401(k) over a traditional 401(k).

[Kenneth o vance · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on simple financial freedom.

I have read over 40 books on financial freedom.
Rob’s book gives you a clear road map on money.
Saving, retirement, debt.
It has been a while since I enjoyed reading a money book.
Most author’s look down on their readers, yet I noticed with Rob he was showing that anyone can make it financially, even if you old like me (55) , this book it will give to others who need the help with their money.

[Sherree · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's got some good points. But it would be more relevant to me if I was American. Also I felt the calculations and reiteration of the missed dollars got a but much. I did like the chapter on investments. Informative.

[Benjamin Fitzgerald Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who doesn’t have a solid retirement plan. Don’t hesitate. Just read it.

[Katelynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rob Berger’s Retire Before Mom and Dad is a great resource for anyone starting their financial journey. Berger breaks down saving and investing concepts into simple, easy-to-follow lessons. What makes this book stand out is its multi-format approach—besides the book, there’s an audiobook and YouTube videos where he explains each chapter, making it accessible for all types of learners.

Even though the book is older, its advice still holds up, focusing on timeless strategies like saving early, compound interest, and low-cost index funds. It’s a solid introduction for beginners or those motivated by clear, numbers-driven guidance.

It's straightforward, practical, and a perfect starting point for anyone looking to take control of their finances.

[Mike Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob Berger writes a strong roadmap for people looking to secure their financial freedom. Some books talk complicated investment strategies, Berger’s book sticks to simple but yet effective way to prepare for a life of financial wellness. This book is a good read for people in their early twenties, but it actually works even better for those who are their forties and fifties. Some good life lessons handed down in this and I enjoyed it. Rob can frequently be found on YouTube with his financial freedom show.

[Soren Gotschall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best investing/personal finance book I’ve read! (Although I haven’t ready that many…) Very easy reading, with simple explanations and step by step instructions for stepping into the world of investing. A great intro to personal finance 🤑

[Casey Moser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thankful for this book! Totally helped my financial literacy, and to define some financial goals for myself. Working on Level 2 now. I want to get to Level 7! Knocked down one star because it was missing the wow factor, but I did like it. Would recommend!

[Micaela Grimaldi · Rating 5 out of 5]

my dad told me to read this and for that, I am grateful

[Candi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s too late for me to retire before Mom and Dad, and regardless of your timeframe for retirement this book offers very good step-by-step advice for saving and investing, I am happy to be ahead of the curve in many aspects but with a goal of retirement and two kids heading into college, some financial evaluation seems expedient.

[Ace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great! It is a very easy read for a personal finance book. This book will be great for those new to finance, and those with more experience.
Retire Before Mom and Dad takes a different approach to personal finance, getting out of debt, and investing than I’ve seen in any other book. Instead of implementing a one-size-fits-all approach or formula, Rob explains different philosophies so the readers can choose the best approach for them.
For the investing part, Rob is a fan of passive index fund investing, and teaches the reader the ins and outs of investing that way. Anyone wanting to learn more about personal finance, or who is just interested in it, should check out this book.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the most straight forward and easiest to understand personal finance books with simple next action items to set yourself up for success on your journey towards financial freedom.

I wish I would of had this a few years ago when I began studying personal finance and investing, etc.

[Wesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read / Practical Advice

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will go back and re-read, study & refer to many of its sections. The author writes in plain English and provides some really smart advice about our money and some really cool suggestions & referrals.

[Harout Diramerian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great easy to read book about financial independence

Rob has an amazing way of breaking down complex financial items into very understandable and digestible sound bites. I highly recommend this book for someone who is new to the investing / saving / financial independence world.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Glad it seems to have helped several people in the comments here but for me, this is very basic. Anyone who has been in the FI movement for more than a week will be tracking everything in here. So, good for those starting out, but not much past that.

[Haidong · Rating 3 out of 5]

good facts and numbers when considering expenses like automobiles, and need to start early. overall a good read

[Alisson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good for new and intermediate investors, but if you live outside USA you will take profit of half of what the book has to offer

[Ryan Kempisty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan Kempisty’s Book Review of How to Retire Before Mom and Dad by Robert Berger.
Don’t you want to be rich? Not have to worry about when you get paid next? Get rid of all of your piling debt? If you answered yes to any of these questions then I have the perfect book for you. In Rob Berger’s HTRBMAD (How to Retire Before Mom and Dad) he goes over a step by step guide on how to achieve what he calls ‘financial freedom.’ This is a personal finance book directed to anyone who is looking to take charge of their financial journey.
HTRBMAD consists of five different parts spanning thirty-three chapters across around two hundred and fifty pages. Berger’s writing style contained short chapters which were very straight up and easy to understand. The book begins by introducing a well known movie The Matrix. Berger compares the idea of financial freedom to taking the red pill in The Matrix, and if you know anything about the movie the red pill is the more dramatic pill which changes lives. Firstly the author gives us a small introduction where he talks about common lies about personal finance and how if people can get over those lies they can be great. As the book moves forward past introductions the author starts to explain investments first just very briefly going over the basics. Next, he dives into how people should save very thoroughly giving real life examples on how someone could budget their money. After this he brings up specific rules like the 4% rule and the rule of 857 which are all quick and easy ways to calculate your money. Later in the book he starts to dig into stocks and bonds and how to invest, this was one of the scariest ideas of finance for me. After reading this I understand tons of types of investing and how simple they really are. Lastly, he wraps up the book by explaining the seven levels of financial freedom and how to reach each one. His definition of level seven financial freedom is twenty-five years of your expenses saved up, because at that point you could retire, you could get any job you want, basically you have the freedom to do anything you want to.
My experience reading this book was a very good one. Berger likes to simplify everything as much as possible which helped me astronomically since I am definitely a beginner when it comes to this genre. Although as the book continues, he chips away at the more complex things like retirement plans. Compared to other personal finance books I have heard about, this one is definitely not as hard to grasp as others and makes everything seem simpler. His explanation of the seven levels of financial freedom also really helped me understand how to be able to measure and how to handle my finances. I really am fascinated with the structure of this book and really recommend it to people who are looking to take control of their finances.

[Gnanakumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mastering Level 7 Financial Freedom

The author provides readers with an invaluable roadmap to achieve the pinnacle of financial independence: saving 25 years' worth of expenses. Part 4 of the book, consisting of nine chapters, simplifies complex investment concepts, making them accessible to all readers.

The book's key takeaways are both enlightening and empowering:

1. Investment is the path to wealth: The author underscores a fundamental truth - wealth is not generated directly through saving money but rather through astute investment decisions. This perspective encourages readers to shift their focus from mere savings to effective investment strategies.

2. Rules of financial growth: The book introduces readers to several essential financial principles, including the Rule of 752, the Rule of 857, the Rule of 72, and the 4% Rule. These rules serve as practical tools for understanding and optimizing investment returns.

3. Prioritize saving: The philosophy of "Save first and then spend what's left" is advocated, putting freedom ahead of indulgences like daily lattes. This shift in mindset reinforces the importance of disciplined saving as a foundation for financial freedom.

4. Expense-centric financial freedom: "Financial Freedom is first and foremost about our expenses, not our income." This statement underscores the book's central message that controlling and reducing expenses is the key to achieving financial freedom, regardless of one's income level.

5. Breaking the habit of spending: The author astutely observes that many individuals spend money out of habit, often resulting in fleeting moments of happiness. This insight encourages readers to reevaluate their spending patterns and make more intentional financial choices.

In summary, it is an excellent resource for anyone seeking to take control of their financial future. The book offers clear guidance on investment strategies to accelerate the journey to financial independence. By emphasizing the importance of disciplined saving, understanding investment rules, and reevaluating spending habits, the author equips readers with the tools and mindset needed to achieve financial freedom earlier than they may have thought possible.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much from this book. It is worth it for the beginning of the 4th section alone. The clear, concise breakdown of investment jargon made me feel like maybe I can actually understand what I am doing. I appreciated that this book did not rely on hard-and-fast, “Do this, and this, in this order, or you will never attain financial stability” rules. And, he never once mentions his religion (which seems obvious—this book is about money. But, I’ve picked up at least three “money” books where the author mentions their faith over and over.). This book feels actionable to me, which is exactly why I read it.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many personal finance books, particularly in the last year. This is the best. He digests a lot of information into easily understandable chapters. If you really understand mutual funds, the affect of 1% fees vs low fees, have a large emergency fund, are fully funding your retirement and so on and have your financial life under complete control, then this might not be the book for you. But for the average American, the above is not true, not even close. Even people who have a good plan and a good understanding are likely to learn something from this book. Berger's financial strategy is similar to Dave Ramsey's. Not quite the same thing but along the same lines.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was informative. Maybe I’ve read too many financial books but the information is all starting to sound similar. Reading this did inspire me to keep putting my money in investments since that seems to be one of the best ways to keep growing your money. I wish I knew that when I was in my 20’s. My mom told me to save $100 a month but didn’t specify where to put it. So I just put it in a savings account and that didn’t do anything but take a loss when cost of living prices went up over time but my money stayed the same. I hope I can clarify to my daughters that the money needs to be put somewhere it can grow with time.

[Jaise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Though it tries to appeal to a wide audience to teach general to nuanced information, I do enjoy how he chooses to analyze the long term and how a simple decision can in fact make a huge decision in the future. Though some of it is true (like passing on coffee out) - yes it saves you money - but at the end of the day how does it affect your life and can you still be happy? It's all about trade-off and realizing that actions today can and do have long term consequences so make good decisions to the best of your ability while maintaining a healthy balance of happiness.

[Marvin Boswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have any doubts about the power of compounding over time then read this book. There are a number of other good sections in the book such as the 7 steps to financial freedom. A number of views concerning growing retirement savings are covered such as taking advantage of employer matches, savings (from small to large amounts) and debt. These are all analyzed through the lens of compounding over a typical career.
Easy to read book and very clear on his main points. Not an exhaustive book about preparing for retirement.

[Alain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was by far the fest finance book I have ever read.

All the things which other books (partly) do wrong, does this book right.

It is written in a way that is interesting to read and at the same time easy to understand. The focus is on the relevant points, no time is wasted. Every page in this book has its importance.

This is a must read for everyone. To be honest the title prevented me from reading it earlier (because I thought it sounds a bit cocky) but the content of this book is just incredible!

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usually not my kind of book, but I have to give the author major credit in making this topic super interesting. I started listening to the audiobook, expecting to be bored and having to move on pretty quickly, and next thing I know I listened to the whole thing. Super financially motivating while still making it digestible for those who aren’t versed in investing. There was sadly one chunk of the book that did lose me, and even though I did keep listening, I didn’t retain much, but other than that section, this was fantastic.

[JK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic but useful

Maybe I am not the target audience of this book. I ended up skipping many sections since I am familiar with those topics already. I came to know this book from author’s YouTube channel. Don’t get me wrong. I like his channel and I subscribed to it, too. His advices are sound and easy to understand. I am looking forward to a follow up book on more advanced topics.