Achieve Financial Wellness

The paradox of Financial Independence. It’s shockingly simple to understand, but frustratingly difficult to put into practice. We developed Compound to empower you with the freedom of choice, relief of stress and pursuit of financial independence.

  • Active Learning, not Passive Watching: This is not Tik Tok Investing. Rob & Scott host engaging workshops with the class to make for an intimate, fun learning experience.

  • Learn with a Cohort of Peers: This course is designed to bring together the most interesting people who are eager to achieve financial wellness

  • Accountability and Feedback: Without them, you won’t reach your potential. This course keeps you honest.

What the experts are saying...

JL Collins

"To the uninitiated, pursuing financial independence seems exotic, impossible, and/or daunting. But in fact, it is simple and has roots deep in the American psyche. If you wonder what this path is like in real life and in real time, Compound will take you along on their journey: not yet finished, a work in progress."

Mr. Money Mustache

“Having seen [Scott and Taylor’s] success, I now have even higher hopes that more people can reap the benefits of more financially independent lives everywhere. And I think you will feel that same hope creep into your own outlook on life as you check out Scott’s story.”

Brad Barrett & Jonathan Mendonsa

"What if you could change your life 180 degrees, break free of the paycheck-to-paycheck grind, and pursue financial independence? Compound will teach brilliantly simple advice is applicable to anyone: Spend less than you earn, invest the difference, and create the space in your life to pursue true happiness and lifelong relationships."

Course curriculum

  • 1

    1 - Intro, TVM, Rule of 72, Happiness List, Goals

    • Zoom Recording - Class 1

    • Happiness Misery Lists Exercise

    • 5 Financial Goals Exercise

    • Frick & Frack Spreadsheet
  • 2

    2 - "Why of FI," Behavioral Finance, Money Flow, Net Worth

    • Zoom Recording - Class 2

    • Family Net Worth

    • Articles on Happiness & Money
  • 3

    3 - Budgeting, HYS Accounts, Savings Architecture, Savings Rate

    • Zoom Recording - Class 3

    • Family Budget

    • High Yield Savings Account Opening
  • 4

    4 - Stocks, Bonds, Risk Tolerance

    • Zoom Recording - Class 4

    • Risk Tolerance Questionnaire
  • 5

    5 - Credit Scores & Reports

    • Zoom Recording - Class 5

    • Credit Monitoring Tool
  • 6

    6 - Stock Picking / Index Funds / TDF's

    • Zoom Recording - Class 6

    • Build a Portfolio

    • Investing Articles and Links
  • 7

    7 - Asset Allocation & Rebalancing

    • Zoom Recording - Class 7

    • Links on asset allocation & rebalancing
  • 8

    8 - JL Collins Talk & Market Returns

    • Zoom Recording - Class 8

    • Links on Market Returns
  • 9

    9 - Investment Fees

    • Zoom Recording - Class 9

    • Expense Ratio Calculator
  • 10

    10 - Retirement Accounts

    • Zoom Recording - Class 10
  • 11

    11 - Prior 401(k)s, Social Security, Roth vs. Traditional

    • Zoom Recording - Class 11
  • 12

    12 - Income Taxes Are Your Friend

    • Zoom Recording - Class 12
  • 13

    13 - Mechanics of FI, 4% SWR

    • Zoom Recording - Class 13

    • How to evaluate your prior 401(k) options
  • 14

    14 - Insurance, Recap, & Graduation!

    • Class 14 - Graduation!

    • Budget Reflection
  • 15

    Office Hours Recordings

    • Oct 16th Office Hours

    • Oct 23rd Office Hours

    • Oct. 29th Office Hours

    • Nov 10th Office Hours

Your Instructors

Founder

Scott Rieckens

Scott had built a “dream life”: a happy marriage, a two-year-old daughter, a membership to a boat club, and a BMW in the driveway. But underneath the surface, Scott was creatively stifled, depressed, and overworked trying to help pay for his family’s beach-town lifestyle. Then one day in 2017, Scott listened to a podcast interview that changed everything. Five months later, he had quit his job, convinced his family to leave their home, and cut their expenses in half. Scott and his family devoted everything to FIRE (financial independence retire early), and produced Playing with FIRE is one family’s journey to acquire the one thing that money can’t buy: a simpler - and happier - life.

Founder

Robert Shaye, CFP®

Rob opened his first IRA at age 15 and has been fascinated by personal finance ever since. (Yes, that really is his license plate!) He brings a contagious passion for financial wellness combined with a successful track record of teaching others how to achieve their financial goals. After 10 years on active duty in the U.S. Coast Guard, Rob was on faculty at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy where he created and taught two electives on Personal Financial Management. Enrollment in his classes grew 300% over two years as word quickly spread that learning about your money can actually be fun (and that compound interest is far more likely to make you a millionaire in your 30’s than Doge coin will.) He also is the founder of Fireside Finances, a company that provides financial wellness programs for leading brands such as Twilio, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and WeWork. He has taught countless workshops, courses, and classes and is proud his workshops consistently have the highest scores in the industry. Rob holds an MBA from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant. Rob lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Jeannie, and their two daughters. They love dreaming of (post-Covid) international travel destinations (especially using credit card points), biking with their kids, and trying new plant-based recipes.