david yao.
Engineer · Educator · Founder

Tech brought me to the US. Finance is what gives me freedom.

Portrait of Nda David Yao

Who I am

I came here to build something that lasts

David with his wife and son

I'm David. I have a background in software engineering, I'm a husband, and I came to the US in 2021 to build something that lasts.

I'm not here because I got rich fast. I'm here because I got tired of not understanding where my money went. So I learned it properly, tested it on my own money first, and got licensed.

My story

It wasn't always this way

On paper, everything looked right
01

On paper, everything looked right

  • Maxing the 401(k)
  • Company match
  • Money in the market
  • Roth IRA
  • Life insurance through work

Everybody said this was the plan. So I followed the plan.

What I was actually chasing
02

What I was actually chasing

I was chasing freedom, and security.

Being able to save a lot of the money I was earning, make it grow fast and not lose it. I wanted to be in a position where I would never have to worry about taking care of my family in the US and back home.

Then came July
03

Then came July

I pulled money out of my savings and used it as a down payment on a brand new Tesla.

The very next day, a meeting I thought was normal. Then somebody from HR joined the call. Then we got laid off.

Two things hurt me
04

Two things hurt me

The car payment was coming from my own savings account, money I needed to survive until I found a job.

And it was killing the compounding effect in my account.

Then I went to get my own money
05

Then I went to get my own money

I asked my 401(k) for my own money.

$4,649.82

Gross

$3,487.37

The check I received

+10%

Penalty bill at tax time

06

What the taxes and penalties actually cost me

$1,600

What that check seemed to cost

$17,000

What it really cost: $1,600 left alone at 10% for 25 years

So I went down the rabbit hole
07

So I went down the rabbit hole

I had followed the plan everyone gave me, and I still couldn't reach my own money without paying for it.

08

Who helped me?

I didn't figure it out alone.

Who helped me?
Who helped me?
Who helped me?

What I did

I finally found what I was looking for

After discovering this strategy, I started testing it for myself. I created a step-by-step plan that helped me move and grow my money somewhere I could actually reach it, without taxes, penalties, or asking permission.

Now I teach that same process to others.

David
David

Ready to talk about your freedom?

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