About FIcology 101

🧠The Problem: The Psychology of FI

Everybody thinks FI (Financial Independence) or FIRE (Financial Independence / Retire Early) is “just math” – but experience tells a different story. The hardest part of FI is often not the spreadsheet, it’s the psychology. 🧠

It’s the panic when the market drops, the guilt over buying a nice coffee, the “One More Year” syndrome that keeps us trapped. We focus on the numbers, but our brain often sabotages our efforts.  

🔬Our Mission: What is FIcology 101

FIcology 101 is a deep dive into the psychology required for achieving financial independence. Financial Independence + Psychology = FIcology. Clever, huh? 😉

Our mission is simple: To not just to help you learn FI concepts, but to master the psychology of success (and failure). We believe that knowing the numbers, formulas, and investment strategies is only half the equation. Habit and mindset – not just optimization – are the secret weapons to sustainable wealth.

👨‍🏫Meet the Founder: “The Professor”

Hi, I’m The Professor here at FIcology 101, and I’m currently in the FIRE’d phase (retired) of my journey. 🔥

I unknowingly started my FIRE journey long before the FIRE movement had a name, driven by a single desire: I didn’t want to work for someone else my entire life. Back in those days, any retirement before age 65 was considered “early” and I was well on track.

But at age 56, my employer of 15 years sold our company to a private equity firm. That event invoked a flood of emotions: fear, anger, uncertainty, and helplessness. While I had a job at the new company and tried to remain optimistic, I began fully accelerating my FIRE journey. I vowed to never again be in a position where my livelihood and financial well-being are at someone else’s mercy. 

I gave the private equity job almost 3 years of my best effort, but rewards were low and the workload was high. My professional background in computer programming, systems analysis, and people leadership gave me a unique lens for accelerating the FIRE process. During this time, I consumed every FIRE resource I could get my hands on and was able to shorten my FIRE timeline from 62 – 65, down to age 59. 

The biggest lesson? I wish I’d invested that effort and learned these behavioral principles much younger. Why didn’t I and why don’t many others? What are the mindset traps that we all fall into? These are the questions we explore here at FIcology 101, turning those hard-earned lessons into actionable knowledge.

📚Ready to Begin Your First Lesson?

Ready to Rewire Your Brain for Wealth? Check out your first lesson: 001 | Introduction: Breaking Free and Finding the FIRE