How This Ex Military Retired In His 30s And Is Now Living in Thailand 

The key isn't all about his investment only.. This guy didn't get himself baby mama(s), kids, wives or such in his 20/30s like everyone else did

Such a calm and composed guy. Shows he has the discipline to pursue things in life that he wants

In 2006, I retired from the Air Force with full pension at age 42. I moved to Thailand and haven't worked a day since. My monthly investment income is 2-3 x my monthly pension -- held primarily in mutual funds. I continue to reinvest fully half of my income every month. The key is not how much you make, it's how much you keep.

The hardest part of expat living for me was how to manage boredom. How to understand that everyday is not vacation and learning how to develop a daily routine. Once I became content with coffee shops, malls, gyms, etc, I had the time of my life meeting new people and planning spontaneous trips to other countries.

Kind of the same as me. I never wanted to be anything "higher" than a Master Sergeant because it would put me behind a desk, and I wanted to run operations! I used my military housing allowance to buy, not rent. Then when I would get reassigned I had a property management company rent the property out for me. Did that twice, wish I did it more. Volunteered for assignments where I got hostile fire pay. Did lots of long hours. 12 hours? On deployments it was working from after you had breakfast until you went to sleep. You were so busy you didn't even notice it. Also while Stateside I sacrificed, living cheap, paying off those mortgages. I had some great adventures! After the military, I worked as a military contractor doing the same things, still paying down those mortgages. I ended up retiring as a Master Sergeant with the income of a Colonel. Life is good and I'm in Turkey now, but should be permanently located to Chiang Mai, Thailand, next month. I just wish I could explain my strategy to young soldiers today!

Thank you Forrest and Evan for this great video! I have found your channel to be extremely helpful when I was in the military and continue to find it extremely helpful now that I am out of the military. You cover a wide range of topics that are so great for service members and veterans alike and I really like how you're bringing in different people to share their experiences as well. I look forward to learning more from your videos!

Great content! Smart guy who didn’t get weighed down with things, family…. Now has the world at his feet!

When I was young met a couple guys that loved to talk about investing and they seemed to be knowledgeable. But as the years went by, come to find out their real safety net was momma and daddy. I did the real estate thing, rented and managed the property myself. Sold everything and retired 17 years ago. My best guidance is, start young, see your goal and go for it. Ignore the naysayers, they don't have your vision.

I was recently medically retired from the Navy and am very well off at only 29. I was thinking about moving to Thailand and came across your videos, thank you for the tips.

What a great example of hard work, sound planning, and delayed gratification. Well done!

Just came across your channel and this was great to hear. My wife and I were able to leave our 9-5 jobs at 28 and are excited to explore Europe and south east asian over the next year. Keep up the good content.

Thanks for this interview Forrest! So valuable 🙏🏻🙏🏻

This interview is so inspirational and motivating. Thank you for this.

Thank you Forest and Evan ❤. I learned a lot from this interview, it was very informative and inspirational!

That was great Forest. Love these types of videos. Keep them coming.

This is great, I’m ex navy, working overseas for the government on a contract, rents paid for, I don’t pay taxes and I have no debt, I’m so fortunate! Looking to do this for 5-6 more years and then doing what this guy did. Great video!

I've been deployed multiple times to Middle East, Africa and to Asia in uniform (26yrs) and as a contractor. Yes, you can make a lot of tax-free money. I've met many people have done it and still doing it. Some of them retired in Thailand and Philippines at a very young age. They have passive income and drawing from their military retirement from 38-40yrs old as Senior Enlisted and a Warrant. Travel all over Asia living the life. I chose not to due to family commitments. There are so much OCONUS jobs that is out there as you know. Hope to come out and meet you in Thailand later in the year.

Excellent interviews. Two great guys having a good conversation. 👍👍👍👍👍👋👋👋👋👋

Excellent info guys. Thanks! Will be joining you guys in a couple years.

Great Video! Love to see people who can retire earlier in life. I retired at 45, wish I would have moved to Thailand sooner.

It is so nice to have vets (I'm former 11M) talk what I understand and how they went about getting it done to find what seems nirvana to me; living in Thailand. I did not give up on the US, it gave up on me and these videos have me STRONGLY considering a move to Thailand. I retired at 47 ten years ago because I was always an investor and now with a few $MM+ in cash/stocks/mutual funds, I am thinking why the hell am I living in a country I don't even recognize anymore, that hates who I am and what I believe and practice. It seems as if living in an insane asylum without hope, in a 'culture' on a terminal glide-slope with the ground rapidly approaching and the folks seem to like it that way. I want true peace and tranquility, to be a part of a real community that is polite, kind and happy simply because that is how humans should behave. I don't seek 'luxury', or wish to exploit the people; I simply want to enjoy what time I have left in a place that feels like home and to be a good neighbor and friend. Thank you Forrest for your work and wonderful videos... You have no idea how inspiring they are for an American vet who is America weary, and for the first time in a long time feels the spark and hope that an entirely new life can be at hand and a reality.

Than you Forrest and Evan. Listening to the interview has reinvigorated my aspirations for financial freedom. I will take your advice and listen to it again and take notes! :)

Very interesting, thanks for the time to do this.

Excellent video brother Lee - one of your best. And a great interview - this is why I subscribe to you channel. Information, knowledge and insight.

This guy is so smart and humble really unique situation but shows it is completely possible to retire early without beating the market

A very assured, confident guy who knew what he wanted at an early age and worked hard to achieve that...... Well done Sir 👏

How come I missed this great channel so far, awesome and very educational channel, thanks for sharing great videos. subbed and liked !

Great interview!

This is another good one! Thanks.

Great video very generous this friend of yours. Thanks for another great video

Very nice interview. You have a new fan. Thanks.

Great video. Wonderful information!!!!

Excellent interview!!!!

This video honestly sparked something in me. Thank you Evan for showing me that such a life is possible.

Love it.. I glad you started to talk more about finances!!

Excellent video , you asked some great questions and got some great answers . That is a very wise and smart guy 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

I really enjoyed this video because he's not really selling you dreams; he basically worked his butt off and through smart saving & investing, he's retired. And he's not even that old!

I lived in that shipping container as a soldier in Iraq and contractor in Afghanistan. I know that life well and mad respect because most guys over there never use their income made this wisely 👏🏽

Nice! I found out about Dave Ramsey and the F.I.R.E. MOVEMENT when I was 31 years old. I am so thankful and changed the way I lived my life.

This was a really helpful video. Enjoyed the candid information on what is possible in layman terms. Many thanks!

The most fantastic and informative video loved this guy honestly need more kind of this video

Thank you Forrest to you and your guest this kind of content has this magnetic appeal to it can we have more just like this one

Thank you for sharing. It was very interesting.

This is an Excellent Story man I love hearing stories from smart people . Awesome stuff way to go man .

Great informative vid!

Great video!!

Great questions!

I am in the military , about to retired cant wait to live as an expa

First off guys, Thank You for your Service. Great postive and informative interview.

Thanks for this video forest! Cheers 🍻

This is really valuable info and you both seem like interesting people. I went to Thailand when I was 38 for a 3-month trip, that was 4.5 years ago (I went back to Dallas once in November for a work conference) and I just kept doing my recruiter job. I work nights now, even as I type this I'm working. There are so many ways to do this and I'm excited to see the way Evan did it. Great content and info.

Your videos and stuff keep randomly coming in to my feed... Nice video. :)

Valuable information.

Very cool. Thanks for sharing his story.

Good, solid interview Forrest. I only understood about 35% of the financial chatter. But I suppose that's the point, isn't it? This interview made me sit up and pay attention to the fact that (even as a grey beard) there are investment opportunities out there. And it doesn't even require hard physical effort to take advantage of them; just the time, attention and discipline to sit down and learn basic principles and strategies. Evan, dispensed more beneficial and practical information than my freshmen year Econ 101 professor. This may sound a little bit like apple polishing, my brother, but this interview should be required viewing for every male (and female) between the ages of 18-24 who's wondering what the heck they're going to do with their life. Take a bow, my brother. You too, Evan. P.S. Now that we've got the arcane 'bean-counting' out of the way I would have been interested in a five-minute trailer about Evan's life in Thailand and why he chose Thailand as a place to finally settle down. More of the 'day in the life' stuff that you do in your videos.

Awesome video! I appreciate videos with real people not trying to sell crap!

Amazing, thank you so much.

Nicely done. Been living here 4.5 years and still go back and forth Europe every month for work...hopefully can retire early here as well in 10 years. Great video 🙏

good video mate

Forrest a pro at these interviews damn

I’ve got some commercial rental income and it looks like I could easily live off this income in many countries. Just not here, the US is just so expensive.

Outstanding information, great interview , but I was worried about you guys getting heat stroke, those beers were just sitting there. Hope to join you all in Thailand after retirement, but we will be up in Isan most of the time. Stay safe

Great interview. Basically plan early and work hard and reap afterwards.

Great Video

I'm an Air Force Vet, 32 currently. Just traveled there last January. I will open a business there with the Amity treaty. Evan has the right idea! I'll be there soon again!

Great insightful talk on building passive income. The one thing I would add to the talk track is that the 6000 dollar monthly passive income goal has a 24000 dollar net effect in Thailand as cost of living is 4x to 5x lower than the US.

GREAT info, it's the way to security.

Good interview...

Good show.

Thanks a lot man.

Congratulation Evan!

Yep, you can make bank if working as a contractor. I knew a little old lady who managed the laundry for military and civilian contractors and made $250K in 2.5 years and was able to save because everything was paid for. She paid off her house so she can retire.

Very composed , both dudes 👍🏻

I retired early in Thailand also but I sell off 4%, but dividends is a great way to go. Also, Charles Schwab is great for this lifestyle, no ATM fees or trading fees.

Definitely your best video,I started investing in the stockmarket and plan to retire in Thailand in a few years. Excellent insight, awesome video 🙏👍💕

Love this type of interviews. Investments /Trading - options, etf, stocks, are essential skills that are not taught in our education system. Wish I found out sooner, would be well retired by now.

Army for the win! I consistently tell people that one enlistment in any branch is a good way for an already stable individual to hone their untapped skills. At the very least, it sets you up with an understanding of your personal limits and desired life direction.

Great interview and appreciate how Evan points out that people should do what they want to be happy. Investing and savings require some level of sacrifice or trade off unless you are just making crazy money. If you want to buy a big ticket item, just remember the cost incurred is not just money but also the trade off of not investing or saving that money. Not everyone can work overseas and live rent free but no matter where you work, the sooner you start and the more you save/invest, the quicker your money can start working for you. Again great conversation from the two of you.

I'm now FI too, heading to Thailand in next few months - Expat abroad

i worked for dept of defense for 31 yrs....i was married at age 32 and divorced in the yr 2000,no children...i had 9 yrs to get my shit together to save my money and retire at age 55 and live in thailand ...i did it and im living very comfortable here in prachuap khiri kan thailand i have my u s gov pension and an agent range pension that pays out combined about 5000 dollars a month take home almost 4400 u s dollars every month

thanks for this, Thailand is great!

Forrest, good stuff.

Thank you so much

97% into saving and invested,that is insanely great.

This is amazing.

excellent video … i live between CM and Phuket and have a similar story if you are in CM happy to share my story too just to help and inspire people to find freedom … keep up the great work

Thanks guys. Evan is a steady hand and mind. Exactly what you need to invest wisely.

How long does it take to learn and make money after you get going? I might to try it out in the future maybe? Still kinda hesitant about it because i don't know all the ends and outs pros and cons.

I am retired Army and Considering once the kids move out to retire to bangkok with my wife. Only two demands is GREAT Internet connection , Great house with a view and elbow room but less than 1/4th of my retirement lol like a B15,000 place.

This guy is an example of being in the right place at the right time, plus he was making good money so all he had to do was pull the trigger, the stock market crashed and so did the RE market just before he started. The market today is not really great, so someone trying to do the same today wont get the same benefits in the same time.

Great story.

Amazing content 🥳🥳🥳🥳💯💯💯

Your friend needs his our podcast / You Tube channel. Smart guy.

Always good information to hear of what it takes to retire in thailand or for that mater anywhere ! and as a manufacture in Los Angels that is the goal is to invest in my business as well as others including the stock market mostly index funds, Rets etc as i can only take a certain amount risk as i am 59...

This is Gold

Although I can retire today and live like you guys but I like my stuff and life style too much. I guess I’ll be stuck in the rat race for a little longer. However, great advice for my children. Good job, guys!

I did the same thing as Evan, except with computer skills and working as a contractor in Kuwait. (Where there is no real danger and I lived in nice apartments paid for by the company and drove a brand new Mazda 6 provided by the company) This was also an hourly job and I socked away all of my paychecks to put me sitting pretty with life changing money and investments. I did 3 years and would highly recommend it to others. These jobs are available in Dubai, Kuwait, Qatar and other places where the pay is outstanding and the lifestyle is good. I have a tour of my Kuwait apartment on my channel if you want to see what life looks like there.

What are you and Evan doing Visa-wise to stay in Thailand so long?

This guy did it right. Even without his real estate investments (REITs not included), he will still do very nice.

Good Reel gentlemen…BZ- Cheers n Beerz Daz