Brian Groener, a 22-year-old index fund investor from Philadelphia, recently graduated and is working as an engineer near the city. While he enjoys his job and is on his path to financial independence, he is also passionate about the outdoors and travel, which he plans to pursue more once he achieves financial freedom. Brian believes money should be used for freedom rather than accumulating unnecessary items.
Brian’s passions for finance and the outdoors developed during college. After his freshman year at James Madison University, he spent a summer working in Yellowstone National Park, surrounded by wildlife, hiking trails, and stunning views. The following summer, he studied abroad in South Africa and backpacked through Europe. Instead of taking an internship after his junior year, he worked as a whitewater rafting guide in Wisconsin. Upon graduation, he sought an adventure that would maximize his limited funds, leading him to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), a 2,650-mile trail from the US/Mexico border to the US/Canada border.
Starting his hike in May 2016, Brian quickly realized the journey would be more challenging than anticipated. Despite his previous hiking and camping experience, he had never embarked on a trip longer than three days. Completing the PCT would take about 5-6 months. His daily routine involved waking up at 6 am, hiking, eating, and setting up camp. Every week, he would hitchhike to the nearest town to resupply food, a necessity that pushed him out of his comfort zone.
A month into the hike, Brian began to struggle mentally. The initial excitement faded, and he questioned whether he wanted to continue for another five months. A visit from his parents provided a break but also too much time to think, leading him to end his hike just shy of Yosemite National Park after covering over 700 miles in five weeks. Despite this, he often reminisces about the trail and prefers it over his current job.
The trail taught Brian to appreciate the essentials: water, people, climate control, and transportation. In everyday life, we often take these things for granted. On the trail, he lived with just 25 pounds of gear and minimal expenses, mainly for food. This experience highlighted the difference between needs and wants, showing that a fulfilling life requires much less than we think.
Brian’s outdoor adventures reinforced the importance of surrounding oneself with positive people, as friendships are invaluable and free. Living simply and focusing on meaningful relationships can lead to a less cluttered life and quicker financial independence. For instance, living on $10,000 a year requires only $250,000 to retire, while needing $100,000 a year means needing $2,500,000. This difference can determine whether one retires at 30 or 65. Brian values freedom over possessions and encourages others to consider the same.