2025 Year in Review: A New Life Design After an Early Corporate Exit

2025 is over. How did I do?

Since leaving my job in April, I was able to do much of what I set out to do in these first nine months. An intentionally new life design after an early corporate exit.

Fulfillment Intent and Foundational Investment

2025 delivered here.

Some highlights:
• More time and presence with my daughter (my primary reason for leaving work earlier)
• Customized enrichment for her instead of rushed after school care
• Our first full summer together away from home after her first successful sleepaway camp
• Extensive travel and long-anticipated hikes
• Deeper community involvement and school volunteering
• More cooking, gardening, movement, and learning aligned with my interests
• Launched my first ever blog (was not easy for someone who knew nothing about it before) and began experimenting with creative tools

Financial Independence and Foundational Investment

Financially, 2025 exceeded expectations. My last day at the office was April 4, the same day my investable assets dropped ~7% since 3/15/25, the last time I checked. Despite having no new earned income beyond dividends and interest since my corporate exit, my investable assets were up ~23% – not bad for a year defined by transition.

Investable Assets Snapshot

• Investable assets +23.48% since 4/4/25
• Investable assets +23.45% since 12/31/24
Investable assets above is defined as generally liquid and quickly deployable savings, investments, and other assets; excludes tangible assets (e.g. net equity in my house and other tangible items). This includes a taxable portfolio (primarily a taxable brokerage) and tax-advantaged portfolio (401K, Roth, IRA, 529, HSA).

Some highlights:
Throughout the year, I simplified and rebalanced my tax-advantaged portfolio, refined my drawdown strategy, optimized healthcare, tax, cashflows planning for 2026, audited expenses to eliminate or renegotiate low-value costs, adjusted credit card strategies to better reflect current spending, intentionally built cash reserves, and streamlined my financial tracking systems.

Spending Snapshot

Discretionary spending dominated by design – though still higher than ideal. Travel and food were the primary drivers. Overall, my spending still reflects what I value: experience, home life with the kid, health and nutrition, over material things.

2025 full year spend breakdown:
• 42% Discretionary and other (mostly travel and entertainment to include food, 2024 taxes, HSA contributions post corporate exit, self-care, shopping)
• 31% Home-related (mostly mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities, gardening)
• 11% Health-related (mostly COBRA premiums, out-of-pocket medical/prescription, fitness)
• 7% Food (mostly routine, social, consumables)
• 6% Child-related (mostly childcare pre-exit, first sleepaway camp, extracurriculars, and school contributions)
• 3% Auto-related (mostly R&M/auto insurance, and gas)
Spending above excludes expenses deducted off my payroll Jan 1 – April 4 (taxes, health insurance, and HSA/retirement contributions).

Travel

I traveled 76 days in 2025 – 67 of them after leaving work – and all travel during the year was entirely for leisure for first time since college. While fulfilling, we agreed it was too much and missed our relationships at home. I’ve traveled extensively already in my life, and my daughter as well. The planning, short trip churn, and constant movement were exhausting. This year confirmed something I suspected since 2022: my appetite for frequent travel has diminished. Travel will be intentionally dialed back in 2026 and we are looking forward to enjoying depth, slowness, and being at home.

Food

Food spending ran high, especially while traveling and in social gatherings. We primarily cook diverse, nutritious, gut-friendly, healthy whole foods at home. I tested out so many new recipes and documented more cooking with mom as she’s getting older. Reduced travel alone will naturally bring expenses down in 2026.

Shopping

Shopping was elevated but selective – mostly related to a few tangible items that were long-deferred replacements for non-recurring purchases tied to health, fitness, and quality-of-life upgrades (namely a Garmin Forerunner 970 watch, De Buyer cast irons, Patagonia rain jacket, and Omni-Lux LED set). I’m conscious about the value I place on material things, so this will continue to be something I stay vigilant around.

Looking Ahead to 2026

I’ve invested progressively over the years in my Foundational Investments towards Fulfillment Intent and Financial Independence. This won’t stop, but the focus for 2026 shifts to further refinement.

• More in-person quality time with local family and key relationships (everyone still works so this was hard to schedule as I was constantly on-the-go)
• Continued intentional parenting and enrichment
• Further healthcare, tax, and cashflows planning; taxable portfolio simplification/rebalancing and continued financial education
• More local and at home experiences
• Rework routines and boundaries for a lower-travel, work optional year
• Recovery emphasis (sleep, breathwork, non-productive joy)
• Health optimization through tracking specific metrics

Final Reflection

2025 was a pivotal year. Executing an intentional corporate exit – and the intentional living aftermath – was both energizing and intense. I stayed busy, productive, and fulfilled, but am taking note that I did not rest enough. The lesson moving forward is learning to ease off the gas without losing momentum to allow more space for rest, stillness, and non-productive joy. I’ve not yet given in to the temptations of job opportunities that have come my way. At times I do miss the mental stimulation and colleague banter but I’ve been able to replace that with other activities. I am deeply grateful to even be in this position – and ready for a quieter, more refined-focus in 2026.

How did your 2025 go? What are you looking forward to in 2026?