Two years ago, Chris Miles had a sobering realization. After diligently following the conventional financial wisdom for nearly two decades as a mechanical engineer, Chris Miles sat down to calculate what traditional retirement would actually look like. The numbers didn’t add up.
Despite faithfully contributing to a 401(k) and following the “set it and forget it” approach that financial advisors had recommended, Chris Miles discovered there wouldn’t be enough to support the lifestyle he wanted in retirement. This was his wake-up call.
For most of his career, Chris Miles believed in the traditional retirement path: work hard, max out your 401(k), invest in the stock market, and eventually retire comfortably. But when he looked deeper, he found several flaws in this approach that nobody had warned him about.
The Hidden Dangers of Traditional Retirement Planning
The first problem was the return rate. Financial advisors often tout 8–10% average returns in the stock market, but these projections don’t account for a critical vulnerability: sequence of returns risk. If the market crashes the year you retire and you need to withdraw funds, your entire traditional retirement projection gets derailed.
The second issue was accessibility. With traditional retirement accounts, Chris Miles couldn’t touch his money until age 59½ without penalties. This meant he’d be forced to work until at least his late 50s or early 60s, regardless of whether he wanted to or not—yet another flaw in the traditional retirement system.
Finally, there was the diversification myth. Chris Miles thought he was diversified because he invested in various index funds, but he had an epiphany: it was all still the stock market. If the market crashed, all his investments would crash together. That’s not true diversification—and certainly not a secure traditional retirement strategy.
My Search for Alternatives
Chris Miles knew he needed to do better than 8% returns and find true diversification outside the stock market. His first instinct was real estate. He spent four months researching properties, running numbers, and submitting offers—all while balancing a full-time job and family responsibilities.
This approach wasn’t sustainable. With two young children and a demanding career, Chris Miles simply didn’t have enough hours in the day to become a real estate expert while maintaining his other responsibilities.
That’s when he realized he needed to find people who had already succeeded at what he was trying to do. He needed guides who could help him navigate these alternative investments efficiently.
The Power of Alternative Investments
After connecting with the right people and getting proper guidance, Chris Miles has now built a portfolio of alternative investments that are delivering results he never thought possible:
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A turnkey rental property that generates monthly cash flow without requiring him to hunt for deals or negotiate with sellers
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An investment returning a consistent 12% annually, paid monthly
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Another investment currently yielding about 9.5% with potential upside of 13–15%
These investments are already creating passive income streams that hit his bank account every month or quarter. Unlike his 401(k) and the traditional retirement model, he doesn’t have to wait until his 60s to benefit from them.
Based on his current trajectory, Chris Miles is now on track to reach financial independence in 10–12 years. That means potentially retiring at 58 instead of 65 or later, with all his needs covered by investment income rather than a paycheck—without relying on the constraints of traditional retirement planning.
Lessons Learned Along the Way
The biggest obstacle for many people—especially analytical types like Chris Miles—is analysis paralysis. They want to understand everything perfectly before taking action. But Chris realized that not making a decision is itself a decision—and usually not a good one.
Here’s what helped him move forward:
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Accepting that he needed to understand investments but didn’t have to become an expert in everything
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Finding mentors who had already succeeded in alternative investing
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Recognizing that paying for education and connections could actually reduce his risk
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Taking calculated action even without perfect information
The investment Chris Miles made in education and guidance has already paid for itself many times over through better returns and avoided mistakes.
Chris doesn’t hate his W2 job—in fact, he’s grateful for it. But now he has options he never had before. He’s no longer putting all his financial future in one basket, hoping the market performs as expected when he needs it most.
If you’re like Chris Miles was—diligently saving in a 401(k) but unsure if it will be enough—know that there are other paths. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Connect with people who have already walked the path, learn from their experiences, and take action when you’re ready.
The window to these opportunities has always been there—Chris just didn’t know to look for it. Now that he’s found it, his financial future looks brighter than he ever thought possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Aren’t alternative investments riskier than the stock market?
Not necessarily. While all investments carry risk, many alternative investments are backed by tangible assets like real estate. The key is proper due diligence and working with experienced operators who have a proven track record. In many ways, having all your money in the stock market (as most 401(k) plans do) can be riskier because you lack true diversification.
Q: How much money do you need to start with alternative investments?
Entry points vary depending on the investment type. Some opportunities require $25,000-$50,000 minimum investments, while others might start at $100,000 or more. However, you don’t need to be wealthy to begin—I started by redirecting funds I had in high-yield savings accounts that were only earning about 5% interest.
Q: Do you still contribute to your 401(k)?
Yes, I still contribute to my 401(k), especially to get any employer match, which is essentially free money. The key is balance and true diversification. I’m not suggesting abandoning traditional retirement accounts completely, but rather complementing them with alternative investments that can provide current income and better returns.
Q: How much time does managing these alternative investments take?
Much less than you might think. After the initial research and due diligence phase, many of these investments are relatively passive. For example, with my turnkey rental property, a property management company handles the day-to-day operations. My other investments require just occasional monitoring. The key was finding the right operators who do the heavy lifting, which saves me countless hours compared to trying to do everything myself.
