1. Chautauqua 2016

2. Katie
• Jim
Thank you for being incredibly generous with
your time and for giving us so much actionable
advice to go away and think about. We really
enjoyed spending time with you
• Pete
You rock MMM! Thank you for the random
chats, your advice and only giving us pretend
face punches.
• Mad Fientist
Big thanks to you and Jill for your time and
your invaluable advice. Feel like we really
connected with you guys and would love to
hang out with you back in the UK!
• Cheryl
Thank you for your hard work, warm energy
and inspiring talk

3. Alan
• Jim
Thanks for the advice, friendship and
opportunity to invest in Florida. See you for
Aston Martins and Pizza in England soon. Your
ideas, energy and generosity of time have
inspired us so much. Thank you Jim
• Pete
Loved the FacePunch, enjoyed chatting, your
philosophy inspired and challenged thank you.
Incredible week and so much energy and I am
inspired to help more people like you
• Mad Fientist
Chatting with you and Jill was a real highlight of
our time at Chautauqua. Thank you for your
insight, energy and friendship, thank you for
helping us to Brute Force the Spreadsheet and
getting us closer to joining you in FI!
• Cheryl
Thanks for organising everything and making us
feel welcome and for the energy bars when we
needed them the most after football

4. Ken
• Jim
It seems crazy, but it took until now for me to
truly appreciate the advantages of VTSAX
• Pete
I enjoyed our 1:1 immensely. It was great to get
to know (at least a glimpse of) the man behind
MMM!
• Brandon
You’ve inspired me to push myself to achieve a
personal goal once I return home. Can’t wait to
hear your first song … good luck!
• Cheryl
Awesome job organizing the trip and making
sure everyone got to the right place.
• Alan
Terrific presentation and a funny guy. It was great
to meet you

5. Brigid
• Jim
Thanks so much to you and Jane for the
friendship and advice and for having the
inspiration to start the Chautauqua.
• Pete
It’s been great getting to know you better this
week, and thank you for helping give me the
confidence to aspire to FI in the first place.
• Mad Fientist
Your presentation wasn’t what I was anticipating
at all – it meant so much more than I would have
gotten out of more graphs. If your mom ever
lets you venture south when you’re in Florida,
you and Jill are welcome to visit.
• Cheryl
Walking around town today, I can see how the
love you have for Ecuador developed. Thank you
so much for sharing it with us all.

6. Brent
• Jim
Thank you for sharing both the investing and
life lessons you are teaching your daughter to
all of us. No matter the age, this information
is so important to a happy life.
• Pete
Thank you for teaching us that it’s okay to
Mustache-punch a few things every once in a
while.
• Mad Fientist
Thank you, and Jill, for showing everyone how
awesome a post-FI relationship can really be!
• Cheryl
Thank you for teaching me that it’s okay to
follow what you love.

7. Ani
• Jim
It was fun getting a seal of approval from
you on my financial strategy. Long live
VTSAX!
• Pete
You have had a huge impact on my life. It
was great to discuss my real estate
strategy with you.
• Mad Fientist
Thanks for the friendship! It was great
chatting about my podcast plans with you
and I am looking forward to you and Jill
visiting California soon.
• Cheryl
Thanks for sharing your stories , it was a good
learning experience.

8. Van
• Jim
Thank you so much for sharing not only your
knowledge of finances, but the deep love you
have for your family. I will remember that the
most.
• Pete
You are an inspiration to all of us to strive for
the highest level of happiness and badassity.
Thank you for being so generous with your
time.
• Mad Fientist
Magic tricks?!??! Relationship advice?!?! We
aspire to have as loving a relationship as you
two. Thank you for the inspiration
• Cheryl
Words cannot express how thankful we are
that you put together this incredible event. Im
in awe of your generosity and giving spirit.

9. Danielle
• Jim
Thank you for your human warmth, reflective
candidness, and thoughtful advice. Our
conversation was deeply impactful. We will live
happier lives because of you!
• Pete
Appreciate your humble yet assertive
perspectives on life. Thanks for being your
authentic self and extending your badassity to
us. We will be better for it!
• Mad Fientist
It was a privilege to experience the first 2:2 with
you and Jill! We learned so much by just
connecting on similar struggles. Thanks for being
vulnerable and sharing your story with us.
• Cheryl
Your sweet and cheerful persona is contagious
and welcoming! We felt at home because of you
and Rich. Thanks for your generosity and passion
for making the world better.

10. Carl
• Jim
Hey Jim; it was fantastic meeting up with you
and Jane again. I hope our paths cross many
times in 2017 and beyond!
• Pete
Hey neighbor, thanks for the inspiration and
advice. Life 3.0 (working at my passions)
begins very soon.
• Mad Fientist
Beer! Scotland!! 2017!!!
• Cheryl
Cheryl, your presentation was one of the high
points of my trip. I have a feeling our paths will
cross more than once in the future and I
greatly look forward to it.

11. Maddy
• Jim
You have made the overwhelming world of
investing a simple reality for me. FI is within
reach and I could not be more excited about my
future. I have enjoyed getting to know you and
Jane, and look forward to hearing of your travels
and dental woes.
• Pete
Thank you for the blog and the concept of FI. I
have so much more to learn and challenges
ahead to refine my life for the better. Sweet
Simplicity.
• Mad Fientist
Branden and Jill I feel like I have found two new
great friends. I plan to read more of the MF
blog/ideas but more than taxes, I have enjoyed
getting to know you both personally.
• Cheryl
Your smile and soul are warm and welcoming. I
have enjoyed Ecuador through your eyes and am
inspired by the world you have created for
yourself and Don Rico.

12. Deborah
• Jim
Thanks for making investing simple enough for
me to actually do it. My daughter thanks you for
inspiring me to jumpstart her financial
independence. Hope to see you and Jane in NH!
• Pete
Thanks for keeping me from waking up at 4:00
a.m. ever since you wrote Pension
Schmension…and for all the great advice from
savings rates to garage construction.
• Mad Fientist
Your surprising, inspirational talk about your
journey helped so many of us to imagine our
own. Thanks also for opening up the world of
travel hacking. Hope to cross paths with you and
Jill again.
• Cheryl
Thanks for making this marvellous week happen,
and especially for offering me the opportunity to
play decorator. I look forward to visiting you at
Above the Clouds inn.

13. Mark
& Joon
• Jim
Thanks for sharing not only your analyses but
also the stories that illustrate them in real-
people terms. We greatly respect the feedback
you gave on our questions. And it’s great to
spend time with such a great couple as you and
Jane.
• Pete
Thanks for your humor and clarity in thinking, as
well as teaching us to really examine what
happiness means for each of us.
• Mad Fientist
Thanks for your and Jill’s honesty, humor and
daring us to put dreams into action.
• Cheryl
Thanks for making arrangements so conducive to
mutual encouragemens; spacing things out so
our heads were not spinning with TMI in TSP (too
short a period); tools for thinking about
happiness; and yours and don Ricardo’s warmth.

14. Helen
& Jon
• Jim
Your insights and advice on investing and life have
created a foundation for us to grow upon. Your kind
words from Jack Bogle are more than deserved.
• Pete
Our discussion was amazing and showed us an
alternate path. To say this is life changing is to
understate the impact this will have on our life!
• Mad Fientist
Your tactics are amazing but even more valuable for us
were your words of wisdom regarding the emotional
transition. After meeting with you we feel confident to
retire 1 year earlier than imagined.
• Cheryl
You have created a truly unique and amazing
experience.
Thank you all for your amazing advice and support and
the incredible, life-changing week in Ecuador.

15. Robert
• Jim
Jim, I was glad to meet a fellow ballroom dancer, New
Hampshirean, and motorcycle enthusiast. I hope you and Jane
have a fantastic journey around the US!
• Pete
Pete, I enjoyed our walk-and-talk and your relationship stories.
Thanks for the years of motivation through your blog and your
useful thoughts this week. I found your “cut waste not happiness”
recommendation, and the tactical considerations (exercise,
sleeping enough, etc.) really useful. I’m also looking forward to
trying a version of the “part-time Elon Musk approach” for a skill I
want to develop for work. I hope you enjoy your second week in
this lovely place.
• Mad Fientist
Brandon, it was great talking with you and Jill. I plan to use your
mastery ideas and the “part-time Elon Musk approach” you
synthesized from your and MMM’s approaches to learn a few
things I had not been prioritizing by pushing them into work hours.
Good luck with the album goal, and I hope the rest of your trip is
fantastic. I hope you both enjoy Tokyo and that I get a chance to
see you again in Edinburgh or maybe London!
• Cheryl
Cheryl, thanks again for arranging this chance to meet so many
like-minded people in such a fantastic environment. Thanks also
for sharing your thoughts on happiness and meaning. I really
enjoyed my time here and appreciate the effort that you and Rich
took to make sure everything ran smoothly!

16. Suzanne
• Jim
Thanks for generously sharing your advice
wisdom, and friendship. I’ll see you and Jane
again in Ecuador or ???
• Pete
It was great to get to meet you and to hear all
your badassity tenets in person.
• Mad Fientist
Chatting with you and Jill was a high point of
my experience. Thanks for sharing so much.
• Cheryl and Ricardo
Thanks for all your hard work and preparation.
I appreciate your effort and enjoyed getting to
know you both.

17. Ying
• Jim
The 1-on-1 session was immensely helpful and
was pivotal in helping me decide to stay on the
entrepreneurial route. Thank you for sharing
your experience and insight—it was much
appreciated.
• Pete
Thank you for the fun chats on the bus. This
week was a good introduction to mustachianism
and your contributions to the FI space.
Mad Fientist & Jill
It was super fun to chat with and get to know
you and Jill. I hope we cross paths in Hong Kong
(if not elsewhere!)
• Cheryl & Rich
Thank you both for running this wonderful event.
Your passion and attentiveness are much
appreciated. Thank you Cheryl for keeping me
fed and Rich for leading the morning runs.

18. Brady
• Jim
Thanks for creating such a clear and concise
presentation on something that has now
become so important to my life!
• Pete
Loved meeting the man the blog and hearing
your viewpoints on things throughout the
week. Your presentation helped clarify some
of the next steps I want to take when I return
home.
• Mad Fientist
It was great chatting with you 1:1 and having
with someone to relate to about some of
lessons and experiences I’ve been going
through recently. See you in SF!
• Cheryl
Incredible location for an incredible event.
Thanks for organizing it all!

19. Shaina
& Jason
• Jim
You’ve made us feel comfortable and confident in
taking the next steps in our journey to financial
freedom. Thank you. Our door is open in AZ
when you and Jane hit the road!
• Pete
Thanks for not face-punching us out of Ecuador.
We’re working on it man…expense slash n burn
when we return. Shaina has vowed to eat only
Cricket flour and Jason to add Fuck Wit to his
everyday vocabulary.
• Mad Fientist
You are badassity personified. Thanks for having
the courage to lead the way and sharing your
woes and worries on the way to F.I. And Jill is a
rock star…until Up Helly Aa…cheers!!!!!
• Cheryl
What a beautiful place and an amazing
experience. Thank you for your hospitality and
sharing the Ecuadorian culture with us. Thank
you for sharing your journey….and your coffee 
We look forward to visiting again.

20. The Team

21. Thank you for a life changing event and
incredible time in Ecuador
Familia Chautauqua 2016