Friend enrolled in a Dependent Care FSA in 2024. Lost $3,000. Swore he'd never do it again. Last month, he enrolled for 2026—without hesitation. Here's the strategy that turned fear into confidence. ↓

The ultimate rebellion isn't rejecting the system. It's using the system to fund your freedom. The smartest contrarian aren't loud. They're compounding quietly.

That's it. If you want more insights like this: 1. Follow me @ryanOpulus for more 2. RT the tweet below Disclaimer: This is my personal opinion and experience working with high-income millennials. Not tax, financial, or legal advice. Always work with qualified professionals to

TL;DR — How to use FSAs confidently: • Map what qualifies • Calculate real costs • Build a use-it plan FSAs aren't risky when you have a strategy.

The lesson: One bad experience doesn't mean the tool is broken. It means the strategy was missing. FSAs work when you plan for them—not around them.

He's not hoping he uses the money. He knows he will. And instead of losing $3,000 he's saving on taxes with zero fear.

The shift: FSAs aren't risky when you have a plan. They're risky when you're guessing.

Step 3: Build a use-it strategy. Set up recurring payments for daycare and after-school programs. Knew exactly when bills would hit. Saved receipts and documentation as he went. Treated it like a budget line.

Step 2: Calculate actual 2026 costs. No guessing. No "sounds about right." Added up expected dependent care expenses for the year. Used real bills, real schedules. Enrolled for exactly what he'd use.

Step 1: Map what actually qualifies. Most people think "daycare" and stop there. But dependent care FSAs cover: • Daycare • Preschool • Summer day camps • Before/after school care • Babysitters (for work-related care) He was already paying for these.

We sat down and worked through three things. Not theory. Not guessing. A real plan that eliminated the risk.

This year's open enrollment came around. He didn't avoid it. He didn't guess. He enrolled—confidently. Same benefit. Different approach.

The mistake wasn't enrollment. It was the plan. He contributed $5,000. Used $2,000. Lost the rest. One bad year → complete avoidance of a benefit that could've saved him thousands in taxes.

Everyone obsesses over optimizing investment allocations. But the math is clear: Your savings rate has 10–20x more impact on early-stage wealth than your returns. Yet almost nobody focuses on it. Here’s how to fix that ↓

Redefine your wealth: • Old: What you can afford monthly • New: What you can walk away from Freedom isn't bigger payments. It's fewer commitments.

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Redefine your wealth: • Old: What you can afford monthly • New: What you can walk away from Freedom isn't bigger payments. It's fewer commitments.

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Morgan Housel nailed it: "The hardest financial skill is getting the goalpost to stop moving." Not portfolio theory. Not tax optimization. Learning to say "enough."

Every Tuesday, our subscribers get 1 proven strategy to cut their tax bill, boost their income, and build lasting wealth—so they can live life on their terms. Always a 4-minute read. Join free here: