My Work

I write about the intersection of real life and meaning—money, work, risk, and reinvention. Some pieces are reported, some personal, most somewhere in between.

At Last, I Have a Positive Net Worth

My latest column for the Wall Street Journal focuses on the "wealth effect," and my personal journey to grow beyond my family's station.

I’m 37 Years Old, and I Haven’t Saved Nearly Enough for Retirement.

Millennials stumbled out of the gate. Student loans, the Great Recession and Covid-19 put many of us behind on retirement savings. Here's how I (and some of my peers) are coping.

Am I Glad I Went to College? Well, It’s Complicated

Many Americans are now questioning the value of a college degree. I left school one class shy of graduating. Though I didn't get a diploma, I did get life skills that helped me succeed -- even with the burden of student loans.