Joel Busboom - Developer(ish) of the FIREd by 50 Program

The FIREd by 50 Program has roots in many areas. None of it was created by me. I simply bundled the ideas together and am trying to make them easy for employers, young adults, and educators to understand and implement.

That’s why I say “ish.”

The goal is pretty simple:

Take a young adult, connect them with a FIREd by 50 employer, and help them become a safe, calm, efficient employee for the next 35 years.

Start with Compound Interest. Show a young person what happens when they start investing early and stay with it. The goal isn't just to make them a millionaire. It's to give them hope and a reason to start.

Add Career Progression. Help them understand where they want to go, what skills they need, and how today's job fits into their career.

Then add Communication. Employees who understand what is expected, feel supported, and have a voice are more likely to be engaged and productive. Good communication also creates the foundation for Continuous Process Improvement—the people doing the work are often the ones who know how to make it better.

Put those three things together and you have a different kind of employee: safe, calm, efficient, engaged, and financially motivated to stay.

Over 35 years, that young employee can build a career, build wealth, become a leader, and eventually become a millionaire-ish.

At that point, they aren't trying to catch up. They're running up the score.

That's FIREd by 50.

The 3 Cs are being submitted for school teaching standards, and employers are already adapting them into their own vernacular. You are more than welcome to use the 3 Cs and build your own culture around them.

Sincerely,

Joel Busboom