Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not possible. And it is all really about patience. I took this route many years ago, slow growth with my own hand on the tiller. I live well within my means and over the years that posture has handsomely rewarded me. The fastest route is not always the best for all. And it really is not about $100k annually. That view misses the real underlying beauty of being self-sufficient.
The sacrifice may be the larger more materialistic bounty, in the beginning. But the peace of mind that it couches grows with age. For me, that peace and knowledge has become synergistic and spilled out into other pursuits. Time and this posture has afforded me the ability to move from being a trader, into being a trader with investments. Those investments grew from just stocks to include real estate and business ventures. Those business ventures expanded into additional challenges and so forth.
This also gave me time to mature in the arenas of wants, desires and wishes. So many of the youth mistakes got bypassed because I wasn't ready. Sounder more meaningful and lasting decisions have been the flavor of the day. Inherently, discipline was improved. I am less stressed than many of my peers and I do have a clue about what I want to do next. And now I have the resources to do it.
I don't smoke, drink sparingly and could probably stand to lose about ten pounds (ok fifteen for optimum). I always get told that I look much younger than I am. The foundation for engaging, wide-ranging conversation is there, between the ears. And not just about trading either! And oddly enough, I regularly turn down the invitations to work for the so-called, "big bucks!"
I probably have less debt than someone with a third of my income. And now I'm really becoming dangerous, I'm teaching my nieces and nephews the lessons learned. I'm that jet set, self-employed uncle that they just can't seem to get enough of. And I'm not fifty yet!!! All that and, I'm African American. What a country!!!
Quote from tyrant:
Exactly my thought. Unless you can already at least live frugally off interest alone, you are better off taking whatever route which is the fastest to secure your "critical mass capital". I wonder how much capital the poster use to generate 100k per annum. If he has only 100, 200 or 300k, then I don't see how one can live a "worry free" live. And not living a worry free life is not financial freedom, cause in trading your edge is never guaranteed, no matter how long your trading record. Only enough cold hard cash can give you financial freedom.