About Fire Driven Media

Hey, I'm Jonathan 👋

I'm a 40-year-old roofing business owner who discovered FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) in 2025 and had a lightbulb moment: I'd been doing it halfway for years without even knowing what "it" was.

I've always been decent with money—frugal when it counts, saving when I can, making investments in stocks and crypto on Robinhood. I built a successful roofing company from the ground up. But I never had a clear target, a timeline, or a strategy. I was just working hard and hoping it would all work out by the time I hit 65.

Then I stumbled across FIRE, and everything clicked. The math, the framework, the goal of not working until you're too old to enjoy it—it all made perfect sense. But most FIRE content assumes you're 25, making six figures in tech, and saving 70% of your income. That's not me. And I'm guessing it's not you either.

Why I Built Fire Driven Media

I built Fire Driven Media for three reasons:

To document what I'm learning — I'm figuring this out in real-time, and writing helps me understand the concepts deeply. If it helps someone else, that's a bonus.
To build better tools — Most FIRE calculators assume W-2 income and ignore business owners, variable income, and late starters. I'm building calculators that reflect real-world complexity.
To prove it's not too late — If you're 35, 40, 45+ and wondering if you missed the boat, you didn't. The math still works. You just need to run the numbers honestly and adjust your strategy.

What Makes This Site Different

Transparency: I'm not a financial advisor, and I'm not pretending to be. I'm a business owner who discovered FIRE and is learning the strategies, running the calculations, and sharing what works.

Real-World Focus: Most FIRE blogs are written by people who already reached FI. This is a real-time journey. I'm documenting the process, including the mistakes and course corrections.

Late-Start Angle: If you're starting FIRE in your 30s or 40s, you need different strategies than the 25-year-old engineer. I'm building content specifically for people who found FIRE "late" and are making up for lost time.

Where I Am Now

I'm currently:

Running my roofing company while exploring ways to make it less hands-on
Building a CRM for contractors (another income stream in the works)
Investing in stocks and crypto, now with a FIRE-focused strategy
Calculating my FIRE number and figuring out my timeline
Learning about tax optimization, asset allocation, and withdrawal strategies
Creating this site to share what I'm learning and build tools that help others

I'm growing my net worth, saving what I can, and adjusting my investments based on what I'm learning about FIRE. I don't have all the answers yet—but I'm asking the right questions and doing the math.

My Approach to Content

Every article on this site is:

Researched — I fact-check everything against reputable sources
Practical — I focus on actionable strategies, not theory
Honest — I share what I'm learning, including what I don't know yet
Realistic — No clickbait, no "retire in 5 years" nonsense

Disclaimer:

I'm not a financial advisor, CPA, or investment professional. Everything on this site is for educational purposes only. I'm sharing my learning journey and the tools I'm building for myself. Always consult with licensed professionals before making financial decisions. See our full disclaimer for details.

Let's Connect

If you're on a similar journey—especially if you're starting "late" or you're a business owner trying to figure out FIRE—I'd love to hear from you. I'm learning as I go, and I'm sure you have insights that would help me (and others reading this).

This site is a work in progress, just like my FIRE journey. More calculators, more content, and more real-world examples coming soon. Let's figure this out together.