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Wealth Building

A collection of 10 issues

Enough: The Wealth Strategy That Protects Your Success

Enough isn’t about stopping growth—it’s about structuring wealth in a way that lets you win on your terms. Most financial mistakes aren’t made from a lack of intelligence but from a failure to define “enough.” The relentless pursuit of more—more money, more status, more comparison—

Mastering Wealth: The Intersection of Philosophy, Economics, and Financial Independence

Most people spend their lives chasing wealth—yet few ever build it. Not because they lack intelligence. Not because they don’t work hard. But because they misunderstand how wealth actually works. Wealth isn’t about high income. It isn’t about picking the right investments. It isn’t even

Compounding: The Antifragile Strategy for Wealth, Freedom, and Mastery

Most people overcomplicate investing. They chase returns, obsess over market timing, and let emotions dictate their decisions. The result? They interrupt the one force that could have built their wealth without extra effort: compounding. Compounding isn’t just a financial principle. It’s a universal law of wealth, autonomy, and

Why Real Estate Feels Safer Than Stocks (But That Doesn’t Make It a Better Investment)

The numbers don’t lie: The stock market has crushed real estate in returns over the last 50 years. Yet, people still say real estate is the better investment. Why? Because real estate investors aren’t playing a numbers game. They’re playing a psychological game—and they don’t

Antifragile: Mastering Both Sides of Wealth Management

When I think about my work as a financial planner, I don’t just see it as managing money. It’s about balancing two equally important sides—the technical side (investment strategies, risk management, taxes) and the human side (guiding decisions, managing emotions, and helping clients stay the course). From

Is $1 Million Still Enough? The Shrinking Buying Power of Wealth

Is $1 Million Still Enough? The Shrinking Buying Power of Wealth For decades, $1 million was considered a significant milestone—enough to secure financial independence, a comfortable home, and a solid future. But in 2025, does $1 million still mean what it used to? Adjusting for inflation, the purchasing power

Wealth, Happiness, and the Power of Thinking in Systems

Wealth and happiness are often framed as separate pursuits one being about financial security, the other about fulfillment. But in reality, they are deeply connected. Both require clarity, discipline, and long-term thinking to compound over time. Reading books on philosophy, economics, and decision-making reinforced this idea. Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, Naval

Thomas Paine’s "Uncommon Man" Speech: My Mantra for Flourishing in Life, Wealth, and Fatherhood

For the last several years, Thomas Paine’s "Uncommon Man" speech has been my mantra. I recite it often—sometimes in the quiet of the night, sometimes when I need to snap out of a stressed or reactive state and step into an inspired one. It’s my

Blog Series: The Almanack of Don Hilario

The Almanack of Don Hilario (that’s me!) is my playbook guide to wealth, freedom, and mastery built on first-principles thinking, antifragility, and strategic execution. Structured in a blog series are the following: Post 1. The Why (Introductory Post) Why I started my Almanack as a personal wealth and life

The Boomerang Generation: A Call for Responsibility and Resilience

In recent years, the phenomenon of the “boomerang generation” has become increasingly prevalent, with adult children moving back in with their parents—or even grandparents—due to financial struggles or lifestyle choices. While some attribute this trend to rising costs of living and economic pressures, a closer look reveals a

This blog is a personal project and is not affiliated with my financial advisory practice. The views expressed are my own and do not constitute financial, tax, or investment advice.