There are plenty of reasons people choose not to have kids, with the cost of raising them being a major one. Another big factor is the fear that children will disrupt an ideal FIRE lifestyle. Many envision a life of traveling the world, indulging in incredible cuisine, and living spontaneously—things that can feel more challenging with kids in tow.

I understand that perspective. I grew up living in six countries before college, studied abroad for six months, and spent 13 years working in international equities. Travel was a huge part of my life. My approach was to achieve financial independence as quickly as possible and then have kids.

As an older parent, I feel relatively secure, having had more time to save and invest. However, I do wish I had children earlier than 39 and 42, given how much energy it takes to raise them full-time. Starting younger would have

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