We’re nearing the end of 2024, so I’ve been writing reflections using my annual review exercise.

How was your 2024? Email me back with what you’ve learned.

Today, in 5 minutes or less, you’ll learn:

• 💫 Highlights and lowlights from my portfolio career in 2024

• 🧠 Learnings from building my online education and consulting businesses

 Share | Subscribe | Advertise

FROM OUR LABS

🛣️ Want to leave your tech 9-to-5… but don’t know what’s next?

In early 2025, I’m launching an exclusive Beta Program for our 4-week group coaching program, Next Season Catalyst.

After leaving my tech 9-to-5, I have received an overwhelming number of questions from readers about how to decide on their next career "season"—whether it's switching jobs, becoming a portfolio careerist, founding a startup, etc.

This program helps mid-level tech professionals (7+ years of experience) build their "next season plan" and take action with clarity.

I share the tools I've used in my own career transitions and 4 years of coaching career pivoters and portfolio careerists to build a life they don't need to retire from.

Why join the Beta Program?

• ⌛️ Early Access: Be the first to experience the group coaching program, get personalized help from me, and co-design the program.

• 🧠 Shape the Program: I will be starting from scratch and testing new exercises and tools with you over the 4 weeks.

• 🌎️ Intimate Community: Connect with like-minded professionals at a similar stage of their career journeys.

• 🔥 Exclusive Price: For beta clients, I’ll be offering the program at a 75% discount.

• 🏇 Limited Spots Available: I’m accepting a small group (4-6 people).

Apply Now:

🖊️ 2024 In Review

Every year, I write a personal Annual Review that I share with my inner circle.

For 2024, I’m also publishing a portfolio career review to share my journey with you.

—

If you’re a new reader, I’ve written in previous editions about why I started a portfolio career.

Leaving my 6-figure tech job to pursue an alternative, self-employed path was hard.

1.5 years later, it’s still hard.

However, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I feel energized and fulfilled with my work everyday.

The nagging sense of existential dread I used to have has entirely faded.

I’m grateful for coast FIRE, which freed me up to explore this alternative path.

Thank you for reading Money Abroad and being on this journey with me in 2024. I hope the actionable deep dives and case studies I’ve shared will serve you well.

Here’s to kicking off 2025 with clarity and momentum.

Highlights

Launched three cohorts (and beta program) of Part-Time Consulting Launchpad, leading to 90 paid students.*

While this might not seem like much, I’m proud of how we went from 0-to-1, building a solid foundation in just one year.

Through several iterations, we’ve built a world-class student experience. In January, we launched an async beta program to 39 students. In May, we revamped the videos and workbook, plus introduced Live Q&A. In October, we released live fireside chats, workbook feedback, 1:1 accountability buddies, and a co-facilitator. Student feedback has guided us well every step of the way.

With each successive cohort, we’ve also boosted student outcomes. While an MIT study showed ~3% of online learners completed their course, 70% of students completed our last cohort—with over 60% of course finishers closing their first client within 6 weeks. 

As a result, we’ve garnered strong reviews and heard from new students citing these reviews as the reason they decided to enroll in the last month. Heading into 2025, I’m confident that we’ll continue to build on a stellar student experience while growing our cohort size.

_{*includes beta, May, October, Jan 2025 cohorts}

Consulting continued to be the breadwinner within my portfolio.

The reality is consulting still drove ~77% of my top-line revenue this year. Courses were a much smaller income stream.

Over the past year, I’ve gotten the chance to work as a fractional and advisor for clients in Asia and Latin America. My clients included the CEO and Co-founder of a bootstrapped 8-figure fintech, CPO and Co-founder of a Series B fintech, and Head of Innovation for a national bank in LATAM.

Similar to the Launchpad, it’s all about getting client results—and fortunately, this year I’ve received positive feedback from helping leaders achieve varied goals like faster onboarding speed, clear product development process, and improved performance of product managers.

I get asked if I will continue consulting, and my answer is yes. I enjoy exercising my product muscles, helping founders and leaders, and staying involved in global startup ecosystems. It’s fun.

Strengthened the brand, positioning, community, content, and resources.

• Brand: Top brands like Miro reached out to me for sponsorships for the first time (instead of me going outbound last year). It feels like the Money Abroad brand is starting to get recognized, which is incredibly exciting.

• Positioning: Repositioned the content from “money for expats” to “live on your own terms” through managing finances & building a portfolio career.

• Community/Events: Hosted popular reader meetups in Singapore and Mexico City; spoke to a full house at Fincon and UC Berkeley Club of Singapore.

• Content: Maintained industry-leading newsletter stats (57% open rate and 4% click rate), received rave feedback from readers like “Easily the best newsletter I’ve received in a long time. At the level of Justin Welsh and Codie Sanchez.”

• Resources: Relaunched my free Monetize Your Expertise email series as a video mini-course—after procrastinating for 6 months.

Lowlights