You can call me Topher, Toph, Freeman, or even Chris

Summary

Topher Freeman, an IT professional and military veteran, has embarked on a journey of self-discovery and sharing through writing on Medium, focusing on personal finance and financial independence after a mini-retirement.

Abstract

Topher Freeman, after a 30-year career in Information Technology and a mini-retirement, has decided to pursue writing and sharing his insights on Medium. He introduces himself as an individual who has worn many hats, including being a child from a divorced family, an Air Force veteran, and a corporate employee. Despite his introverted nature and initial fears about public writing, he has joined Medium's ILLUMINATION to share his experiences and ideas on personal finance and financial independence. Inspired by personal finance bloggers and the book "A Simple Path to Wealth," Topher aims to help others navigate their financial journeys and understand that there are alternative paths to the traditional work-until-65 narrative.

Opinions

Topher acknowledges the impact of growing up in a divorced family on his introverted personality but also hints at the value of close friendships.
He expresses humility about his military service during a period of peace, differentiating his experience from those who served in conflict zones.
Topher has a passion for personal finance, as evidenced by his reading of blogs like Mr. Money Mustache and 1500 Days to Freedom, and the book by J.L. Collins.
He believes in the importance of sharing personal experiences to help others on their path to financial independence.
Topher values the opportunity to contribute positively to society through his writing, aiming to be a voice that encourages and informs about the possibilities of financial freedom.
He is motivated by the idea of providing content that could be beneficial to others, emphasizing that financial independence is achievable through various means.
His decision to write under the name "Topher Freeman" is a nod to a less stressful period in his life and represents his commitment to a low-stress lifestyle moving forward.

Learning to write and share ideas

Photo of author

I left a good job with great people for a mini-retirement In November 2021, over a month before my 49th birthday. After 30 years in Information Technology, I felt that I needed a change and a reset from years of stress. I was fortunate to have an opportunity to walk away from my career and begin to work on finding a new purpose.

I grew up a child of a divorced family, which contributed to my introverted personality. I’ve never been one for socializing, and putting written content out for public consumption has always been a fear. Despite my worries, I joined Medium and ILLUMINATION to learn to write and share ideas from my experiences.

I lived on a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic ocean when I was in high school. My stepfather was in the Air Force stationed at Lajes Field on the island of Terceira, Azores. My graduating class included 20 students. I gained an appreciation for life in America that you cannot get without living outside of this country.

After a short stint in college, I joined the Air Force, becoming a third-generation Air Force veteran. I struggle with classifying myself as a veteran because I served during a short period of relative peace in this world. I did meaningful work but never left the comfort and safety of the USA during my enlistment.

I have challenges meeting new people, but I let my walls down once I get to know someone. Some of my friends would tell you that I never shut up.

When I was in college, my friends called me Topher because there were so many Chris’s around. I still have close friends that call me Toph. When I joined the military, people called me Freeman, and that name stuck even in my corporate career. Again, too many Chris’s out there. I chose to write on Medium as Topher Freeman because that name reminds me of a much less stressful and relaxed time in my life. Writing on Medium is my adventure, and I chose to relax and live a low-stress life.

Over the years, I’ve become passionate about personal finance and financial independence. I read blogs from trailblazers like Mr. Money Mustache and 1500 Days to Freedom. The book A Simple Path to Wealth by J.L. Collins opened my eyes and made me wish that I would have learned about personal finance at a much younger age.

I had a good idea that I wanted to write about personal finance and financial independence when I left my corporate job. I also had fears about writing online and decided to take some time to allow myself to reset. Five months into my mini-retirement, I am ready to take that step, address my fears, and provide content that might help someone else.

My corporate work affected the profits of two mega-corporations and the lives of about 40 people. I mostly enjoyed my job and especially liked to help people on my team. When I decided to walk away, I knew that I wanted to do something that could benefit society in some way. My goal is to use experiences in my journey to financial independence to help people in their journeys. I want to be one more voice letting people know that traditional work until you are 65 is not the only path. A voice to share that mistakes happen, bad choices are made, and financial independence is attainable through many routes.

I’m excited to become a member of this community and cannot wait to contribute.

This introduction is inspired by Dr Mehmet Yildiz’s request for editors and writers to introduce themselves to readers of The Illumination.