About Us: The FIRE Frontier

Welcome to The FIRE Frontier, where we’re on a mission to make financial independence and early retirement less scary and way more fun. Think of us as your slightly quirky guides to navigating the wild world of FIRE, armed with spreadsheets, bad jokes, and a love for pineapples.

Who We Are

We’re Derik and Jasmin—partners in life, travel, and the occasional budget disagreement. Together, we’re tackling the FIRE movement one avocado at a time.

Derik’s journey started in the Philippines, where retirement was less about 401(k)s and more about being surrounded by family—like 20 of them in one house. Moving to Canada flipped his perspective. Suddenly, he had opportunities to build a career, sharpen his skills, and discover the magical world of RRSPs. After a decade of freelancing, remote work, and a little too much spending, he’s now laser-focused on making smarter financial decisions (and still finding time for tacos with pineapples).

Jasmin, on the other hand, grew up on Vancouver Island, a place often called “Hawaii of Canada”—minus the pineapples. Raised in a low-income household, she learned early on how to stretch a dollar. A working holiday in Japan introduced her to the hustle culture of juggling three jobs, which she brought back to Canada with a renewed focus on working smarter, not harder. Fast forward to today, and she’s all about using spreadsheets to turn dreams into plans (and maybe squeezing in a beach day or two).

Why We Created The FIRE Frontier

We’ve made mistakes—oh boy, have we made mistakes. But those slip-ups are what inspired us to create The FIRE Frontier. We want to help you avoid the same pitfalls and show you that building wealth doesn’t mean sacrificing all the fun stuff.

Our goal? To make FIRE approachable, relatable, and maybe even a little entertaining. Whether you’re saving for your dream retirement or just trying to figure out what a TFSA is, we’ve got your back.

What You’ll Find Here

  • Real Stories: From Derik’s epic freelancing fails to Jasmin’s budgeting triumphs, we’re sharing it all.
  • Practical Tips: Actionable advice for earning more, spending less, and investing wisely (with a side of humor).
  • Global Insights: How living in different countries can save you money and expand your horizons.
  • Community Vibes: A space where you can share your own FIRE journey—because we’re all in this together.

Join the Fun

Ready to light your FIRE? Here’s how to get started:

  • Subscribe to Our Newsletter: Get exclusive tips and updates (plus the occasional pineapple recipe).
  • Download Our Free FIRE Budget Template: Because every great plan starts with a budget.
  • Follow Us on Social Media: See what’s new, what’s working, and what pineapple delights we’re currently obsessed with.

Let’s make financial independence fun, achievable, and totally worth it. Welcome to The FIRE Frontier—we’re thrilled to have you here!