Hi, I’m Dave Kessler
I built BuildMyRetire because I hit a wall a lot of people hit eventually: I ran the numbers on my own retirement and realized nobody was coming to save me.
No pension. No guaranteed payout waiting at 65. Just a 401(k) I’d been mostly ignoring, some vague advice from a relative who “does stocks,” and a growing sense that I needed to actually understand this stuff instead of hoping it worked itself out.
So I started digging into dividend ETFs — funds that pay you cash just for holding them, month after month, whether the market’s up or down. That “pay me to hold it” idea clicked for me in a way that other investing advice never had. It wasn’t about timing the market or picking the next big stock. It was about building something boring and durable that would eventually pay for groceries, or a mortgage, or just peace of mind.
BuildMyRetire is the site I wish I’d found when I started. No jargon for jargon’s sake. No pretending there’s a secret formula. Just clear breakdowns of dividend ETFs, retirement accounts, and the brokers that make it easy to actually get started — the stuff I had to piece together myself from a dozen different sources.
What you’ll find here:
- Plain-English guides on dividend ETFs, IRAs, 401(k)s, and building passive income
- Honest broker comparisons, including the fees and fine print that don’t make it into the ads
- Tools to help you see where you actually stand, not just where you hope you are
I’m not selling a dream of retiring at 35 on a beach. I’m building the resource I needed: something that helps regular people go from “I have no idea what I’m doing” to “okay, I have a plan.”
A Quick, Honest Disclaimer
I’m not a licensed financial advisor, and nothing on this site is personalized financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. I’m someone who researches this stuff carefully and shares what I learn — but your situation is your own, and important decisions deserve a conversation with a qualified professional (a CFP, CPA, or tax advisor) who knows your full picture.
Some links on this site are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you sign up through them, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and brokers I’ve researched and believe are genuinely useful — you can read more on the Affiliate Disclosure page.
Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.