Hassan's upbringing instilled financial discipline, leading to a well-paying job and a structured approach to finances.

• Hassan's childhood financial struggles motivated him to save and be financially disciplined.
• As a 33-year-old machine learning scientist in Orlando, he earns $250,000 a year, with 75% as salary and 25% as stocks and bonuses.

Hassan bought a home with a significant down payment and utilizes a savvy credit card churning strategy.

• He purchased a home with a $60,000 down payment and closing costs, saving the amount in six months.
• Hassan holds six credit cards and practices credit card churning to maximize benefits and minimize interest.

He employs unique strategies for car purchases and diversifies his investments across several accounts.

• Hassan's car buying strategy involves negotiating a low MSRP and paying off cars quickly.
• He has a 401(k), HSA, private brokerage, and contributes to Intel's ESP, totaling four investment accounts.

Family discussions about finances during his childhood greatly influenced Hassan's current financial perspective.

• Growing up, conversations at home revolved around financial struggles and improving the family's income situation.
• These experiences shaped his understanding of the importance of financial stability and planning.

His PhD studies brought financial challenges, living below the poverty line while managing basic expenses.

• As a PhD student, Hassan lived on a tight budget of $1,400 a month with no summer funding, which was a struggle.
• The limited income meant living under the poverty line for four years, which tested his financial discipline.

Hassan works at Intel Labs as a machine learning scientist focused on reinforcement learning for computational efficiency.

• His job involves advancing machine learning algorithms, specializing in reinforcement learning.
• His interest in AI started with a desire to create humanoid robots and evolved into a focus on learning mechanisms in AI.

Outside of work, Hassan dedicates time to home improvement, gym workouts, and cooking, with minimal social engagements.

• Hassan spends his free time on DIY home projects, working out at the gym, and pursuing his passion for cooking.
• His social life has diminished post-graduation, but he plans to improve it by going out more.

He enjoys building things by hand and indulges in premium ingredients for cooking, which are his major expenses.

• Hassan's splurges include buying tools for DIY projects, even if they are used only once.
• He is proud of the projects he completes, such as a mini castle gateway for his cat, and enjoys cooking with luxurious ingredients.

Hassan aims for early retirement by saving $100,000 annually and is content with the progress towards his goals.

• His primary financial goal is early retirement, committing to save $100,000 each year in various investment accounts.
• Hassan is happy with his life, finding satisfaction in seeing the results of his hard work and financial planning.