Founder of BearSavings

Hi, I’m DA.

Semi-retired at 38 after 7 years in big tech. I made my first million at 33. I build BearSavings so the money tools I wanted actually exist — and so the numbers on this site have a real person behind them.

38

Years old

7 yrs

In big tech

33

First million

Now

Semi-retired

The short version

I spent the last 7 years inside big tech. The pay was good. The hours were real. At 33 I crossed my first million. At 38 I’m semi-retired — not because money solved everything, but because it bought back enough time to choose what I work on.

BearSavings is that choice. It started as a simple savings tracker. It is now a pile of calculators, cost-of-living data, investing research, and practical tools I wish I had earlier. I still review the numbers myself. If a cost-of-living guide says “Reviewed by DA,” that’s me checking the math, the labels, and whether the write-up is honest.

I’m not selling a course and I’m not pretending my path is normal. Big-tech compensation is an outlier. Hitting a million at 33 was luck, compounding, and a high-income job — not a secret. Use the tools. Ignore anyone who says you should copy a stranger’s timeline.

What I care about

  • Clear numbers over motivational quotes.
  • Salary, rent, tax, and savings rate — the boring stuff that actually moves the needle.
  • Tools you can use in five minutes, not a 40-page manifesto.
  • Saying when a figure is a benchmark, not your personal budget.

What this page is not

  • Financial advice. I’m a founder sharing my own story.
  • A claim that everyone can retire at 38.
  • A net-worth flex. One million at 33 was a milestone, not a finish line.
  • A substitute for a planner, accountant, or your own judgment.

Where to go next

About BearSavings

The mission and the full tool list.

Cost of living

Country data and comparisons I review.

Calculators

Savings, investing, housing, and more.

DA Journey

The newsletter, if you want longer notes.

Questions or corrections? Contact BearSavings.