Financial independence can be an arduous journey. What path should you take? For inspiration, read the stories of 30 Americans, including a chemical plant worker, an Army lawyer, a unitarian minister, a high school teacher and a retired mutual fund manager. As they tell their stories, you'll learn of their mistakes, their fears and their triumphs, as well as sometimes intimate details about their financial life. Along the way, you'll get pointers for your own financial journey—and you'll likely come away with the confidence that you, too, can succeed.