Spouse’s RMD- should I quit my job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here and thanks for all the feedback and ideas to think about.

More info— I am 66 plus 8 months, spouse will turn 73. DH waited until past 67 to retire and regrets it— his energy level is not the same as would have been if retired earlier.

I like the ideas about tax shelters and savings— definitely something to think about.

My job is ok—interesting yet also can be extremely tedious. It’s not a bad job.

I like the structure it gives me. I would try to build structure into retirement— I have projects to complete, hobbies I’d like to enjoy, volunteer work etc.

considering i’m retiring at 59 if i were in your shoes i’d be retired already! However i have a zillion things I love doing, and work is constantly getting in the way!

[Anonymous]

Not really a tax issue but if you retire and use Medicare, you very possibly will be subject to Medicare premium surcharge "IRMAA" Which in my case has taken my Medicare premium from $181.00 per month to $434 a month, premium is multiplied by 2.4 times. Medicare looks back 2 years for income.

[Anonymous]

Not really a tax issue but if you retire and use Medicare, you very possibly will be subject to Medicare premium surcharge "IRMAA" Which in my case has taken my Medicare premium from $181.00 per month to $434 a month, premium is multiplied by 2.4 times. Medicare looks back 2 years for income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for all the responses and advice/ support!

I don’t know why we never pursued Roth IRA’s and now I am looking into the possibility of conversion.

Appreciate everyone!

Be careful so you don’t get hit by huge tax bills

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tone deaf to call a six figure salary "standard WFH"

...that is pretty standard for a professional job that would allow WFH??

100k is entry level for most white collar professions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tone deaf to call a six figure salary "standard WFH"

...that is pretty standard for a professional job that would allow WFH??

100k is entry level for most white collar professions

DP.

Really? Where?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tone deaf to call a six figure salary "standard WFH"

...that is pretty standard for a professional job that would allow WFH??

100k is entry level for most white collar professions

DP.

Really? Where?

+1. I would love to know too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tone deaf to call a six figure salary "standard WFH"

Yep.

Th "just a middle class 6 figure salary" Dc moms is the gift that keeps on giving

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean, do the RMDs last forever? Any reason you should keep your foot in the work force? Your income is increasing by $72K/year….thats not life changing money.

Idk, I hear way too many stories about SAHMs getting divorced and having to start over. I’m in my 40s and that’s when this starts happening with some frequency in my peer group.

RMDs are designed to last forever...

What an RMD? Too tired to google. Have been out in the heat all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean, do the RMDs last forever? Any reason you should keep your foot in the work force? Your income is increasing by $72K/year….thats not life changing money.

Idk, I hear way too many stories about SAHMs getting divorced and having to start over. I’m in my 40s and that’s when this starts happening with some frequency in my peer group.

RMDs are designed to last forever...

What an RMD? Too tired to google. Have been out in the heat all day.

Required minimum distribution. The percentage you have to withdraw (and get taxed on) goes up every year but is never 100%. At 73 they assume 26.5 years so you have to take out 3.77% and then it goes up each year. By 95, it assumes 8.9 years to distribute so you have to take 10.7%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here and thanks for all the feedback and ideas to think about.

More info— I am 66 plus 8 months, spouse will turn 73. DH waited until past 67 to retire and regrets it— his energy level is not the same as would have been if retired earlier.

I like the ideas about tax shelters and savings— definitely something to think about.

My job is ok—interesting yet also can be extremely tedious. It’s not a bad job.

I like the structure it gives me. I would try to build structure into retirement— I have projects to complete, hobbies I’d like to enjoy, volunteer work etc.

The key question is thinking about why you work. You don’t “need” to economically, but may choose to for other reasons.

I like the freedom of retirement . The number of years you can travel and “play” with your husband are limited (to some unknown #). Don’t think you will have forever together.

The average life expectancy of men is only 75.8!

Life expectancy of a man who has already made it to 73 is 12.6 years.

[Anonymous]

OP, there is no way we can tell you if you can quit or not. How much do you have saved? What are your expenses? Does your 100K make a difference, or not?

72K taxed at 22% is about 15K. You are still net positive if you work.

If you want to retire and are looking for permission, that is something else entirely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here and thanks for all the feedback and ideas to think about.

More info— I am 66 plus 8 months, spouse will turn 73. DH waited until past 67 to retire and regrets it— his energy level is not the same as would have been if retired earlier.

I like the ideas about tax shelters and savings— definitely something to think about.

My job is ok—interesting yet also can be extremely tedious. It’s not a bad job.

I like the structure it gives me. I would try to build structure into retirement— I have projects to complete, hobbies I’d like to enjoy, volunteer work etc.

The key question is thinking about why you work. You don’t “need” to economically, but may choose to for other reasons.

I like the freedom of retirement . The number of years you can travel and “play” with your husband are limited (to some unknown #). Don’t think you will have forever together.

The average life expectancy of men is only 75.8!

Life expectancy of a man who has already made it to 73 is 12.6 years.

OP needs to look at family history, not averages. My dad is 95 and I had a grandfather who lived to 103.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here and thanks for all the feedback and ideas to think about.

More info— I am 66 plus 8 months, spouse will turn 73. DH waited until past 67 to retire and regrets it— his energy level is not the same as would have been if retired earlier.

I like the ideas about tax shelters and savings— definitely something to think about.

My job is ok—interesting yet also can be extremely tedious. It’s not a bad job.

I like the structure it gives me. I would try to build structure into retirement— I have projects to complete, hobbies I’d like to enjoy, volunteer work etc.

The key question is thinking about why you work. You don’t “need” to economically, but may choose to for other reasons.

I like the freedom of retirement . The number of years you can travel and “play” with your husband are limited (to some unknown #). Don’t think you will have forever together.

The average life expectancy of men is only 75.8!

Life expectancy of a man who has already made it to 73 is 12.6 years.

OP needs to look at family history, not averages. My dad is 95 and I had a grandfather who lived to 103.

Family history doesn't matter as much as people like to think. Either way, if OP is inclined to look at averages, 75.8 isn't the right one to look at.

[Anonymous]

OP here again with update. I got an email from HR yesterday with a voluntary retirement offer— effective 7/31/25. I have a meeting with HR tomorrow but think I will take it!

It’s for those “at or near retirement age”, I’m sure they are trying to prevent layoffs. For all I know, my manager may have gotten one herself.

Love all the advice here and have to research about the increased Medicare payments and other topics. Thank you!