Retirement is "when I lose my s%&t and have to leave" kind of thing for me.


-a 50 yr old teacher who came pretty close this week

Another consideration for us was RMDs. Our 401K balances are high and we’ll get a tax bomb if we don’t start Roth Conversions early.

Anonymous wrote:Healthcare is something to figure in. For most it will not be affordable before 65. Unless you build it into your number.

Yup!

A silver EPO (so not coverage beyond Urgent care and ER outside of your area/state) in my area will cost $2-2.5K for two of us in our mid to late 50s, with $7K per person deductibles. So outside of doctors appointments, we will be paying the negotiated rate on anything else until deductible is met.
So not undoable, but it is much more than the $400/month with a $1K dedcubitle we currently have

Anonymous wrote:it's a cash flow number.

I want 25k a month to spend. Once i can get that from any source - investments, real estate or other passive income streams... I am done

Just make sure that 25K "needs/wants" includes $2K+ for medical, because that is what a decent plan costs now, and it will have a high deductible in most states. So beyond your $20-30 copays for doctors visits, you will be paying $5-7K per person until you meet the deductible for most other things.

A number. I couldn't care less about working for a living. Unfortunately, I will continue to be the wage slave that I am.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it's a cash flow number.

I want 25k a month to spend. Once i can get that from any source - investments, real estate or other passive income streams... I am done

So you want $12 million.

$12 million gets you way more than 25k a month. -- that gets you 40k.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both. I feel like I need to work until both kids are out of college no matter the asset number.

Anyone else feel that way?

OP here. I wish there were a way to pause a career and then resume it many years later with no financial consequences. I would rather stop working now until the kids leave for college, and then spend the years after that working until retirement.

Same here, OP!

Asset number, which meant retirement came at 47. Way earlier than I would have anticipated.

Political situation is too chaotic right now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Healthcare is something to figure in. For most it will not be affordable before 65. Unless you build it into your number.

Helps if you have federal healthcare in retirement

They could take it away.

Anonymous wrote:it's a cash flow number.

I want 25k a month to spend. Once i can get that from any source - investments, real estate or other passive income streams... I am done

So you want $12 million.

Anonymous wrote:Healthcare is something to figure in. For most it will not be affordable before 65. Unless you build it into your number.

Helps if you have federal healthcare in retirement

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A number. TikTok will keep me up to date on societal trends.

It's not social trends. It is the active use of your brain. Reading and hobbies are all great but they will not replace work for keeping your brain trained and sharp. If you are 60 today and in good health -- living to 90 is not crazy. That is a long time with brain decline which does happen when work ends.

The right reading, hobbies, volunteering, crosswords and other games and gathering with friends can keep your brain from declining. It's a strange notion that you "must keep working to avoid brain drain".

Reading, hobbies and volunteering aren’t the same - you’re not accountable for your work product.

Anonymous wrote:It all depends on what happens with the ACA and if there is a healthcare option to be purchased.

This is the main issue for us. If there’s little to no health insurance, that is a problem for our early retirement.

Neither. I work because I like my job and I committed to the founder to stay until he sold.