Author Topic: 2020 FIRE Cohort  (Read 539926 times)

Body Surfer

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1300 on: January 22, 2020, 05:35:25 PM »
What is everyone’s asset allocation, if you don’t mind sharing?

We are at 60/40 with a loose plan to do a reverse equity glidepath and/or the spreadsheet companion to the book Living Off Your Money, if I can find time to input all of our stuff and see what it says.

We are 48/52 cash...retire in late May. Pension will fund half projected monthly expenses until SS

alienbogey

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1301 on: January 22, 2020, 09:39:27 PM »
99/01  equities/cash

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1302 on: January 23, 2020, 12:56:54 AM »
What is everyone’s asset allocation, if you don’t mind sharing?

We are at 60/40 with a loose plan to do a reverse equity glidepath and/or the spreadsheet companion to the book Living Off Your Money, if I can find time to input all of our stuff and see what it says.

8-9 in house. We plan to use half of that for a next house.
1 in cabin
4-4,5 in stock
0,4 in cash
4-5 in government pension
1 in other pension

As we are going to use up our FIRE stash in the next 20 years, we are a bit skeptic of putting all the money from the house sale into the stock market. We cannot afford to loose it if the marlet tanks. Maybe we will invest half of it or so.

2sk22

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1303 on: January 23, 2020, 08:00:02 AM »
What is everyone’s asset allocation, if you don’t mind sharing?

We are at 60/40 with a loose plan to do a reverse equity glidepath and/or the spreadsheet companion to the book Living Off Your Money, if I can find time to input all of our stuff and see what it says.

Same 60/40 like you. However, since my wife plans to keep working for a few more years (enjoys her job being an exec!) so I don't think this even matters much immediately. We will be continuing to accumulate even after I retire.

Lucky13

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1304 on: January 23, 2020, 10:20:51 AM »
overall AA is 70/30. IRA/401Ks accounts are at 100% stocks, since I don't plan on touching them for 15+ years, and taxable accounts are at 60/40. For cash, only a few months expenses in checking accounts, which I'm now realizing is kinda low so putting all my earnings this year towards building up the "Cash Bucket"  (BeanCounter, ERN readers suggest 2-3 years expenses but that may be overkill,
 https://earlyretirementnow.com/2018/05/23/the-ultimate-guide-to-safe-withdrawal-rates-part-25-more-flexibility-myths/)

sherr

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1305 on: January 23, 2020, 12:07:17 PM »
overall AA is 70/30. IRA/401Ks accounts are at 100% stocks, since I don't plan on touching them for 15+ years, and taxable accounts are at 60/40.

Lucky13 probably knows all this already and I'm probably just reading too much into the phrasing, but I feel compelled to comment here in case it helps someone else out. Money is fungible, it makes no difference which account things are in or how long you think it'll be before you touch that particular account. What does matter is:
  • What overall portfolio-wide asset allocation you want
  • Taxes
As for where you should hold your bonds, there's no simple answer because there are two lines of reasoning that pull in opposite directions:
  • You should hold the bonds in a tax-advantaged account so that rebalancing and dividends are not taxable events.
  • Given how low interest rates are it can be argued that today bonds are actually pretty tax-efficient and that it makes more sense to reserve the tax-advantaged space for the high-growth stocks, given that you can always switch things back later if the interest rates start to rise.
There's an excellent article on boggleheads if people are interested in reading more.

Edit:
I'm 90/10 and I keep my bonds in my 401k so I can rebalance or change my AA whenever I want to without having to care about tax implications.
« Last Edit: January 23, 2020, 12:13:12 PM by sherr »

ysette9

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1306 on: January 23, 2020, 01:01:12 PM »
What is everyone’s asset allocation, if you don’t mind sharing?

We are at 60/40 with a loose plan to do a reverse equity glidepath and/or the spreadsheet companion to the book Living Off Your Money, if I can find time to input all of our stuff and see what it says.

Same 60/40 like you. However, since my wife plans to keep working for a few more years (enjoys her job being an exec!) so I don't think this even matters much immediately. We will be continuing to accumulate even after I retire.
Sounds like you married well

rab-bit

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1307 on: January 23, 2020, 02:09:45 PM »
DW gave her notice on Tuesday which was met with near-panic by her captors bosses. She is now negotiating a rentention bonus and increased salary to work a few days per week for the next couple of months so that they can hire a replacement for her to train. But she has told them that she has a hard stop the first week of April.

I'm keeping my official date at June 5th for now but I will most likely move it up to early April to align with hers.

markbike528CBX

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1308 on: January 23, 2020, 03:18:51 PM »
DW gave her notice on Tuesday which was met with near-panic by her captors bosses. She is now negotiating a rentention bonus and increased salary to work a few days per week for the next couple of months so that they can hire a replacement for her to train. But she has told them that she has a hard stop the first week of April.

I'm keeping my official date at June 5th for now but I will most likely move it up to early April to align with hers.
Just make sure they stay in the near-panic mode, and get the negotiation done quickly before they realize how close April is  :-)  Awesome !


aspiringnomad

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1309 on: January 23, 2020, 06:51:09 PM »
What is everyone’s asset allocation, if you don’t mind sharing?

We are at 60/40 with a loose plan to do a reverse equity glidepath and/or the spreadsheet companion to the book Living Off Your Money, if I can find time to input all of our stuff and see what it says.

Market investments are at 90/10, but we also have a couple years worth of living expenses in high-yield savings account from the sale of a house to fund our upcoming travel, plus a paid off rental property which is valued at about a fifth of our market investments. I'm not risk-adverse, and think I'll react pretty calmly if/when the market crashes. If a future crash is bad enough, and assuming it doesn't impact the real estate market as badly as the last one, I intend to sell the rental property and plow the proceeds into the market.

exit2019

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1310 on: January 23, 2020, 07:21:22 PM »
What is everyone’s asset allocation, if you don’t mind sharing?

We are at 60/40 with a loose plan to do a reverse equity glidepath and/or the spreadsheet companion to the book Living Off Your Money, if I can find time to input all of our stuff and see what it says.

50-50 with a plan to aggressively move to 85-15 over the first 4 years.

ysette9

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1311 on: January 23, 2020, 07:28:02 PM »
What is everyone’s asset allocation, if you don’t mind sharing?

We are at 60/40 with a loose plan to do a reverse equity glidepath and/or the spreadsheet companion to the book Living Off Your Money, if I can find time to input all of our stuff and see what it says.

50-50 with a plan to aggressively move to 85-15 over the first 4 years.
How did you decide on a 4-year path?

Lucky13

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1312 on: January 23, 2020, 09:09:33 PM »
Market investments are at 90/10, but we also have a couple years worth of living expenses in high-yield savings account from the sale of a house to fund our upcoming travel, plus a paid off rental property which is valued at about a fifth of our market investments. I'm not risk-adverse, and think I'll react pretty calmly if/when the market crashes. If a future crash is bad enough, and assuming it doesn't impact the real estate market as badly as the last one, I intend to sell the rental property and plow the proceeds into the market.
So you'd sell the rental to get cash to "buy low" if/when the market crashes, wow that's impressive, I also have a couple paid off rental properties but idk if I'd have the guts to sell when my other assets just took a nosedive. Plus I'm counting on the rental income.  Although the idea of taking advantage of a downturn is appealing.

JumboShrimp

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1313 on: January 23, 2020, 11:01:18 PM »
Took the plunge today and gave notice.
Last day of work Feb 7.
No way would I be here now without the MMM blog and this forum, they have been incredibly inspiring and educational, I thank you all!

And now a new adventure begins!

Fresh Bread

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1314 on: January 23, 2020, 11:03:15 PM »
Congrats, mate, that's not long to wait at all.
______________________

I have a date for FI: Feb 29. It's two weeks after we should have tenants in our house.

Although I do feel like a bit of an imposter with the rent being so critical to being FI. I sort of feel like to declare as FI all our retirement income should be totally passive. I guess it's FI from 'the man' that counts.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1315 on: January 24, 2020, 12:31:40 AM »
Market investments are at 90/10, but we also have a couple years worth of living expenses in high-yield savings account from the sale of a house to fund our upcoming travel, plus a paid off rental property which is valued at about a fifth of our market investments. I'm not risk-adverse, and think I'll react pretty calmly if/when the market crashes. If a future crash is bad enough, and assuming it doesn't impact the real estate market as badly as the last one, I intend to sell the rental property and plow the proceeds into the market.
So you'd sell the rental to get cash to "buy low" if/when the market crashes, wow that's impressive, I also have a couple paid off rental properties but idk if I'd have the guts to sell when my other assets just took a nosedive. Plus I'm counting on the rental income.  Although the idea of taking advantage of a downturn is appealing.

There is a fair chance that when the stock market has a long period of low, that the housing market also will go down. Another strategy with a paid down house is to take up a mortgage on it to buy stock.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1316 on: January 24, 2020, 12:37:49 AM »
01/01/2020     Linea_Norway's official day (@46)        CONFIRMED
01/01/2020     firebrand's official day                         CONFIRMED
01/01/2020     Nancy                                                CONFIRMED
01/07/2020     alienbogey's wife                                CONFIRMED
01/15/2020     Nifty
01/15/2020     Nickel (@55)                                      CONFIRMED
01/31/2020     ATS (@52)                                         Given notice
01/31/2020     DisplacedHoosier (@57)                      CONFIRMED
01/??/2020      Now-non
02/03/2020     grobinski  (@52/53)                            Given notice
02/07/2020     JumboShrimp                                     Given notice
02/07/2020     IslandFIGirl                                        Given notice
02/29/2020     Fresh Bread
02/??/2020      RetireAbroadAt35
03/01/2020     Katmandew (@54)
03/01/2020     Bmjohnson (@50)                               Given notice
03/13/2020     CrazyIT                                              Given notice
03/13/2020     ysette9 (@38)
03/20/2020     Mmm_donuts
03/??/2020      FInding_peace (@38)   
03/??/2020 or 04/??/2020     Padonak   
03/??/2020 or later 2020     Beeboy (@46)
03/31/2020     texxan1
03/31/2050     wildatheart (@53)
04/02/2020     CptCool
04/03/2020     Maenad   
04/03/2020     rab-bit's wife                                       Given notice             
04/14/2020     MarcherLady
04/??/2020      DreamFIRE   
04/??/2020      Exit2019   
04/??/2020      Itchyfeet   
04/??/2020      Pennycounter   
04/24/2020     aspiringnomad (@37)                            Given notice
04/??/2020 or later 2020     robtown   
04/??/2020 or later 2020     JoJo
05/01/2020     Much fishing to do 
05/15/2020     SailingOnASmallSailboat's husband (@50/51)
05/15/2020     BeanCounter
05/15/2020     Lucky13 (@44)
05/22/2020     Body Surfer
05/??/2020      Rcc     
05/??/2020      Lady Stash (@45)
06/01/2020     Albireo13 (@64)
06/05/2020     thelyon19
06/05/2020 (or April)    rab-bit (@59)
06/16/2020     Kteach
06/??/2020      Farmgirl (@61)
06/??/2020      ixtap (date uncertain)     
07/01/2020     FireLane (@38)   
07/01/2020     Unique User (@50)   
07/01/2020     SugarMountain
07/24/2020     SugarMountain
07/??/2020 or later 2020     MMM123
07/??/2020      bas5252 (@55)
07/??/2020      2sk22 
07/??/2020      SpreadsheetMan
08/01/2020     HappyCheerE (@55)
08/??/2020      Bateaux   
09/??/2020      Dan23
10/??/2020      Rubyvroom   
11/01/2020     Alienbogey     
12/31/2020     BFGirl
12/31/2020     Freedomin5 (@38)
12/??/2020      david_shin   
12/??/2020      MoneyTree (@36)   
12/??/2020      Nora (@42)   
12/??/2020      Sand101   
12/??/2020      TheFIExplorer     
??/??/2020      EscapeVelocity2020   
??/??/2020      apurplelife   
??/??/2020      BlueMR2     
??/??/2020      catccc   
??/??/2020      DadzillaGorilla (FI@35, RE@40)   
??/??/2020      FIREstache (@55)     
??/??/2020      LadyMaWhiskers   
??/??/2020      letsdoit   
??/??/2020      onlykelsey     
??/??/2020      tooqk4u22     
??//??/2020     Fresh Bread
12/??/202?      desk_jockey
??/??/202?      Gumption

 
To be decided: tipster350

OLY:   
meatgrinder   
Life in balance (end of 2019)
2Birds1Stone (autumn 2019)
Firebrand (second week of December 2019)
   
OMY:   
RedefinedHappiness   
FIREby2021 (Q1 2021)   
TheContinentalOp (2021)
   
FIREing later:   
FIPurpose (date to decided)   
ToughMother (date to be decided)
« Last Edit: January 29, 2020, 01:13:44 PM by Linea_Norway »

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1317 on: January 24, 2020, 12:41:00 AM »
Took the plunge today and gave notice.
Last day of work Feb 7.
No way would I be here now without the MMM blog and this forum, they have been incredibly inspiring and educational, I thank you all!

And now a new adventure begins!

Congrats. You are so lucky with only two weeks notice.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1318 on: January 24, 2020, 12:42:45 AM »
Congrats, mate, that's not long to wait at all.
______________________

I have a date for FI: Feb 29. It's two weeks after we should have tenants in our house.

Although I do feel like a bit of an imposter with the rent being so critical to being FI. I sort of feel like to declare as FI all our retirement income should be totally passive. I guess it's FI from 'the man' that counts.

I think it is indeed mostly FI from "the man" as you call it. Anything you would need to fix financially, you can call a side hustle, which is not a normal job.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1319 on: January 24, 2020, 12:46:42 AM »
DW gave her notice on Tuesday which was met with near-panic by her captors bosses. She is now negotiating a rentention bonus and increased salary to work a few days per week for the next couple of months so that they can hire a replacement for her to train. But she has told them that she has a hard stop the first week of April.

I'm keeping my official date at June 5th for now but I will most likely move it up to early April to align with hers.
Just make sure they stay in the near-panic mode, and get the negotiation done quickly before they realize how close April is  :-)  Awesome !

Yes, congrats. And make sure she sticks to that date. Chances are very there that the bosses won't have hired someone else by that time. When I gave notice, I had a mandatory three month notice period, and I gave 3,5 because that was natural. My boss panicked. But in three months they didn't manage to even hire a consultant, what I would have done. But not my problem.

markbike528CBX

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1320 on: January 24, 2020, 01:13:01 AM »
DW gave her notice on Tuesday which was met with near-panic by her captors bosses. She is now negotiating a rentention bonus and increased salary to work a few days per week for the next couple of months so that they can hire a replacement for her to train. But she has told them that she has a hard stop the first week of April.

I'm keeping my official date at June 5th for now but I will most likely move it up to early April to align with hers.
Just make sure they stay in the near-panic mode, and get the negotiation done quickly before they realize how close April is  :-)  Awesome !

Yes, congrats. And make sure she sticks to that date. Chances are very there that the bosses won't have hired someone else by that time. When I gave notice, I had a mandatory three month notice period, and I gave 3,5 because that was natural. My boss panicked. But in three months they didn't manage to even hire a consultant, what I would have done. But not my problem.
On March 25th go for 5x the bonus for the month of April. That might stop the OMMonth,or if not, win/win!

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1321 on: January 24, 2020, 01:32:38 AM »
@openroadadventure
Would you like to join this cohort with your Jan 1rst FIRE?

exit2019

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1322 on: January 24, 2020, 04:50:02 PM »
Quote
How did you decide on a 4-year path?

I am not comfortable with the low-equities exposure and my entire focus is near term sequence of return risk based on the very high CAPE10. We will slow down or speed up based on how things look as we go.

ysette9

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1323 on: January 24, 2020, 05:26:34 PM »
Quote
How did you decide on a 4-year path?

I am not comfortable with the low-equities exposure and my entire focus is near term sequence of return risk based on the very high CAPE10. We will slow down or speed up based on how things look as we go.
Sounds like a reasonable compromise

grobinski

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1324 on: January 25, 2020, 03:37:39 PM »
SIGN ME UP!!

My official last day is Feb3! I've been on vacation since Jan3, so the FIRE is lit. SO has been done since Dec 12th, so the whole unit is on FIRE at 52/53yo.

I'm still suffering from occasional financial reality terror, but all of the simulators I occasionally plug numbers into give us a significant margin of error.

Recently qualified for MinnesotaCare insurance plan ($72pp/mo) so that is a good resolution of what was previously a significant grey area.

The plan for the next couple of months are to ease into more free time, longer international trips, focus on physical/psychological well-being, look for new passions, maybe explore sideline incomes.

Hard to believe this is real!

SailingOnASmallSailboat

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1325 on: January 25, 2020, 03:50:18 PM »
SIGN ME UP!!

My official last day is Feb3! I've been on vacation since Jan3, so the FIRE is lit. SO has been done since Dec 12th, so the whole unit is on FIRE at 52/53yo.

I'm still suffering from occasional financial reality terror, but all of the simulators I occasionally plug numbers into give us a significant margin of error.

Recently qualified for MinnesotaCare insurance plan ($72pp/mo) so that is a good resolution of what was previously a significant grey area.

The plan for the next couple of months are to ease into more free time, longer international trips, focus on physical/psychological well-being, look for new passions, maybe explore sideline incomes.

Hard to believe this is real!

WHOOOOOO Congratulations!!

bmjohnson35

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1326 on: January 25, 2020, 05:01:41 PM »

I submitted my notice on Wednesday.  I will be officially retired as of March 1st.  I turn 50 next month.

Looking forward to the change.  My wife is already retired.  We plan to join a gym and start focusing on our health initially. 

So far, we have two cruises booked and planning to take a road trip out west this summer. 

BJ

ysette9

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1327 on: January 25, 2020, 09:42:55 PM »
What an awesome thread to be a part of. Congrats to those who have given notice.

The plan I am swirling around is to wait for my Feb stock to vest on the 25th, wait to be able to sell it, and then turn in my 2-week notice. So that would put my last day somewhere around 13 March.

My husband is currently on paternity leave through the end of April and I would really like that time at home with him and the baby for the two of us. We don’t get much time together with a small herd of kids running about, and I think it would be really good for us. Plus a preview of real FIRE. He plans on another year or so for various reasons.

Mmm_Donuts

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1328 on: January 26, 2020, 09:55:38 AM »
I would like to join this thread! I started out in the 2023 thread, then moved to the 2021 thread, but I'd like to do Coast FI before I retire fully (which will probably be next year, or maybe sooner.) Work has gotten increasingly stressful, my husband still works, and our investments have done well over the past few years.

We were chatting last night about how we basically went from negative net worth (we had a large mortgage) to mortgage-free and close to our FI number in LNW in <10 years. It's been quite a ride and while there's a part of me that wants to keep pushing through it to a more secure LNW before quitting, or just wait it out till after the next recession, I just. Can't. Do it. Work stress is starting to affect my health and relationships (if it hasn't already) so I am officially done working FT this year.

My end date is loose but will happen when I see signs of my current project wrapping up. This should be mid April. I will give notice sometime in March. I intend to go part time, and this should be doable, but if not then I will just quit.

So tentative resignation date -- March 20 2020.

Thanks to amazing people on this forum for the push to realize that it's just not worth it and that you can indeed feel like you're never secure enough, that there is never enough for 100% security. I recognize this in myself and could easily see reaching the FI # and then worrying about something else, moving the target higher. No way. I'm DONE. :)

halftimeprof

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1329 on: January 26, 2020, 06:09:31 PM »
Moved to half-time Jan 1, 2020.  Hugh sigh of relief.
I plan to stay half time for up to five more years if I am still enjoying the work, but DH will cut the cord July 1.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1330 on: January 27, 2020, 01:32:12 AM »
Moved to half-time Jan 1, 2020.  Hugh sigh of relief.
I plan to stay half time for up to five more years if I am still enjoying the work, but DH will cut the cord July 1.

Good idea to work part time. Makes it a lot easier to live with.
I wonder how that will work for you if your wife stops working and whether you will be temped to stop as well.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1331 on: January 27, 2020, 01:38:15 AM »
I would like to join this thread! I started out in the 2023 thread, then moved to the 2021 thread, but I'd like to do Coast FI before I retire fully (which will probably be next year, or maybe sooner.) Work has gotten increasingly stressful, my husband still works, and our investments have done well over the past few years.

We were chatting last night about how we basically went from negative net worth (we had a large mortgage) to mortgage-free and close to our FI number in LNW in <10 years. It's been quite a ride and while there's a part of me that wants to keep pushing through it to a more secure LNW before quitting, or just wait it out till after the next recession, I just. Can't. Do it. Work stress is starting to affect my health and relationships (if it hasn't already) so I am officially done working FT this year.

My end date is loose but will happen when I see signs of my current project wrapping up. This should be mid April. I will give notice sometime in March. I intend to go part time, and this should be doable, but if not then I will just quit.

So tentative resignation date -- March 20 2020.

Thanks to amazing people on this forum for the push to realize that it's just not worth it and that you can indeed feel like you're never secure enough, that there is never enough for 100% security. I recognize this in myself and could easily see reaching the FI # and then worrying about something else, moving the target higher. No way. I'm DONE. :)

Well done moving your plan foreward by several years. I started out in the 2025 cohort, until I calculated how much we actually needed to FIRE.

It is so definitely not worth it to work yourself unhealthy. I was there as well and I fell so much better now. Although I still manage to build up some stress because of small things at home I want to manage. But it is not like at work where I felt I had to manage stuff I didn't have control over.

IslandFiGirl

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1332 on: January 27, 2020, 10:50:52 AM »
I really can't believe I'm here and actually have an END date for my job...February 7th, but here i am nonetheless.  I finally got fed up enough with having no life outside of work that I sat at a table in Chick Fil A this past Friday and gave my notice.  I'm super excited for all of us FIRE'ing this year.  I have a feeling it's going to be EVERYTHING I ever thought it would be!  Good luck to the rest of you waiting to finish out your time working!  Can't wait to read through all of your stories!  :)

CrazyIT

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1333 on: January 27, 2020, 10:55:54 AM »
Market investments are at 90/10, but we also have a couple years worth of living expenses in high-yield savings account from the sale of a house to fund our upcoming travel, plus a paid off rental property which is valued at about a fifth of our market investments. I'm not risk-adverse, and think I'll react pretty calmly if/when the market crashes. If a future crash is bad enough, and assuming it doesn't impact the real estate market as badly as the last one, I intend to sell the rental property and plow the proceeds into the market.
So you'd sell the rental to get cash to "buy low" if/when the market crashes, wow that's impressive, I also have a couple paid off rental properties but idk if I'd have the guts to sell when my other assets just took a nosedive. Plus I'm counting on the rental income.  Although the idea of taking advantage of a downturn is appealing.

My pre-tax accounts: are 80/20 Index funds/Bonds  After tax money:  also own a couple paid off rentals so that is 50/30/20  Realestate/Cash-bonds/Stock

At some point I would love to get rid of the rentals and move more to equities.  Rentals a great tax savings when there is income from a day job. 
Starting in March I won't need that!

I changed my last day from March 6th to March 13th and have given notice.


aspiringnomad

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1334 on: January 27, 2020, 11:39:08 AM »
Market investments are at 90/10, but we also have a couple years worth of living expenses in high-yield savings account from the sale of a house to fund our upcoming travel, plus a paid off rental property which is valued at about a fifth of our market investments. I'm not risk-adverse, and think I'll react pretty calmly if/when the market crashes. If a future crash is bad enough, and assuming it doesn't impact the real estate market as badly as the last one, I intend to sell the rental property and plow the proceeds into the market.
So you'd sell the rental to get cash to "buy low" if/when the market crashes, wow that's impressive, I also have a couple paid off rental properties but idk if I'd have the guts to sell when my other assets just took a nosedive. Plus I'm counting on the rental income.  Although the idea of taking advantage of a downturn is appealing.

I like to think I would. I bought the rental out of foreclosure in a gentrifying neighborhood, so it's done well, but I think most of the above-normal appreciation is now baked in. Going forward, I expect it's price to roughly track inflation plus a little extra because my city has strict zoning requirements. I'm keeping it for now because we have an awesome tenant and because my wife really likes the idea of having the constant income from rent and just generally having RE as part of our portfolio.

But I'm the one that deals with any repair, HOA, licensing, etc. issues. It's not a ton of effort but more work than an index fund. Mostly, I prefer the idea of millions of people in thousands of companies working everyday to make me more profit as a shareholder, especially if buying into that arrangement becomes significantly cheaper than it is now. Also, since we won't qualify for the capital gains exemption with this property, we'll want to sell during a year in which we have little other income. If there's a crash in the financial markets, that will dovetail with when I'll need some cash to throw at stocks.

JoJo

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1335 on: January 27, 2020, 12:24:05 PM »
I'm putting my hat in the 2020 ring... I've been in both the 2018 and 2019.  I went part time (to 62.5%) three years ago, it's difficult to give up the benefits (specifically tax deferral and health insurance).  I don't have a date yet, need to work until at least the end of March.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1336 on: January 27, 2020, 11:26:34 PM »
I really can't believe I'm here and actually have an END date for my job...February 7th, but here i am nonetheless.  I finally got fed up enough with having no life outside of work that I sat at a table in Chick Fil A this past Friday and gave my notice.  I'm super excited for all of us FIRE'ing this year.  I have a feeling it's going to be EVERYTHING I ever thought it would be!  Good luck to the rest of you waiting to finish out your time working!  Can't wait to read through all of your stories!  :)

Welcome. Very good to quit a job that you are fed up with.


I'm putting my hat in the 2020 ring... I've been in both the 2018 and 2019.  I went part time (to 62.5%) three years ago, it's difficult to give up the benefits (specifically tax deferral and health insurance).  I don't have a date yet, need to work until at least the end of March.

Welcome. Working parttime is sometimes a good alternative, even though it takes a bit longer to reach your FIRE amount.

halftimeprof

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1337 on: January 28, 2020, 08:46:18 AM »
Moved to half-time Jan 1, 2020.  Hugh sigh of relief.
I plan to stay half time for up to five more years if I am still enjoying the work, but DH will cut the cord July 1.

Good idea to work part time. Makes it a lot easier to live with.
I wonder how that will work for you if your wife stops working and whether you will be temped to stop as well.

I didn't used to think I'd be tempted to stop, as I am happier with my work than DH and a bit worried I might become a couch potato, but I'm a bit worried that even half-time work will fill too much of my headspace.  OTOH, the benefits are good and the schedule is flexible enough to allow us a lot of travel time, so I want to at least give it a try. 

Lucky13

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1338 on: January 28, 2020, 01:25:35 PM »
I didn't used to think I'd be tempted to stop, as I am happier with my work than DH and a bit worried I might become a couch potato, but I'm a bit worried that even half-time work will fill too much of my headspace.  OTOH, the benefits are good and the schedule is flexible enough to allow us a lot of travel time, so I want to at least give it a try.
I was about to write that for me, part-time work would still take up "too much of my headspace" but then realized I haven't worked part time since finishing college, so I don't really know! so I tend to equate "work" with "full time work" but there are so many other options available now. (remote work, seasonal, etc)

Body Surfer

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1339 on: January 28, 2020, 05:59:54 PM »
My last day is 5/22/20. Seems like such a long time from now.

ysette9

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2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1340 on: January 28, 2020, 06:42:51 PM »
I am having a really hard time focusing at work at the moment. My plan is to give my 2-week notice at the end of Feb. my hope is to slack and take advantage of all of the perks between now and then. I will definitely miss all of the awesome things the company provides like free food and on-site massage. Not enough to keep putting up with the things I don’t appreciate however. Most of all I am quietly looking forward to some freedom and maybe, eventually, a little down time for me in my own head.

Shouldn’t I be feeling more something at this point? Excitement, trepidation, glee, worry, or just a sense of gravity of the change about to take place?

Body Surfer

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1341 on: January 28, 2020, 08:17:16 PM »
I am so caught in the now at work that I can hardly see past the circumstances. Friends and coworkers cannot understand why I am not making big plans beyond last days of work. I am too bogged down to make significant plans beyond a few minor summer trips. After I retire and get past the stench of work then I'll be able to think clearly about our future.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1342 on: January 29, 2020, 02:38:50 AM »
I also didn't make big or detailed plans in my last months of working. I was quite stressed, plus preparing our home for sale. Only now I feel a bit like I can live at my own pace. But even now I have some appointments for this and the next weekend. And I will go to the cabin in between. I am not really looking far foreward yet. We plan to put the house on the market again in March, so the last part of Feb will be used for cleaning again. And a week before that we will go skiing in what is a school vacation, as there will be good tracks at that time. The plans after that are much more vague, we know that in a certain month, we want to do something. But as we don't usually book anything before hand, we don't need to plan ahead that much.

DisplacedHoosier

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1343 on: January 29, 2020, 07:48:42 AM »
It's done.  Hard to believe.

Yesterday was my last day at megacorp after 11,180 days (30+ years) of service. Met with HR, signed a few papers and then had a nice small lunch with a few of my co-workers.  Was home by around 3:30 and the next "phase" has begun.

Thanks to everyone in this forum for giving us the gentle nudge that helped us make this transition.  I've been gainfully employed since I was delivering papers in my early teens and worked over 1/2 my life at megacorp, so this transition will take some time.

It was comforting that I didn't have to endure the commute this morning or call in for a mindless teleconference! 

CrazyIT

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1344 on: January 29, 2020, 09:29:07 AM »
It's done.  Hard to believe.

Yesterday was my last day at megacorp after 11,180 days (30+ years) of service. Met with HR, signed a few papers and then had a nice small lunch with a few of my co-workers.  Was home by around 3:30 and the next "phase" has begun.

Thanks to everyone in this forum for giving us the gentle nudge that helped us make this transition.  I've been gainfully employed since I was delivering papers in my early teens and worked over 1/2 my life at megacorp, so this transition will take some time.

It was comforting that I didn't have to endure the commute this morning or call in for a mindless teleconference!

Congrats!! and I agree this site and its members have helped me immensely.  I have always had a (MMM) stash but its very nice to have a community that shares and is like minded.

43 days and counting.  6 more Monday meetings

ATS

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1345 on: January 29, 2020, 10:46:29 AM »
I am so caught in the now at work that I can hardly see past the circumstances. Friends and coworkers cannot understand why I am not making big plans beyond last days of work. I am too bogged down to make significant plans beyond a few minor summer trips. After I retire and get past the stench of work then I'll be able to think clearly about our future.

I am in a similar headspace and it was causing weird anxiety - I'm worried because I'm too worried about work and I'm not enjoying the anticipation of FIRE.

There is a lot going on with the work side of FIREing and I know care more than I should about a smooth year-end close and transition, but that's who I am and it's ok.

I gave myself permission to deal with it after my last day (Friday), I don't have to make any time-sensitive decisions right now - I want to enjoy the planning and the process and not squeeze it in between training a replacement and a process meeting.

exit2019

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1346 on: January 29, 2020, 12:37:55 PM »
I am in the same state: I am done in 72 total days, 53 work days, of which I'm taking 12 days of PTO in the period, leaving a mere 41 actual work days.  Despite being so near the end, I have zero ability to plan anything.  Maybe I'll do it in the first month off. I'm worried I will get free and then squander it.

IslandFiGirl

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1347 on: January 29, 2020, 01:01:18 PM »
Same here...I have 5 more shifts to do and I can't even think about what to eat for dinner tonight cuz I'm so tired!  But next Wednesday...I won't be thinking about work AT ALL!

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1348 on: January 29, 2020, 01:16:59 PM »
It's done.  Hard to believe.

Yesterday was my last day at megacorp after 11,180 days (30+ years) of service. Met with HR, signed a few papers and then had a nice small lunch with a few of my co-workers.  Was home by around 3:30 and the next "phase" has begun.

Thanks to everyone in this forum for giving us the gentle nudge that helped us make this transition.  I've been gainfully employed since I was delivering papers in my early teens and worked over 1/2 my life at megacorp, so this transition will take some time.

It was comforting that I didn't have to endure the commute this morning or call in for a mindless teleconference!

Congrats. Not having to commute is a great thing, as is skipping mindless meetings. Never more!
Take your time and try out (new) hobbies.

GettingClose

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1349 on: January 29, 2020, 01:36:13 PM »
Congratulations, CrazyIT, ATS, DisplacedHoosier, and IslandFiGirl!

My husband saw his last patient as of January 15, and is FIREd.  He's still potentially doing some low-income clinic work, but it will be only because he wants to.  He's finding it very strange - he says that he's walked around with a huge bucket of anxiety and stress for 30 years, and now that he's dumped it out there is a big, unsettling absence. He was a perfectionist at work; for example there is a particular procedure which is unsuccessful 5-7% of the time, but he only had two unsuccessful cases over his entire career, in good part due to his high anxiety about getting a good outcome. Now there's nothing to worry or stress about - all the kids will be launched by June, our marriage is excellent, our health is good, and so there's nothing to distract him from thinking about how he wants to live his life now that basically anything is possible.

I'm going half-time on April 1, and will probably do that for about a year.  Even more exciting than that is that I have someone to replace all my management/planning/executive responsibilities, and I'll go back to being a pure developer. (OK, that's a bit of wishful thinking, but at least it will be a strong move in that direction.)  This will make my work so much more fun, since it's rarely the development that is stressful.   My hours will be calculated quarterly, so that I'll have the option of 30 days full time followed by 30 days off.  In addition, I'll keep health insurance, keep 401(k) eligibility, and get paid overtime for extra hours!  Around various certifications costing the company thousands of dollars per retest hour, I've several times worked 80-100 hour weeks on salary, so this will be great.

Like others have said above, "I'm a bit worried that even half-time work will fill too much of my headspace."   If so, I can quit.  At least I hope that I can - life without work is almost incomprehensible, despite working so long for FIRE.

Does this count as FIRE?  Linea_Norway, how do I get my name and GettingCloseSpouse on the list if it does?

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!