Author Topic: 2020 FIRE Cohort  (Read 539942 times)

Jack0Life

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1550 on: March 18, 2020, 11:04:23 PM »
We rebalanced our portfolio tonight, selling bonds to buy stocks. My husband was rather shocked to see what our stash is at now. We are down something like $400k. I am serene because i always felt that this sort of thing would happen, just the universe’s way of being perverse. Naturally, the crash would come just as I retire. But he is working another year and we have more bonds now than we ever did during accumulation phase, so it isn’t nearly as bad as it could have been. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.

Wow $400k is just jaw dropping.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1551 on: March 19, 2020, 01:11:17 AM »
01/01/20  Linea_Norway (@46)          CONFIRMED
01/01/20  firebrand                   CONFIRMED
01/01/20  Nancy                       CONFIRMED
01/01/20  openroadadventure (@53/50)  CONFIRMED
01/03/20  nwa-non                     CONFIRMED
01/07/20  alienbogey's wife           CONFIRMED
01/15/20  Nifty
01/15/20  Nickel (@55)                CONFIRMED
01/15/20  GettingClose's husband      CONFIRMED
01/31/20  ATS (@52)                   CONFIRMED
01/31/20  DisplacedHoosier (@57)      CONFIRMED
02/03/20  grobinski (@52/53)          CONFIRMED
02/03/20  IslandFIGirl                CONFIRMED
02/07/20  JumboShrimp                 CONFIRMED
02/??/20  RetireAbroadAt35
03/01/20  Bmjohnson (@50)             CONFIRMED
03/06/20  damyst                      CONFIRMED
03/07/20  Fresh Bread                 Swami
03/10/20  Katmandew (@54/48)          CONFIRMED
03/13/20  CrazyIT                     CONFIRMED
03/13/20  ysette9 (@38)               CONFIRMED
03/13/20  Padonak                     CONFIRMED
03/13/20  Maenad                      CONFIRMED
03/20/20  Mmm_donuts                  CONFIRMED
03/??/20  FInding_peace (@38)       
03/??/20 or later 20  Beeboy (@46)
03/19/20  wildatheart (@53)           CONFIRMED
04/01/20  FlytilFIRE
04/02/20  CptCool 
04/09/20  rab-bit's wife              Given notice
04/17/20  Ottawa
04/??/20  DreamFIRE   
04/??/20  Pennycounter   
04/24/20  aspiringnomad (@37)         Given notice
04/??/20 or later 20  robtown   
04/??/20 - 07/??/20  JoJo
05/01/20  Fresh Bread's husband
05/01/20  Much fishing to do 
05/15/20  BeanCounter
05/15/20  Lucky13 (@44)
05/22/20  Body Surfer                 Given notice
05/31/20  Dee18
05/??/20  Rcc     
05/??/20  Lady Stash (@45)
06/01/20  Albireo13 (@64)
06/01/20  texxan1
06/05/20  thelyon19
06/05/20 (or April) rab-bit (@59)
06/16/20  Kteach                      Given notice
06/15/20  BigHaus89
06/??/20  Farmgirl (@61)
06/??/20  ixtap (date uncertain)     
07/01/20  FireLane (@38)   
07/01/20  Unique User (@50)
07/??/20  SugarMountain
07/??/20 or later 20  MMM123
07/??/20  bas5252 (@55)
07/??/20  2sk22 
07/??/20  SpreadsheetMan
08/07/20  HappyCheerE (@55)           Given notice
08/??/20 or 2021  Bateaux
09/25/20  apurplelife
09/30/20  MarcherLady
09/??/20  Dan23
10/??/20  Rubyvroom   
11/01/20  Alienbogey
11/10/20  exit2019
11/20/20  Alternatepriorities
11/30/20  Itchyfeet
12/31/20  BFGirl
12/31/20  Freedomin5 (@38)
12/??/20  david_shin   
12/??/20  MoneyTree (@36)   
12/??/20  Nora (@42)   
12/??/20  TheFIExplorer     
??/??/20  EscapeVelocity2020   
??/??/20  BlueMR2     
??/??/20  catccc   
??/??/20  DadzillaGorilla (FI@35, RE@40)   
??/??/20  FIREstache (@55)     
??/??/20  LadyMaWhiskers   
??/??/20  letsdoit   
??/??/20  onlykelsey     
??/??/20  tooqk4u22     
??/??/20  Fresh Bread
??/??/20?  Gumption

 
To be decided:
tipster350
SailingOnASmallSailboat's DH (@50/51)

OLY:   
meatgrinder   
Life in balance (end of 2019)
2Birds1Stone (autumn 2019)
Firebrand (second week of December 2019)
   
OMY:   
RedefinedHappiness   
FIREby2021 (Q1 2021)   
TheContinentalOp (2021)
Sand101
desk_jockey

   
FIREing later:   
FIPurpose (date to decided)   
ToughMother (date to be decided)
GettingClose working 50% and not in management from 04/01/2020 for another year.
Katmandew (@54), parttime from 02/29/2020.

Steevven1 (@29): parttime from 01/2020.

« Last Edit: April 08, 2020, 12:04:23 PM by Linea_Norway »

ysette9

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1552 on: March 20, 2020, 10:30:13 AM »
We rebalanced our portfolio tonight, selling bonds to buy stocks. My husband was rather shocked to see what our stash is at now. We are down something like $400k. I am serene because i always felt that this sort of thing would happen, just the universe’s way of being perverse. Naturally, the crash would come just as I retire. But he is working another year and we have more bonds now than we ever did during accumulation phase, so it isn’t nearly as bad as it could have been. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.

Wow $400k is just jaw dropping.
It is, right? And yet it still sort of feels like Monopoly money. We will be okay. Our plans for the future just got more fuzzy but we will go with the flow.

JoJo

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1553 on: March 22, 2020, 12:58:52 PM »
I was targeting May-July.   I would prefer to resign in person, so I'll work as long as we are remote + a few weeks so we shall see.  I could have purchased 3-4 new class B vans with the amount I've lost in my retirement accounts (something I had dreamed of buying but too cheap, trying to stick to a reasonable retirement budget).


Much Fishing to Do

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1554 on: March 22, 2020, 03:31:36 PM »

I fully expect we'll see another -30+% from this point, though, by end of summer at the latest.  the entire world economy is shutting down.

So I always thought most of us don't sell in times like this because we don't think we can venture a guess as to whether the next move is down or up...and over time it averages more up than down...and the ups can be even more violent after the big downs, so we just stay in.

If I read this line right, and one fully expects another 30% drop by the end of the summer, why don't they just sell now and buy back in later?  I admit I may not be interpreting this correctly.

exit2019

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1555 on: March 23, 2020, 03:14:26 PM »
1. one might be guessing wrong
2. going into this I already switched us to a 42.5/42.5/15 stock/bonds/cash (cash is higher than it should be because we've been sitting on a payout for awhile) - rising equity glidepath and a tent for the first 3Y
3. most of our investments date from 2008; we don't have useful losses to harvest; I suppose we could take the gains and pay the tax now but it seems like a bad choice

given these, "not doing anything" is the right thing to do.  we'll see how this week/month fares but I suspect more down.


aspiringnomad

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1556 on: March 24, 2020, 02:37:35 PM »
It's official - initial target launch day delayed due to weatherglobal pandemic. Our flights have (obvi) been cancelled and my work has thankfully extended my employment at least through the end of May, and possibly longer. Still likely that we'll be in this graduating class, but that's dependent on how this very novel thing plays out.

SailingOnASmallSailboat

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1557 on: March 24, 2020, 03:32:39 PM »
Congrats to all who are on target and given notice. Yahoo!

We're holding off. DH is planning still to have the conversation May 1, but it will be with the aim of going part time. Our house is not on the market, the boat is not finished enough to go anywhere - but the bigger deal is that we now have kids back home as who knows when colleges will actually be operational again. Plus, we can't go anywhere on the boat as all countries are closed.

Take us off the list please. Maybe we can add back on later this year if things shift around.

Fresh Bread

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1558 on: March 24, 2020, 04:34:22 PM »
Ummmm.... although I now only do a few hours here and there, and pretty much nothing due to coronavirus, my company still exists and it looks like I'll get a stimulus payout from the government (Australia). I've got to decide how it is best to use it but the intention is to continue to employ people when your business is struggling to pay them. I kind of feel a moral imperative to employ people again, which would take me right out of my semi retired/SWAMI-like state. I will see whether I get the payment and then figure out what to do.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1559 on: March 25, 2020, 02:07:50 AM »
Congrats to all who are on target and given notice. Yahoo!

We're holding off. DH is planning still to have the conversation May 1, but it will be with the aim of going part time. Our house is not on the market, the boat is not finished enough to go anywhere - but the bigger deal is that we now have kids back home as who knows when colleges will actually be operational again. Plus, we can't go anywhere on the boat as all countries are closed.

Take us off the list please. Maybe we can add back on later this year if things shift around.

Sorry for your situation. But not the end of the world. Many of us have to adapt our plans.

BigHaus89

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1560 on: March 25, 2020, 10:11:20 AM »
I am joining the 2020 cohort and will be finished with work in June! I have about 6 weeks of PTO to cash out so I am in the home stretch here and also working from home because of COVID-19.

I will be shifting from a 45 hr/week engineering job to working maximum 5 hr/week running a biz with DW. I am tired of the small mindedness and rigid work hours of my current job. Also, I'm pretty jaded on engineering in general. I can't see myself enjoying any other jobs in my field. The 10% of actual engineering is awesome and I love it but the other 90% is stupid corporate bullshit no matter where you go in the industry. Not for me.

exit2019

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1561 on: March 25, 2020, 03:15:13 PM »
New exit date 11/10/2020.  Still in this year.  Work extended my exit timeframe and agreed to a reduced presence - so now working 4D/week instead of 5 until I'm out, same compensation.

desk_jockey

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1562 on: March 25, 2020, 09:36:50 PM »
I’m pretty much removing my name from this class.   Getting a package might nudge me into RE, but otherwise I don’t see myself leaving on my own accord this year.   

I’m not fearful.  Can’t even say I feel disappointed.  It is what it is.   Learning about FI and the tools in this forum and from blogs have been a gift, and I seem to be one of the few in my circles that’s not worried about what’s coming financially.   If furloughs or unpaid vacation weeks are in the works, I’ll be the person that takes them with a big grin.

I plan to focus on making my job better for me in the near term, keep putting money into the markets, and probably set my eyes to the class of 2022.   If my situation changes then you guys will be the first to know.
« Last Edit: March 25, 2020, 09:38:29 PM by desk_jockey »

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1563 on: March 25, 2020, 11:59:08 PM »
New exit date 11/10/2020.  Still in this year.  Work extended my exit timeframe and agreed to a reduced presence - so now working 4D/week instead of 5 until I'm out, same compensation.

At least you will get a 50% longer weekend. That is a good feeling.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1564 on: March 26, 2020, 12:01:09 AM »
I am joining the 2020 cohort and will be finished with work in June! I have about 6 weeks of PTO to cash out so I am in the home stretch here and also working from home because of COVID-19.

I will be shifting from a 45 hr/week engineering job to working maximum 5 hr/week running a biz with DW. I am tired of the small mindedness and rigid work hours of my current job. Also, I'm pretty jaded on engineering in general. I can't see myself enjoying any other jobs in my field. The 10% of actual engineering is awesome and I love it but the other 90% is stupid corporate bullshit no matter where you go in the industry. Not for me.

Welcome. Is the first of June your actual FIRE date?

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1565 on: March 26, 2020, 12:03:14 AM »
I’m pretty much removing my name from this class.   Getting a package might nudge me into RE, but otherwise I don’t see myself leaving on my own accord this year.   

I’m not fearful.  Can’t even say I feel disappointed.  It is what it is.   Learning about FI and the tools in this forum and from blogs have been a gift, and I seem to be one of the few in my circles that’s not worried about what’s coming financially.   If furloughs or unpaid vacation weeks are in the works, I’ll be the person that takes them with a big grin.

I plan to focus on making my job better for me in the near term, keep putting money into the markets, and probably set my eyes to the class of 2022.   If my situation changes then you guys will be the first to know.

Goodbye.

It is a luxury to be in a situation where you won't have to worry financially, under current circumstances.

MarcherLady

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1566 on: March 26, 2020, 01:25:11 AM »
I'm now working to a 30/9/2020 date, no idea if that is realistic. I'm quietly hoping to get out earlier but - well, it's been crazy!

I'm concentrating on helping out in my community as best I can (I'm a telephone buddy to an elderly lady who is in self-isolation and lonely) and keeping up the spirits of my friends and family as best I can.   

I'm humbled and encouraged by the acts of selflessness I see around me to support people.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1567 on: March 26, 2020, 02:38:42 AM »
@Maenad and @Mmm_Donuts
Have you indeed stopped working? Or are you still in your last days?

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1568 on: March 26, 2020, 02:41:43 AM »
@FInding_peace @wildatheart @beeboy @texxan1
What is your status? Planning to FIRE or postponing it?

BigHaus89

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1569 on: March 26, 2020, 10:27:38 AM »
I am joining the 2020 cohort and will be finished with work in June! I have about 6 weeks of PTO to cash out so I am in the home stretch here and also working from home because of COVID-19.

I will be shifting from a 45 hr/week engineering job to working maximum 5 hr/week running a biz with DW. I am tired of the small mindedness and rigid work hours of my current job. Also, I'm pretty jaded on engineering in general. I can't see myself enjoying any other jobs in my field. The 10% of actual engineering is awesome and I love it but the other 90% is stupid corporate bullshit no matter where you go in the industry. Not for me.

Welcome. Is the first of June your actual FIRE date?

Probably mid-June is closer to the actual date.

Maenad

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1570 on: March 26, 2020, 03:10:36 PM »
@Maenad and @Mmm_Donuts
Have you indeed stopped working? Or are you still in your last days?
@Linea_Norway I have indeed stopped! Last day was March 13th. Currently spending my days stress-baking and watching funny YouTube videos.

ysette9

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1571 on: March 26, 2020, 10:19:11 PM »
@Maenad and @Mmm_Donuts
Have you indeed stopped working? Or are you still in your last days?
@Linea_Norway I have indeed stopped! Last day was March 13th. Currently spending my days stress-baking and watching funny YouTube videos.
Last day of work buddies!

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1572 on: March 27, 2020, 12:27:32 AM »
@Maenad and @Mmm_Donuts
Have you indeed stopped working? Or are you still in your last days?
@Linea_Norway I have indeed stopped! Last day was March 13th. Currently spending my days stress-baking and watching funny YouTube videos.

Good for you. Congrats!

Mmm_Donuts

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1573 on: March 27, 2020, 06:50:59 AM »
@Maenad and @Mmm_Donuts
Have you indeed stopped working? Or are you still in your last days?

Yes I've stopped :) Going through a whole range of emotions these days. I'm going to stay on part time for the foreseeable future. But the FT work is done.

JoJo

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1574 on: March 27, 2020, 11:19:57 AM »
2019 bonus hit the bank account yesterday, incentive to retire ASAP is now here, with the exception of being shut in... retiring now just to sit in the apartment not an attractive choice. 

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1575 on: March 27, 2020, 11:30:27 AM »
2019 bonus hit the bank account yesterday, incentive to retire ASAP is now here, with the exception of being shut in... retiring now just to sit in the apartment not an attractive choice.

Indeed. We may only move around locally. So we're now planning for a canoe/tenting trip on an island in the Oslo fjord, close to home. We went there today, but DH had forgotten his fishing rods, so we drive home again and will come back tomorrow morning. But this will be the first trip we are making since weeks. We would normally have spent the time at our cabin, skiing. But that is now forbidden by improvised new law (not overload the rural health system). And the local forest, apart from being a bit boring, has still a lot of snow in it, but too little for skiing. So we are sitting home now, taking a small trip every day. I wouldn't have FIREd  if I new this was coming. So unless, you want to read lots of books instead of working from home, or doing yoga at home, or baking bread, just stay at work a bit longer.

I am so curious how long this will epidemia last... I certainly hope we will be allowed to move again after easter, as we need a place to live from the first of July. We have sold our house and need to move out.

itchyfeet

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1576 on: March 27, 2020, 10:11:50 PM »
This is going to affect us for quite some time.

We are in full lockdown this weekend in Dubai. The government has issued a regulation requiring 80% of people to work from home, from this weekend forward, except for certain exempt industries.

I suspect this lockdown situation to last 1-2 months, after which we will have 12 months of very restricted travel and continuing recommendations of social distancing.

It will be a few years before economies are fully recovered, with everyone back fully employed. It will take that long to unpack all of the financial carnage that this disruption will have caused.

2022 will be an awesome year to be FIRED. By then all of us on this thread will be well settled into post working life and will be ready to make the absolute most of the enormous opportunities that will be before us.

EscapeVelocity2020

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1577 on: March 27, 2020, 10:34:18 PM »
...
We are in full lockdown this weekend in Dubai.
...

@itchyfeet Cool you are in Dubai, lockdown notwithstanding.  My family lived in Jumeirah Islands (Cluster 24) for a few years and I commuted to Sharjah.  Still miss flying on Emirates, but I'll be back (hopefully, someday).  Have you been to Oman?

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1578 on: March 28, 2020, 12:50:14 AM »
A propos, it was mentioned that it will take some time before everyone is back employed. I just read Andrew Yang's book and I think that the robot and AI developers are just continuing to develop their tools. There might not be as many jobs left very soon.
I also wonder whether this crisis might lead to big societal changes, like UBI for everyone in the state. Or for Norway to join the Euro.
« Last Edit: March 29, 2020, 10:10:05 AM by Linea_Norway »

2Birds1Stone

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1579 on: March 28, 2020, 12:53:40 AM »
Don't worry Linda. I sold this tech for the past 5 years and we are still a decade away from more complex work being automated away. If you're doing mindless swivel chair work, or thoughtless data entry, then yes, sayonara.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk


FlytilFIRE

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1580 on: March 28, 2020, 06:32:15 PM »
Hi,

As a long time lurker (and admirer), I can now report that I have joined the Class of 2020! I expected to retire in 2023, FI, but not RE (I'm 62), but just elected to take a buyout before the drama begins. Thanks for the MANY hours of instruction/enjoyment in the last two years, and, once I figure out how to actually POST something, I hope to add my minor insight in future threads.

Thanks!

Flytillfire

ysette9

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1581 on: March 28, 2020, 08:54:28 PM »
Hi,

As a long time lurker (and admirer), I can now report that I have joined the Class of 2020! I expected to retire in 2023, FI, but not RE (I'm 62), but just elected to take a buyout before the drama begins. Thanks for the MANY hours of instruction/enjoyment in the last two years, and, once I figure out how to actually POST something, I hope to add my minor insight in future threads.

Thanks!

Flytillfire
Congrats! Welcome to the club.

Stay safe.

MarcherLady

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1582 on: March 29, 2020, 12:43:37 AM »
Welcome, @FlytilFIRE

FlytilFIRE

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1583 on: March 29, 2020, 05:50:39 AM »
Thanks ysette9 and MarcherLady. Ysette9, I see you just pulled the plug yourself! Congratulations to you. I was required to retire at age 65, so I've been working towards this for a while. I'm also not telling very many people that I've called it a day. With so many out of a job, or struggling to pay bills, it seems rude to announce that I've got my 'state and settling into my comfortable reclining years.


ysette9

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1584 on: March 29, 2020, 07:58:51 AM »
Thanks ysette9 and MarcherLady. Ysette9, I see you just pulled the plug yourself! Congratulations to you. I was required to retire at age 65, so I've been working towards this for a while. I'm also not telling very many people that I've called it a day. With so many out of a job, or struggling to pay bills, it seems rude to announce that I've got my 'state and settling into my comfortable reclining years.
No kidding. It feels like we could barely have crafted a more awkward time to retire if we had tried.

FlytilFIRE

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1585 on: March 29, 2020, 09:21:49 AM »

[/quote]
No kidding. It feels like we could barely have crafted a more awkward time to retire if we had tried.
[/quote]
Yeah, but the way I looked at it, I didn't want to face the BS coming down in the airline industry. Better for me, and better for the young people looking at getting laid off...

A win-win, from my perspective.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1586 on: March 29, 2020, 10:14:11 AM »
Hi,

As a long time lurker (and admirer), I can now report that I have joined the Class of 2020! I expected to retire in 2023, FI, but not RE (I'm 62), but just elected to take a buyout before the drama begins. Thanks for the MANY hours of instruction/enjoyment in the last two years, and, once I figure out how to actually POST something, I hope to add my minor insight in future threads.

Thanks!

Flytillfire

Welcome.
Do I understand correct that you have already quit and that I can put you in the list with a confirmed date? Which date do you want to put there?

FlytilFIRE

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1587 on: March 29, 2020, 01:02:55 PM »
You can put me down for 1 April, although I am not going to work again. Thanks.

Body Surfer

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1588 on: March 30, 2020, 06:45:40 PM »
I am retiring in two months. My AA was 33 equities/67 cash. We felt financially safe, however, because of the incredible difficulty and uncertainty of Covid-19 we decided to sell virtually all our equities for now. We will get in when the world seems safer and healthier. At this point we will not worry about missing the beginning of a true market correction. Of course the market correction can take on many different variables and outcomes.

Hope you are all healthy and happy.

BlueMR2

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1589 on: March 31, 2020, 04:24:51 PM »
Numbers are down about 20%.  Waited until after the slight bounceback before I checked.  Nice to see the SWR percentages are still well within the safe range.  That OMY to make extra for buying an extra car to play with paid off.  It's a huge temptation to just keep going on working while things are down though.  When they do go back up, every dollar invested now is worth more!  Going to play it by ear.  If this turns into the depression that it could, I may hang out for an extra 2-3 years for the bonus dollars...  If we manage to recover quickly, well, I may stick with the 2020 plan.

Katmandew

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1590 on: March 31, 2020, 04:52:32 PM »
We pulled the rip cord on 3-10-2020 in the face of this medical and resulting economic storm.  Me at 54, wife at 48.  Thanks to this site and Bogleheads, we were prepared with an appropriate asset allocation (for us).  We have a minimum of 6 years of cash in the bank, and can stretch it to 10 years if we have to do so.  We have always lived well below our means, but finding this site and Bogleheads gave us the peace of mind that we could do it.  Since retiring I have read one book and started another (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - recommended by my son and a hoot so far), been taking nice walks with DW and our dog, work out, cook, and have started gardening.  Ya, all the goings on are unnerving, but this too, shall pass. 

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1591 on: April 01, 2020, 01:30:56 AM »
We pulled the rip cord on 3-10-2020 in the face of this medical and resulting economic storm.  Me at 54, wife at 48.  Thanks to this site and Bogleheads, we were prepared with an appropriate asset allocation (for us).  We have a minimum of 6 years of cash in the bank, and can stretch it to 10 years if we have to do so.  We have always lived well below our means, but finding this site and Bogleheads gave us the peace of mind that we could do it.  Since retiring I have read one book and started another (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - recommended by my son and a hoot so far), been taking nice walks with DW and our dog, work out, cook, and have started gardening.  Ya, all the goings on are unnerving, but this too, shall pass.

Welcome to the cohort. I have put you into the list as confirmed.

You have a very good cushion, which comes in handy now that the stockmarket is so low.
The hitchhikers guide is a fantasically absurd book. Good to hear that you enjoy yourself.

Maenad

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1592 on: April 01, 2020, 06:38:04 AM »
Thanks ysette9 and MarcherLady. Ysette9, I see you just pulled the plug yourself! Congratulations to you. I was required to retire at age 65, so I've been working towards this for a while. I'm also not telling very many people that I've called it a day. With so many out of a job, or struggling to pay bills, it seems rude to announce that I've got my 'state and settling into my comfortable reclining years.
No kidding. It feels like we could barely have crafted a more awkward time to retire if we had tried.

I know, right? DH and I were talking about this. We happened to have a large cash cushion, since we were planning on a bunch of capital expenditures this year - new vehicle, adding a third stall to our garage, etc. So on one hand, between cash, dividends, and frugality, we have about 3 years of living expenses available and won't need to touch stocks or bonds. On the other, how many years will it be until our overall balance is back up and we can cash out stock to do those big things? We may have traded "stuff" for time in a way that's different from what we've already been doing, a way that feels more like an actual sacrifice.

Still don't want to go back to work though. My backfill req is on hold, and I have a call this week with my former boss and another person to re-do a passdown. I'm glad to do it, but I woke up in the middle of the night last night and had trouble getting back to sleep as I started thinking about my old job. First night of interrupted sleep in 2.5 weeks - think my body is telling me something?

Unique User

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1593 on: April 01, 2020, 07:39:11 AM »
We're unsure as of right now, but probably will push our dates to later in the year.  My project was put on hold, so my hours have been reduced to zero for the next 30-60 days.  DH is still working and was planning on giving notice today, but will hold off for now even though we have about a 2.5-3 year cash cushion.  Tenant in our sole remaining rental house paid rent, so that is a positive.   

markbike528CBX

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1594 on: April 03, 2020, 10:35:30 PM »
TO:
All 2020 Confirmed and future 2020 FIREees.   

I'm very impressed how many of you are still FIREing!  Congratulations on a big step up!

I talk big, but I'm not sure I could have FIREd intentionally during this time.  If you see the whining in the 2+Million thread, you'll see why I'm impressed with this cohort's resilience in the face of a hard wind.

You 2020 Confirmed people have really inspired and comforted me during this time.  If you can (and are) doing FIRE, then I can too!

Markbike528CBX
OP of 2019 thread, FIREd in 2018.

FIREby2021

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1595 on: April 04, 2020, 01:46:14 PM »
Howdy 2020 cohort, what a freaking weird year this has turned out to be so far!

Normally I write monthly highlights; switching gears to quarterly:

- Portfolio stress test EXTREME continues ... we've all felt the consequences, no doubt.  Coming off a great 2019, the Q1 of 2020 was a rude awakening for most of us.  Glad to say that we've maintained our savings & giving targets, and aren't down nearly as much as we could have been.  As has been mentioned in the past, we'd been in a mode of taking profits and dialing back risk.  Thankful to have the opportunity to withstand this downturn with modest damage, and are actively starting to deploy dry powder to get to our longterm AA target.  Currently at 35/65, targeting 80/20 by EOY 2020.  A silver lining to this whole terrible mess should offer long term investors a decent entry point.

- I truly hope all here are doing OK, staying as healthy, safe & sane as possible during these trying times.  Our mantra has been to stay "sober, yet peaceful" as we've learned to navigate the new realities (some temporary, some permanent).  Sober to the fact that this is a really difficult & scary time for many, yet peaceful to the reality that we are not in control and can only make the best decisions we can for ourselves, families and those close to us.  This too shall pass! My hope is there will be good things, necessary changes, and opportunities that arise from even a terrible situation as this one.  I do still carry anxiety about how this might affect older, at-risk family members and for those working on the front lines.  Ugh, it's just a lot, and I hope you all are OK.

- Travel was a big part of our 2020 plans, and lots has changed.  We were able to make an incredible trip to Turkey in Feb before all this came about, but we've also cancelled a few trips that were scattered over the spring.  Business travel also has ground to a halt ... so we are evaluating whether a road trip is in order (primarily to go help out my aging parents who are locked down and pretty limited).  Every week our plans seem to evolve, which sort of drives me crazy as a planner.  We'll probably be hunkered down at home and/or only do road trips until the fall, it seems.

- Remote working has been possible for both of us, thankfully, and the last 3 weeks have taught us a lot as to what that could look like in the future. We'd been discussing and evaluating an FI model whereby I try to maintain the possibility to work remotely in our dream FIRE location.  Given the economic hits + the forced remote work, it's becoming more and more likely that this may be what unfolds for 2021.  Taking it month by month, but that very well may become the interim step between FI and FIRE for us.

- At the end of 2019, our NW progress covered: a paid-off FIRE home, fully-funded FIRE lump sums (for giving, home renovation, new car, etc.) as well as a WR of 4.1% based on our target annual spend (living expenses, taxes, home maintenance, travel, healthcare, etc.).  The first quarter of 2020 proceeded to take a ball peen hammer to that progress!

- Here we are, as of 01-APR-2020, our NW progress covers: a paid-off FIRE home, fully-funded FIRE lump sums, and a WR of 4.7%.  Two ways to look at this - really disappointing, or wow, not as bad as it could have been!  All-in-all our NW decreased 9.1% during Q1, reflecting the conservative AA we'd moved to and our continued savings rate. 

- Countdown: Assuming monthly progress remains on par with our historic averages, we now project to reach our FI goal of a 3.75% WR by Q4-2021 ... this is a 1-year delay!!  My office whiteboard countdown tracker now shows 11 months left before our previous FIRE target timing of Q1-2021, but right now everything is at risk and up for discussion.  Thankful to have options and flexibility in place.

EOY 2015 = 53.8%
EOY 2016 = 67.8%
EOY 2017 = 75.5%
EOY 2018 = 81.6%
EOY 2019 = 94.1%


// FI target defined as 3.75% WR, mortgage-free + lump sums funded //

END OF MONTH PROGRESS:
JAN 2020  92.9%
FEB 2020  89.7%
MAR 2020 85.6%

We've come up with our dry-powder deployment plan for 2020, and otherwise are focused on doing our part to limit the spread of COVID-19, keep finding ways to enjoy life and make the best of it.  Things have to get better from here, don't they? :-)

FIREby2021
« Last Edit: April 06, 2020, 08:14:48 AM by FIREby2021 »

texxan1

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1596 on: April 04, 2020, 03:06:13 PM »
@FInding_peace @wildatheart @beeboy @texxan1
What is your status? Planning to FIRE or postponing it?


I am still targeting june 1, ive been waiting on my contract ending and the company paying me off. No reason to chuck it right now, as my work is abroad and i cant get there anyways lol.. Still getting paid though and going fishing every day.       

Kteach

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1597 on: April 04, 2020, 07:14:50 PM »
I put in my paperwork before this all got serious and I’m still retiring in June. I’m now teaching from home -suddenly since I was on leave the day it was announced. It’s sad to end my career this way -not being able to say good bye to my students or colleagues in person and having to learn totally new teaching methods for the last few months, but I’m grateful to be home safe with my family.

wildatheart

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1598 on: April 06, 2020, 07:54:32 AM »
@FInding_peace @wildatheart @beeboy @texxan1
What is your status? Planning to FIRE or postponing it?

I went with Plan A and FIRED March 19. OUCH! Am I crazy? Maybe. But, I planned for this and believe the long term will work out. I don't have the uber-comfort-level I had in January with my portfolio for liquidity, but I was able to tax-loss harvest almost my whole income for 2020, and get back into the markets at a reduced cost/share. I also shuffled and kept out all my cash for the year so if real bargains come by (like some super cheap oil!) I can make a little quicker come-back with some short-term wins.

Healthcare options are driving me a little extra crazy but I'll figure it out.


ysette9

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1599 on: April 06, 2020, 09:35:30 AM »
Congrats!