I don't really have a specific question, mostly just venting my current situation. Advice or guidance would not be unwelcome though :).
So DH and I have a plan to retire when I hit 40. That's about 5 years. I made the plan and I like the plan. It is a good plan. We have been doing this plan since we were in college. My dad retired at 40-ish so I had a decent guide.
I am the main breadwinner making over double what DH makes. I also get classy benefits like 401k and stock buys. In 2016 our pre-tax combined income was over $100,000 for the the first time! Our post tax savings rate has climbed to 50% (not including things like 401k and other pretax goodies). The only debt is my remaining student loan at 1.88% interest (letting inflation eat that) and 12 years left on our mortgage (a small, low cost house).
DH designed a wooden dragon guarding a treasure pile that I can update with more treasure as our stash grows. Classy! We are a simple people.
Things are good!
Then my company decides to go off and start merging with another company. *sigh*
The close date is August. The likelihood of my job being located here in the future is really really low. :(.
Now I am dealing with much uncertainty. Not good for someone that structures their life to avoid uncertainty. In the company I am an unimportant cog that has been there 9 years. I will say I am known for being a good employee, I get hard stuff done, I am good to work with, and generally people like me. This also mean I get a lot of garbage dumped on me since I actually get it done.
The things to consider:
We can live off DH's pay. It would be tight but we can do it. We picked our house assuming one low income so we'd be okay if something bad happened. The savings rate would tank. The current investments would keep growing, but retire at 40 would go bye bye.
The company could offer me a job at the other location. If I take it, DH will have to leave his job. Him finding jobs he can tolerate is low, I am more flexible. The new location has a higher cost of living. The new place does not have our friends and family. <--- this is a real hard one.
I've also been doing my job for 9 years so it might be time for a change. So, I most likely will say no to a move, but if there is an offer, I'd like to see it.
They could offer me a new role that stays local. This would be the most awesome. I have been applying to openings, but nothing yet.
They let me go and I get 2 weeks pay for each year service. Then I find something else to do.
They let me go and laugh at me as I walk out. I find something else to do.
I could find another similar job on my own. I've been looking. My company pays the best in the area. If I do something similar, I will take about a 40% pay cut. I figure milking my current role for as long as possible is best, especially if there might be a severance. If they let me go, find another job. It is only for a few years.
I could also find a new career path. I currently work in the Sciences, but my true strengths are planning, organizing and getting things done (with an easy going personality and analytical mindset). I don't need to work in science, even if science is the coolest. I am good at helping people with their finances and future planning (I meet with people from work and help them plan their financial futures - LOVE doing this). Not sure how to make my skills into an actual job. With about 5 years left it seems easier to just be a cog and then walk away once I am done doing that.
The new career path is where I spend most of my time thinking about. I am not great at IT or computers, so those avenues would be out. Sales also makes me sad, and the financial industry is almost entirely a sales industry. Grr. I am heavily considering starting a financial guidance business that does no sales. That way you get the advice you need without feeling like you are being sold something. Could be a fun side job.
But mostly I am just waiting to see what happens and watching all the rats jump ship!
LV