Author Topic: How to take money Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (Read 5273 times)

texxan1

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How to take money Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« on: May 22, 2019, 10:27:16 AM »

Heres the scoup.. Im done.... just trying to sort out the details.... Im ready to go now, but want you guys expert opinons

Heres the story

47.5 Year old single man
500k House ( paid for MCOL)
790k after tax in vanguard
730 401k Fidelity
65k cash in savings
265k pension ( if take now and move to vanguard for future)
99k lump sum pension the day i turn 65


Here are my monthlys
House Tax/insurance  833
Electric                      120
Cell                            70
Wifi                            70
groceries                    400
house gas                   20
health insure              ????
Boat gas                     500
Truck gas                    300
House water etc           100
Misc                            400


So my assets include the following
2019 Tundra (paid for)
2020 21ft bay boat (paid for)
2017 26ft bay boat ( paid for)


So the master plan, cut and run..... I have a side income from a business of about 25k a year ( vending ice biz)  and will plan on continuing my love of being a part time fishing guide... Figure $500 a day profit... this takes care of my truck boat gas etc etc.... figure on 65 trips a year doing it lightly or if i want to go balls out doing 150


The part i dont get ,is the best way to take the money out of my investments.. Since im only 47, figure take ONLY what i need after guiding and side hussle ... Seems like take dividends first, then whatever i need form my taxable accounts and ride off into the sunset

I figure 4% net gain in the investment accounts would be worth about 60k a year... dont think i even need a side hustle to achieve that, but want to live a pretty comfortable life... Im pretty easy going, I fish, drink some beer and chill.

what do you guys think is the best way to take the money out???

My only true fear is lack of good medical... Im eligible for VA coverage, but no idea how that works... After COBRA it would be ACA.....i have options, just unaware.. read so much but just get lost

plans to meet an investment coach and meet with my HR to see what i need to do, but im effectively done with my stint in oil and gas.

Thanks

Te

jojoguy

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Re: How to take money Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2019, 10:36:22 AM »
I have no real expert answer, but man congratulations! Very impressive retirement setup. Somebody will probably say stick with the Vanguard after tax account to withdraw from or even the cash savings at first. I`m pretty sure with those alone you`ll probably never run out of money even if you overindulge here and there.

infromsea

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Re: How to take money Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2019, 11:30:49 AM »
You state that you are eligible for VA coverage.

Do you mean Veterans Administration?

If that's affirmative, how are you eligible? Is it related to a disability or something else?

I'd suggest reaching out to the VFW service officer (or similar at American Legion, Naval Reserve Association etc...) to clarify what you'll be "covered" for by VA BUT, my Pops is using Vet Admin Medical (eligible due to his period of service) and it's functional yet fraught with gaps (it's similar to medicare in many ways).

If you are reasonably healthy, Vet Admin Healthcare might meet your needs AND, it usually serves as a backstop/catastrophic plan. Pops had a health crash a few months ago, did 3 weeks in VA emergency room, followed by stay in long-term facility, VA Covered some, medicare covered some, it works as if he has two insurance policies.

Congrats on the decision and getting ready to start the next phase of your journey, enjoy the path!

« Last Edit: May 22, 2019, 11:36:36 AM by infromsea »

BECABECA

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Re: How to take money Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2019, 11:56:09 AM »
The first thing I would recommend doing is logging into your Vanguard after tax account and setting the dividends to transfer into your checking account instead of automatically reinvesting. If your holdings are mostly VTSAX, that pays out about 1.8% total in dividends each year (split up quarterly). With the amount you’ve got, that’s roughly $14,000 a year, or about 1/3 of your annual expenses (when excluding health insurance). So that plus your $25k a year side business covers all your expenses except health insurance.

Find out if you’re eligible for VA coverage. If you aren’t, then you also probably won’t qualify for any meaningful ACA discounts, since those phase out at $48,500 income, and you’re getting pretty close to that before even factoring in the fishing guide income.

But the good news is even without VA coverage or ACA discounts, you should be able to afford the best ACA plan with just one or two day a month of fishing guide income.

Holy crap, you aren’t even going to be touching any of your retirement stash principle! You were FI a long time ago, so don’t stress, you’re sitting pretty!

DaMa

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Re: How to take money Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2019, 12:02:23 PM »
I'm interested in the responses you get, as I'm in a similar situation. 

I will be taking COBRA until 4/30/2022 and living off the cash in my savings and CDs for those 36 months.  I will have interest and dividend income only.  I will probably need to start drawing down my stash in 2022.

I do plan to convert as much as possible from IRA to Roth at the 10% tax level (maybe up to 12%) during 2019-2021.  In 2022, I will want to keep my income lower to qualify for the ACA subsidies.

WannaGoOutside

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Re: How to take money Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2019, 01:26:10 PM »
First, congrats!  I am your same age and coming up on 2 years retired and am loving it!

Second, I had the same question ...  you save for years, but what are the particulars about how to withdraw during the retirement years...?

IF you are a detailed person and like to think about and manage your own money, I highly recommend the book "Living Off Your Money" by Michael H. McClung.  He is an engineering nerdy type and he took a look at many different withdrawal methods and ways to calculate a "safe" withdrawal rate.  Even if you don't pick his recommended strategies in the end, you get a lot of education on different methods and how they stack up in various retirement scenarios.  I spent a good bit of time absorbing this information, and then did some changes to what ratio of stocks/bonds to have in our after-tax accounts versus my DH's pre-tax accounts (accessible 8 years before my own) versus my pre-tax accounts.  I'm using one of his recommended rebalancing/withdrawal strategies, using an elaborate spreadsheet you can download from his site.

IF you are NOT a detailed person, I think you have enough extra principle and side hustles that you can take a much less detailed approach and do just fine!  :-D  I just liked having a book and some guidelines to help me come up with a plan.

Good luck!  And enjoy!!!

Fire1018

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Re: How to take money Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #6 on: May 24, 2019, 06:29:46 AM »
OP go to VA.gov and click on medical benefits for a good explanation of how it works and whether or not you are qualified.

The basics are this. The VA has Priority Groups with you qualify for based on whether you have a disability rating, what that percent is, and certain other qualifiers such as Purple Heart recipient etc. If you do not meet those types of qualifications and are using your time serviced it has to be the right time as well as the right length of time.  If you have an income over a certain basic amount you and are in a low priority group (4 or higher) you will have to pay co-payments or possibly a larger percent for your care if high income and in a high priority group number ( for example priority group 1 is for 100% disabled vets whereas priority group 7 is for 0 disabled vets with high incomes). You also can not get an ACA Premium subsidy if you use the VA although you can have both private insurance or Medicare and Medicaid in conjunction.

Anyways its a simple to find out info and apply on the VA website. Or as @infromsea suggested go to a local Vets group. If able to use the VA you'll get an ID card good at any VA. I've been using them for years (I have a 40% disability rating) and have been very happy with the level of care I receive from them.
https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/
https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/#priority-groups

I just found out that I am eligible for VA care due to my combat service during the Gulf War!  I am winding down to FIRE mid 2022.  I received a lump sum retention bonus at the end of last year, and will receive one in 2020 and a final one in 2022.  These bonuses will artificially inflate my income and I'm worried that the higher income will push me into a lower priority group.  Should I start talking to the VA now, or does it make sense to wait until next year when my income will be lower, or should I wait until I FIRE and have a substantially lower income?   I expect to be in priority group 6 or higher as I have heard length of active duty time will bump up your priority group.  Spartana - do you have any recommendations for me?  What kind of copays can I expect after I FIRE?  Can I rely on just the VA for health insurance coverage?

Thanks!

Fire1018

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Re: How to take money Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #7 on: May 24, 2019, 03:22:03 PM »
Thanks for the info!  I guess I'll apply through the VA website and see what happens.  I guess there's no reason to hold off!

FernFree

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Re: How to take money Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #8 on: May 27, 2019, 11:05:27 PM »
I FIRE'd last August and am in a very similar situation to you.  I thought I would have great, cheap insurance on the healthcare exchange, but I actually got rejected because of VA eligibility.  I checked it out and I qualify for VA healthcare and so far it has been terrific - no premiums, no deductibles, and only very affordable co-pays.  At my first appointment with my general practitioner, I was able to chat with my Dr. for over an hour asking all sorts of questions while she did a medical history with me.  Nothing like the 2 minutes of someone looking at their laptop and not listening to you that is becoming the norm. 

I wish I would have known about it more while I was working, because I could have saved a lot when I had a procedure or a test with high out of pocket.  You will probably be Priority Group 8, same as me.  They somehow have your tax returns so they know your group without you doing anything and the cutoff for 8 is something like income above $48K.  For group 8, your co-pays are $15 for your GP, $50 for a specialist (or for some specialist tests like an echocardiogram), and between $5-$33 for a prescription with a $700 annual prescription maximum.

The downside of VA healthcare is access.  If you end up in an emergency room, they might not pay the bill.  If you want a certain prescription and it isn't on their list, you can't get it through them.  I think that is generally worth the trade-off though in the savings.  I heard that quality of care depends somewhat upon where you live, and in Central Texas they seem to be very good.

Anyway, the easiest way for you to check your status will be to just google the number of your local VA clinic and call them -- I found them much more helpful than any of the 1000's of webpages they have that don't make a lot of sense. :)

Nords

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Re: How to take money Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #9 on: June 01, 2019, 08:24:10 AM »
OP go to VA.gov and click on medical benefits for a good explanation of how it works and whether or not you are qualified.

The basics are this. The VA has Priority Groups with you qualify for based on whether you have a disability rating, what that percent is, and certain other qualifiers such as Purple Heart recipient etc. If you do not meet those types of qualifications and are using your time serviced it has to be the right time as well as the right length of time.  If you have an income over a certain basic amount you and are in a low priority group (4 or higher) you will have to pay co-payments or possibly a larger percent for your care if high income and in a high priority group number ( for example priority group 1 is for 100% disabled vets whereas priority group 7 is for 0 disabled vets with high incomes). You also can not get an ACA Premium subsidy if you use the VA although you can have both private insurance or Medicare and Medicaid in conjunction.

Anyways its a simple to find out info and apply on the VA website. Or as @infromsea suggested go to a local Vets group. If able to use the VA you'll get an ID card good at any VA. I've been using them for years (I have a 40% disability rating) and have been very happy with the level of care I receive from them.
https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/
https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/#priority-groups

I just found out that I am eligible for VA care due to my combat service during the Gulf War!  I am winding down to FIRE mid 2022.  I received a lump sum retention bonus at the end of last year, and will receive one in 2020 and a final one in 2022.  These bonuses will artificially inflate my income and I'm worried that the higher income will push me into a lower priority group.  Should I start talking to the VA now, or does it make sense to wait until next year when my income will be lower, or should I wait until I FIRE and have a substantially lower income?   I expect to be in priority group 6 or higher as I have heard length of active duty time will bump up your priority group.  Spartana - do you have any recommendations for me?  What kind of copays can I expect after I FIRE?  Can I rely on just the VA for health insurance coverage?

Thanks!
Unless you have a rated disability you'll have to fill out a financial assessment form every year or anytime you finances increase so waiting probably doesn't matter. If you are in priority group 7 or higher you will have to pay a co-pay for everything. They aren't very high for regular stuff - $15/Dr visit, $50/specialist $5/prescription etc - but can get high for inpatient care or hospitalization. The amounts are listed in the website I posted. The higher priority groups (I'm in priority group 2) just pay for meds and doctors or specialist if your income is over the max income threshhold. If below that income level its free.

 The VA does occasionally cut out the lower priority groups (7 and 8) because of lack of funding so there's that risk. They are also in the process of "possibly" transitioning to a privatized system so that could effect things. I just got a letter from them saying on June 6th they have a new system in place that allows use of private non-VA Medical care under certain situations so that may be a pre-cursor to privatization.  Also some of the benefits based on combat duty are only temporary - usually only good for a year after discharge - so make sure and check the VA website.

If you have private insurance but not getting subsidies you can combine it with VA coverage and if you use the VA they will bill your private insurance company (or Medicaid and Medicare) to cover your co-pays.

Bat signaling @Nords who may have more info.
Thanks, @spartana

@Fire1018, if those retention bonuses are for military duty and you’re going to be retiring from either active duty or the Reserves/Guard, then you’ll have Tricare health insurance in addition to the VA eligibility.  Tricare starts immediately for active-duty retirements and at age 60 (for most) for Reserve retirements.

Health insurance expenses for military retirees are very low, so the VA eligibility might not be a significant cost difference.

If that retention bonus was for something else and you’re not going to be a military retiree then I’d go talk with the VA.  They’ll do their math and you’ll be able to decide whether it’s worth their price.  When you reach FI and your income drops off then file the new forms with your local VA clinic, and the VA will re-adjust your priority group accordingly.

The general advice is to see the VA now and register for benefits.  The VA puts your military data into the system, and your registration helps your local VA clinic get higher federal funding (more vets eligible for their care).  Even if you don’t use the VA for care, they still get credit for your name in their ZIP code.

The quality of VA healthcare is unevenly distributed.  Some places are outstanding while others are awful.  In your neighborhood, you won’t know which until you start working with the staff and talking with the doctors.

If you’re no longer on military active duty and you have not yet filed a VA disability claim, then you should do so now while the memories (and your records) are hypothetically still available.  Every day that an eligible vet delays filing a claim, it means that their eventual caregivers (probably their families) have to figure it out without their help:
https://the-military-guide.com/file-veterans-disability-claim-not-just/

Financial.Velociraptor

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Re: How to take money Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #10 on: June 01, 2019, 10:18:48 AM »

Heres the scoup.. Im done.... just trying to sort out the details.... Im ready to go now, but want you guys expert opinons

Heres the story

47.5 Year old single man
500k House ( paid for MCOL)
790k after tax in vanguard
730 401k Fidelity
65k cash in savings
265k pension ( if take now and move to vanguard for future)
99k lump sum pension the day i turn 65


Here are my monthlys
House Tax/insurance  833
Electric                      120
Cell                            70
Wifi                            70
groceries                    400
house gas                   20
health insure              ????
Boat gas                     500
Truck gas                    300
House water etc           100
Misc                            400


So my assets include the following
2019 Tundra (paid for)
2020 21ft bay boat (paid for)
2017 26ft bay boat ( paid for)


So the master plan, cut and run..... I have a side income from a business of about 25k a year ( vending ice biz)  and will plan on continuing my love of being a part time fishing guide... Figure $500 a day profit... this takes care of my truck boat gas etc etc.... figure on 65 trips a year doing it lightly or if i want to go balls out doing 150


The part i dont get ,is the best way to take the money out of my investments.. Since im only 47, figure take ONLY what i need after guiding and side hussle ... Seems like take dividends first, then whatever i need form my taxable accounts and ride off into the sunset

I figure 4% net gain in the investment accounts would be worth about 60k a year... dont think i even need a side hustle to achieve that, but want to live a pretty comfortable life... Im pretty easy going, I fish, drink some beer and chill.

what do you guys think is the best way to take the money out???

My only true fear is lack of good medical... Im eligible for VA coverage, but no idea how that works... After COBRA it would be ACA.....i have options, just unaware.. read so much but just get lost

plans to meet an investment coach and meet with my HR to see what i need to do, but im effectively done with my stint in oil and gas.

Thanks

Te

By my back of the napkin math, your side hustle and fishing guide income covers everything except medical already.  You almost can't mess this up.  You got a recommendation to have your dividends transfered directly to checking and that is good advice (taxable account only!)  That might be enough to cover medical. 

Medical costs are the big unknown for all early retirees.  I recommend: 1) Getting your VA eligibility sorted out 2) pricing the second lowest Silver plan on the Obamacare marketplace (I assume you are in Texas - I pay about 430/mo in a Houston zip code and 46 years of age for 2nd lowest BRONZE) 3) contact an insurance broker (there are non-insurance "indemnity plans" that are low cost and provide a great deal of supplemental coverage - what I will do again if ACA ever goes away).  Some combination of 1-3 should hold you over until Medicare eligibility.  Also note, all ACA plans in TX are high deductible.  It is easy to select something HSA compatible and pay your first 6,000 out of pre-tax savings.  With careful planning of your fishing guide income and HSA deduction, t(IRA) contribution, you can probably get your AGI low enough to qualify for maximum ACA subsidy.  I have had a NEGATIVE effective income tax rate in 4 out of 6 years in retirement so far b/c of subsidy.  Seriously, focus here.  With our side income, the only thing that could make your RE fail is medical.

After you get medical sorted and set your dividends to transfer to checking...sell from taxable whatever is needed to cover the gaps.  You might take out two years of withdrawals every two years if it helps you qualify for ACA subsidy every other year.  You'll have to do some basic arithmetic to sort that out.

Pro-tip: A single guy living alone has time to learn to cook.  You can get your food bill under a 100/mo while still eating like a king.  I cook sometimes but like to eat out especially with Dad as a social event.  Even with eating out nearly every day, I still spend around 400 a month on food.  If things are tight, this is where I will cut back first.  You should explore what/how you want to eat in FIRE.  Definately get healthier though now that you don't have to 'rush eat'.   That is one of the unsung benefits of early retirement.  I've lost over 50 pounds!

texxan1

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Re: How to take money Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #11 on: June 08, 2019, 03:05:49 AM »
Thanks all

Great advice.   got an appointment with the VA... They say im group 8 , but would not qualify until one full calendar year away from the job since i am a huge earner.... So had planned on that, regardless if it was ACA or VA.... Cobra it is for a short span

Everything else is in check, now if i could get all the money my company is holding me back on lol... That would give me over 100k cash one they pay me, once thats done.. Im Gone Fishin!!!!!!!!!!!!!