Fire Journey Has Been Good to Me

[MrFire22]

All:

I just wanted to share some encouraging news. I had always been frugal and paid off my student loans in Dec 2017 when I started to invest in the market at that same time. Two years ago, I wrote a case study for the forum. End of 2019, my income was $138K and my bonus was around $20K. My net assets were $150K (Stock market, including 401k). Fast-forward 2 years later of steady investing and lowering cost of living and my numbers are much better:

Salary: $200K + 50K bonus
Assets: $600K (Stock market, including 401k & HSA)

I'm a lawyer and just made partner, so with profit sharing, I hope to make even more next year which will shorten my journey.

I'm 37 and hope to retire at around 40/41. I currently live in NYC, but wish to retire in Portugal and maybe spend summers in NYC.  Annual spending around $48K in the future. (So Need a 1.2M nest egg). I think I'm on track! 

[Virtus3]

Awesome job! You're well on your way.

I'm curious when you decided you wanted to FIRE? It's always interesting to me for those with advanced degrees.

[MrFire22]

I've always been frugal well before even knowing about this movement and I've always had an interest in living abroad. My earlier goal was to find a remote job so I could work from anywhere in the world. I have that now (mostly due to the pandemic), but around 2017 after I paid off my loans I started investing. I don't think Ill quit the workforce for good, but will take on jobs that interest me and explore my passions rather than just work for the highest pay check.

I'm an attorney in Civil practice, but I'd love to work for a NGO helping out those wrongfully convicted. Those attorneys don't make as much as me, but their careers are super rewarding.

[Chris Pascale]

In retirement, will you continue to do legal work? If so, I'd love to connect you to my friend who's freed about 10 innocent people from prison.

Here's a piece about him: https://agnituslife.com/one-mans-fight-for-justice/

His personal story is incredible.