So I'm 34 and started my FIRE journey about a year ago. Following the investment order, I'm contributing up to the employer match for my 401k (4%) and we're working on getting my wife's contribution up to her employer match which is 50% of any amount she contributes.
Right now, we can afford to put $9,000 into hers each year and so her company will contribute $4,500 but over the next couple years, I'm planning to redirect any raises each of us get (hopefully 3% each year) into her 401k and hopefully reach the $18,500 limit in the next 2-3 years.
If we can do that, we should be able to hit FI in our late 40's/early 50's. That got me thinking however that once we reach FI, if we decide to retire early, how will be able to tap into those resources since they are all in tax-advantaged accounts and restricted from contributions until we are 59.5? I have a couple thousand dollars in a ROTH-IRA but stopped funding it to try and max out my wife's 401k and it will be several years until I can afford to start contributing to it again.
So for people that have FIREd, how did you fund your lifestyle?
