40 and wanting out

[fanfairs]

Hello. I wanted to introduce myself. I am a 40 year old Fed Gov't worker and have had enough already! Trying to educate myself to make my early escape (say in 15 years or less ... maybe if I get lucky I'll receive the golden boot around 53-54). Just started reading investment books (though I've been contributing the max to my 401k and ROTH IRAs for the past 10 years). Recently started to put taxable monies into the Vanguard 500 Index, Small-Cap Index Fund (I never see this one recommended in anything I've read so far ... how come?) and Total International Market Index Fund. Sure hope I'm on the right track (advice welcome)

Took the advice of this site and went to the library the other day to check out Standard & Poors, The Outlook and Value Line Investment Survey. Looks like I'll need to join an investment club or something to learn how to understand them. I'm sure I'll learn a lot here. I hope to hear from some of you.

Natalie

[RedOscar]

I'm sure you will find lots of varied opinion around here about how to meet your retirement goals.

I made my small cap taxable investment in Vanguard's Tax-Managed Small Cap fund (VTMSX). It is a fairly new offering, but I believe it to be similar to their Small Cap Index fund.

Another good book which you may wish to check into is William Bernstein's "The Four Pillars of Investing".

Good luck with your retirement planning.

Red

[MRGALT2U]

Hi "40 and wanting out". I would venture to say that
you may learn more (or at least get more leads to usable info) on this website than anywhere else. I've
been semiretired 10 years, consider myself pretty
financially sharp, but still pick up something almost
every time I check in. There is really no substitute
for listening to those who have "been there - done that".