Hi everyone, I figured it was time for me to delurk. I've been visiting this forum for a quite a while (in stealth mode), taking in the often great advice, humorous banter, and general helpfulness of the folks here. Thanks!
I'm a NYer with a ways to go until I'm FI but hey, I'm pleased to even be able to consider it a possible goal these days. I spent a number of years of my working life in a pretty low-paying industry (and position) and lived simply with little left over to save. Things changed about 10 years ago when I shifted into the world of megacorp financial institutions. This led to much better compensation (fewer old bag lady nightmares), a significant (but so far doable) increase in stress, and a pretty high degree of job insecurity...guess it's all part of the territory. This is where I am now:
48yo, single, no kids
Own co-op: roughly $200k
Ret: $280k (401k, IRAs)
Non-ret: $180k (taxable mutual funds)
No pension
I can and plan to live on a lot less than my current salary but don't see moving from expensive NYC area. So less is still not as low as most places, I suspect. With taking a "sabbatical" (...ex-employer initiated, lengthened by me to travel, putter, and generally contemplate/check out other options), I found healthcare costs to be a huge obstacle to not returning to full-time w/ benefits. It's hard for me to imagine continuing until late 50s in this line of work...it could all change (and probably will) and that would be interesting too...another reinvention of a work identity, perhaps.
I'm a NYer with a ways to go until I'm FI but hey, I'm pleased to even be able to consider it a possible goal these days. I spent a number of years of my working life in a pretty low-paying industry (and position) and lived simply with little left over to save. Things changed about 10 years ago when I shifted into the world of megacorp financial institutions. This led to much better compensation (fewer old bag lady nightmares), a significant (but so far doable) increase in stress, and a pretty high degree of job insecurity...guess it's all part of the territory. This is where I am now:
48yo, single, no kids
Own co-op: roughly $200k
Ret: $280k (401k, IRAs)
Non-ret: $180k (taxable mutual funds)
No pension
I can and plan to live on a lot less than my current salary but don't see moving from expensive NYC area. So less is still not as low as most places, I suspect. With taking a "sabbatical" (...ex-employer initiated, lengthened by me to travel, putter, and generally contemplate/check out other options), I found healthcare costs to be a huge obstacle to not returning to full-time w/ benefits. It's hard for me to imagine continuing until late 50s in this line of work...it could all change (and probably will) and that would be interesting too...another reinvention of a work identity, perhaps.
