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01-31-2013, 07:25 PM
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#1
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Holland
Posts: 100
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Hello from cold Michigan
Hi, I just found this site a week ago and I'm totally addicted! I look forward to learning as much as I can from everyone here.
I'm 36 years old and I've been working on my savings for almost 10 years. I have approximately 140k in my 401k and approximately 30k in my Roth. I want to begin to invest in something I can use to bridge the gap from 52 to 55 (tap into the 401K), so I hope I can get some good recommendations on this site.
The only problem I have now, is how to stretch my money further. I'm a budget guy (spreadsheets and graphs), so I know where every penny is going, but with the 401k and Roth both maxed out, I just don't have anything else to spare. I'm thinking about reducing the 401k contribution and give myself 2-3k to invest in other funds (any thoughts??)
My dream is to retire at 52, with about 1.5 million. I just bought a home (175k) and I plan on having it paid off in 15 years (before I retire). I'm only counting my investments/savings for the 1.5 million, and not my home.
As of right now, I'm not married and have no children, so that really helps with my savings.
I guess that's enough for now I just wanted to introduce myself and give a few data points. I look forward to hearing from everyone.
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01-31-2013, 07:39 PM
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#2
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Leeward Oahu
Posts: 17,914
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Welcome to the forum. It sounds like you are already on your way to goal. My only suggestion (as one who has been there - or IS there) be certain you know the consequences of deferring taxes via tIRAs and 401(k)s, etc. It's not a "bad" thing to do, it's just that it may have consequences when you do retire. Personally, I've converted a significant amount of my tax deferred accounts to Roth IRAs. I want to avoid huge RMDs at age 70 1/2.
As always, YMMV. Best of luck.
__________________
Ko'olau's Law -
Anything which can be used can be misused. Anything which can be misused will be.
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01-31-2013, 07:46 PM
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#3
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hooverville
Posts: 22,983
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Youngblood
My dream is to retire at 52, with about 1.5 million. I just bought a home (175k) and I plan on having it paid off in 15 years (before I retire).
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I wonder, is this figure real, such that when you reach your retirement in 15 years it may be $2.xmm, or $3mm in the dollar of that date?
I see this kind of statement, and I have never asked, what dollar are you using to make this goal? You can't answer for others, but I would be interested in your answer.
Ha
__________________
"As a general rule, the more dangerous or inappropriate a conversation, the more interesting it is."-Scott Adams
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01-31-2013, 08:12 PM
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#4
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 587
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Tax refund (if you get a refund)?
You could use this money to invest in a low cost index fund or I bonds.
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01-31-2013, 09:01 PM
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#5
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Holland
Posts: 100
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Ha,
Thank you for the insight. Like I said, those are my goals, but it's true, with inflation, I might need additional funds. I still plan on working , but I hope it will only be part time.
tinlizzy,
Yes, I could use my tax refund for that and I might. I didn't mention that I need to save for a new car as well. Nothing fancy, but I want to be able to just pay cash for it and avoid the payment.
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01-31-2013, 09:05 PM
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#6
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 927
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Welcome to the forum. 15 year mortgage or 30 year mortgage. If it is a 30 year mortgage you could invest some outside the deferred accounts rather than trying to pay the mortgage off in 15 years. Paying a mortage off as soon as possible is often a good idea but if doing so keeps you from having enough for other investments then it is something to consider. If it is a 15 year mortgage?......then, nevermind.
__________________
CW4, USA-(ret)
RN, BSN-(ret)
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02-01-2013, 01:45 AM
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#7
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: midwestern city
Posts: 4,061
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Welcome to the board.
__________________
Very conservative with investments. Not ER'd yet, 48 years old. Please do not take anything I write or imply as legal, financial or medical advice directed to you. Contact your own financial advisor, healthcare provider, or attorney for financial, medical and legal advice.
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02-01-2013, 08:56 AM
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#8
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,303
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Youngblood
As of right now, I'm not married and have no children, so that really helps with my savings.
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This will make a huge difference in your plan. Retiring single at 52 with $1.5M is significantly different than retiring married with children at the same age/funds of course. That said, being married is definitely worth it IMO even if you have to work longer, spend less (now & in retirement), etc. Hopefully (my) DW would agree...
Welcome to ER.org!
And it was 1°F at my house this morning too, not a fun time of the year for Yankees. But we 'get even' when summer rolls around.
__________________
No one agrees with other people's opinions; they merely agree with their own opinions -- expressed by somebody else. Sydney Tremayne
Retired Jun 2011 at age 57
Target AA: 50% equity funds / 45% bonds / 5% cash
Target WR: Approx 1.5% Approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
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02-01-2013, 02:25 PM
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#9
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 107
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Since you plan on retiring before you can access 401k type accounts penalty free, you could consider reducing your current 401k allocation if you are already contributing above any match your company may provide. I reduced my 401k contribution a few years ago in an effort to build my taxable accounts faster for use by age 45/46.
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02-02-2013, 09:16 AM
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#10
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Holland
Posts: 100
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jclarksnakes,
It's a 30 year loan (3.25%), so I could just pay less and invest in a taxable account, however, I just like the thought of not having a mortgage payment when I retire. I've seen good arguments on both sides, but I really just want to pay off that debt.
Omalley,
Yes, that's what I was thinking of too, and I will probably end up going that route. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you reduce your 401k contribution by? I was thinking about reducing mine by about 3k, but after taxes, that would give me about 2k to invest.
Thank you to everyone for the kind words and advice!
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02-02-2013, 03:10 PM
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#11
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Youngblood
jclarksnakes,
It's a 30 year loan (3.25%), so I could just pay less and invest in a taxable account, however,
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You will want your house paid off before you retire.
You can build and build that nest egg; but if you're wanting to retire in your 50s (and first half of your 50s), you won't want mortgage payments hanging around.
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02-02-2013, 06:54 PM
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#12
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,891
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Youngblood
It's a 30 year loan (3.25%), so I could just pay less and invest in a taxable account, however, I just like the thought of not having a mortgage payment when I retire. I've seen good arguments on both sides, but I really just want to pay off that debt.
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First off, congrats on recognizing what you want and taking the steps to get there. That puts you so, so, so, so, so very far ahead of the average guy/gal.
You probably know what they say about predictions and the future, but I predict that a 3.25% loan is going to look GOLDEN over the 30 year period. GOLDEN.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Candy83
You will want your house paid off before you retire.
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You mean I have to go back to work?
Seriously, that is one opinion. A number of us retirees have mortgages, and it isn't a do-or die situation. And at 3.25%, like I said, that will likely be GOLDEN. If not, it sure won't be make/break.
-ERD50
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02-02-2013, 09:08 PM
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#13
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 107
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May not work for everyone, but I reduced my 401k from the max to only 5 percent (full company match) once we focused on RE. Luckily, my spouse still contributes the max to their plan. All extra funds now go to a brokerage account monthly.
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02-03-2013, 04:50 AM
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#14
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 164
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Would your schedule allow time for a second job? Not anything too heavy duty, but I figure if you're looking for just a few thousand dollars (and maybe this would provide more than that), it might give you an income stream that you could ear-mark just for after-tax savings. Not having kids, you hopefully have alot of flexibilty in how to handle your free time.
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02-03-2013, 02:42 PM
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#15
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ERD50
First off, congrats on recognizing what you want and taking the steps to get there. That puts you so, so, so, so, so very far ahead of the average guy/gal.
You probably know what they say about predictions and the future, but I predict that a 3.25% loan is going to look GOLDEN over the 30 year period. GOLDEN.
You mean I have to go back to work?
Seriously, that is one opinion. A number of us retirees have mortgages, and it isn't a do-or die situation. And at 3.25%, like I said, that will likely be GOLDEN. If not, it sure won't be make/break.
-ERD50
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There are people who retired while still not having their house paid off. But when one retires, there is less income coming in, of course, and to still have mortgage payments — no matter how appealing the rate [3.25%, 2.25%, 1.25%] — is not advisable. It would be better to not have any mortgage payments.
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02-03-2013, 09:40 PM
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#16
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,891
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Candy83
There are people who retired while still not having their house paid off.
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Yes, plenty of both.
Quote:
But when one retires, there is less income coming in, of course, and to still have mortgage payments — no matter how appealing the rate [3.25%, 2.25%, 1.25%] — is not advisable. It would be better to not have any mortgage payments.
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Who is giving this 'advise', and on what basis?
As usual, this kind of approach only looks at one side of the equation - the mortgage payment. But the other side is that there is more money in the portfolio with the mortgage. To ignore that just isn't a complete analysis.
And I would not 'advise' anyone either way. But I think they should realize it is unlikely to make a large difference. It isn't a cut/dried positive/negative.
-ERD50
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02-06-2013, 03:44 PM
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#17
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Dryer sheet wannabe
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 13
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Youngblood, I have this same issue. Refinanced into 15 yr at 4.375 three yrs ago and find myself wanting to refi into 30 yr and at 3.25. Then invest remainder of 15 yr payment hoping for 6% long term return. Did math both ways using 10 yrs as goal. Don't really get too far ahead either way when you take cap gains into consideration. At least for a 10 year time horizon anyway.
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02-06-2013, 03:47 PM
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#18
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Dryer sheet wannabe
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 13
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I have also started to draw back tax deferred contributions starting to beef up taxable to allow me to retire at 52....barring any disaster. Smart move....in my opinion.
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02-06-2013, 06:56 PM
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#19
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Denver
Posts: 3,519
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Your ROTH is after-tax investments - not just tax deferred like the 401K
Why not just put any future increases in salary into after-tax investments? Your salary will hopefully increase faster than the max 401K or ROTH allowance.
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02-06-2013, 07:33 PM
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#20
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Dryer sheet wannabe
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 13
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Roth = 59 1/2...already maxed.
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