New member and a question

[sewang]

Hi there,

I am a new member here. I see people claim " I am FIRE" here. How do I know
if/when I am "FIRE"?

Both my wife and I are 47 and have about 5 million NW including primary residence(worth 1.1 million). Among investable money, 1/3 of money is investment properties, 1/3 in retirement account,
the other 1/3 in after-tax account.
My goal is to retire in 7 years when my son graduate from college. I don't feel my current passive income(5k from rent and 3k from muni bonds) is enough to cover my expense in northern CA. If I lose my job, I will have to buy health insurance for whole family, etc. And who knows what can happen in the future, the market can tank, house markets can crash again. I don't want to
try to find a job when I 'm in 50s because money is depleted.

When can I confidently say I'm done and move on to the next stage where I want to break 80 in my golf game?

thx in advance

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewang When can I confidently say I'm done and move on to the next stage where I want to break 80 in my golf game?

When you can satisfactorily answer these questions: http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...ire-69999.html

[Hermit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewang Hi there, I am a new member here. I see people claim " I am FIRE" here. How do I know if/when I am "FIRE"? Both my wife and I are 47 and have about 5 million NW including primary residence(worth 1.1 million). Among investable money, 1/3 of money is investment properties, 1/3 in retirement account, the other 1/3 in after-tax account. My goal is to retire in 7 years when my son graduate from college. I don't feel my current passive income(5k from rent and 3k from muni bonds) is enough to cover my expense in northern CA. If I lose my job, I will have to buy health insurance for whole family, etc. And who knows what can happen in the future, the market can tank, house markets can crash again. I don't want to try to find a job when I 'm in 50s because money is depleted. When can I confidently say I'm done and move on to the next stage where I want to break 80 in my golf game? thx in advance

Hi sewang. Welcome to the forum.

Could you copy and paste your post in a new thread in the "Hi, I am ..." forum? It will help us get to know you.

[MichaelB]

I moved the posts to a new thread.

[2B]

Welcome.

At age 47 and with a NW of $5MM, you are ready to be a FIRE if you can control your spending. If you can't, keep working. It's a question of your priorities.

We have people happily FIREd with very little in the way of assets compared to you and they are very happy with their financial situation. We have people with millions in assets still employed because they either like their position or, as you worry, it won't be enough. It's the old question -- "How much is enough?"

Look at cutting your expenses. Consider moving to a lower cost of living area. Manage your portfolio risk. If that isn't what you want to do, I hope you enjoy doing what you do.

[BigE]

Welcome sewang. Is your name related to golf (not to be confused with scha-Wang!)? I joined this forum at your age and now 3 years later, I have a much better defined plan and I'm equipped with some nice tools courtesy of this awesome forum, to include firecalc and ********. Currently a few years out from FIRE and the wife is tracking spending in a spreadsheet so we can objectively see what is the outflow. As you will hear over and over on this site like a Buddhist mantra, you gotta know what your spending is to know if your assets stand a chance of carrying you 35 plus years without a paycheck. With only one child, your ER planning should be easier. With 3 kids, we have a spreadsheet that factors in college, weddings and the random meteor strike. For me personally, I think leaving the workforce earlier than 50 as a sole income provider is a little scary. And some of that depends on if you CAN you back to work at the same level (I can't, so that's a big factor). Good luck and keep posting!

[racy]

Hi Sewang,

I think you'd enjoy this book: The Number, by Lee Eisenberg. "This book is about money, but ultimately it's about the life you want, the life you don't, and the costs of each."
Lee Eisenberg - The Number - A Completely Different Way to Think About the Rest of Your Life

[ERsoonihope]

Quote:

Originally Posted by racy Hi Sewang, I think you'd enjoy this book: The Number, by Lee Eisenberg. "This book is about money, but ultimately it's about the life you want, the life you don't, and the costs of each." Lee Eisenberg - The Number - A Completely Different Way to Think About the Rest of Your Life

+1 great book that focuses on how to build a good life - which may or may not be related to how big your number is.

[sewang]

Thanks for all the advice. I'll do some number crunching and sole searching so that I can have a clear plan. My guts feeling now is I will keep working until my son is done with college. He is a good student and studies hard. I can not imagine telling him I can not afford sending him to a top college if he is accepted.

[2B]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewang Thanks for all the advice. I'll do some number crunching and sole searching so that I can have a clear plan. My guts feeling now is I will keep working until my son is done with college. He is a good student and studies hard. I can not imagine telling him I can not afford sending him to a top college if he is accepted.

With $5MM in assets, you realize half the forum is chuckling at your concern about the cost of sending him to a "top college." I think MIT is the most expensive techincally oriented college I know of and your son could go there for four years (I think) for less than $250K. I haven't checked lately. Of course, there are plenty of schools that probably cost more. I don't believe there are any real benefits to going there versus a well ranked state school. Yes, college can cost a bundle but you have a pile.

It all comes down to lifestyle. I work with people making serious money but they are also living paycheck to paycheck. I know people doing the same work for about the same money that have millions stashed.

You sound like you aren't stressed out and ready to explode. You just wanted to know if you could qualify to FIRE. So, you have time. Read. Think. Track your expenses. Ponder a simpler lifestyle. If you decide you really don't want to trade your time for more money, you'll be ready and know what to do.

[sewang]

9 months+ after my first post. I recalculate my portfolio. My NW including primary residence is now 5.6-5.7MM, thanks to appreciating investment assets. But I am not closer to FIRE because DW wants to move up to a ~2MM house(in Bay area, this is just a decent house, not even close to my dream home), considering the extra principle/mortgage and much higher property tax. FIRE is not even in sight.

[EastWest Gal]

It sounds like you and your wife are at odds here. Does she work? Does she track expenses? Why does she want a bigger home when you are on the cusp of being empty nesters? It isn't worth giving up your freedom for a more expensive home. Time > money. We have lost several friends and family members these past few years, some younger than us.

But if a bigger nicer home is in your sights, consider living outside the Bay Area in retirement. The equivalent of my home would cost $2.5 million in Cupertino, $1.5 million in Pleasanton, but under $400K in PA.

Track your expenses, then estimate the additional expenses if the expensive home. Add self paid health insurance to your expenses, and don't forget taxes.

Also figure on top dollar for college (you can afford it). Consider other possibilities besides the most expensive schools. There is one top 20 school that gives you a lot for the price, UC Berkeley, the only public school on the list. Does your son want to or need to go to a top 20 school? One of the criteria we looked at is job placement rate after graduation. DS is almost finished with college so we'll soon see. DS has a best friend who went to a state school in PA and now has an excellent job in IT. You'll find that most people can get an excellent education and decent work without the snobbery of the best school label. Your state schools and universities are very good. Look at the best schools for his areas of interest, not just the overall ratings. collegeboard.org is very helpful.

Our situations are similar, only child, able to send DS to college of choice. Net worth similar when you don't count the house. I'm retiring the year DS finishes college (now). It is working for us.



Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

[travelover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewang 9 months+ after my first post. I recalculate my portfolio. My NW including primary residence is now 5.6-5.7MM, thanks to appreciating investment assets. But I am not closer to FIRE because DW wants to move up to a ~2MM house(in Bay area, this is just a decent house, not even close to my dream home), considering the extra principle/mortgage and much higher property tax. FIRE is not even in sight.

How long will you live? A good friend of mine decided he was going to work until he was 65 so he could max out his pension. We buried him at age 64.

[jim584672]

2MM house Why not move to a lower priced area? Time is precious, you have ample funds, why not go right away? Everyone is one heartbeat away from eternity.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewang But I am not closer to FIRE because DW wants to move up to a ~2MM house(in Bay area, this is just a decent house, not even close to my dream home), considering the extra principle/mortgage and much higher property tax. FIRE is not even in sight.

No, it isn't.

You sure this forum is where you want to hang out? Conversations here may only rub salt in your wounds.

[longranger]

If you are serious about fire you and DW have to sit down and figure out your path. With the right strategies you have been very able to fire since your first post. FIRE sure is not for everyone. If the changes you would need to make to FIRE soon sound unacceptable than you may not be a good candidate. For example you and DW love you jobs, lifestyle and would be miserable without a large home in your preferred location. Gotta do what makes you happy.

[Live And Learn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewang 9 months+ after my first post. I recalculate my portfolio. My NW including primary residence is now 5.6-5.7MM, thanks to appreciating investment assets. But I am not closer to FIRE because DW wants to move up to a ~2MM house(in Bay area, this is just a decent house, not even close to my dream home), considering the extra principle/mortgage and much higher property tax. FIRE is not even in sight.

Its all about choices. If the new house (and the resulting "happy wife") will bring you more pleasure than ER then that is absolutely fine. Its a choice and decision.

Enjoy the house and take pleasure in the small things that can bring happiness. That CAN include your j*b, and that's ok too. ER is not for everyone.

[nuke_diver]

Being in the Bay Area as well I know that it is not always possible (or desirable) to move to a lower cost area as some suggest. However as mentioned by L&L it is about choices. Only you can decide what choice is best for you

[sewang]

Thanks for all the comments. They all sincere and helpful. We are still weighing pros and cons. We are not willing to leave all the friends and relatives here just to FIRE. We've stayed in our first home for many years. Most of our friends live in better houses with a big mortgage. Living in a bigger and newer home is very temping, especially the price can go up in the meantime. But the subsequent financial burden is also daunting. I will update once we are in a new phase in terms of FIRE.

[EastWest Gal]

You have the same Bay Area myopia as I did as does much of my family. There is much more to the world than the Bay Area. 40 years ago it was a terrific place to live and the schools were good, for the most part. Now, not so much.

One of the great things about the Bay Area is that there is much to see and do; you don't need to be in a big house to have a happy life, as you are never housebound by cold or snow. One of my Bay Area friends from age 13 retired at age 60 this year and all I see on facebook is train adventures around the country, photography, and bike rides--things he loved when he was in his teens. Not much about being at home, LOL. If your friends have prettier houses, go visit them a lot and admire their houses. They will appreciate it. Let them secretly feel sorry for you. Then in about 5 years when they are still working you will have a freedom they only dream about. You will have the last laugh as you send postcards from all over the world, if you want.

I think you have the same Bay Area or bust mentality that I had until I was in my late-30s. I never thought I could or would leave CA until I took a long road trip and visited former patients of mine in Colorado--and they clearly expressed how happy they were to leave CA. I lived in the Bay Area from birth to 39 years. DS with a learning disability was being crushed at school--he was in first grade and utterly miserable. Moved here--two days into school and he happily got on the bus, looking forward to an amazing experience called learning. I go back and look at the tiny houses with the tiny yards and the traffic. Here I look out my back window and see a wild turkey or a deer outside the fence, my own pool down below. Had to fight the ducks from adopting our pool a couple of years ago. Last night a great horned owl clattered onto my roof and hooted for about 10 minutes before taking off. I grow vegetables in the summer and I can see a ski resort from my bedroom window. We saw a bald eagle fly over a pool party last year--July 4th actually. I was a 15 minute 6 mile drive from work (now ended). In Silicon Valley the traffic between my office and the hospital was frightening.

You and your family don't know all that you're missing, just to call the Bay Area your home. With your investments, it sounds like you could be FI now, if you can and DW can tone down the house ambitions a bit, or consider living elsewhere.