Similar here too. A couple of years after the start of my career, I realized that I wanted to get out by my 50's at the latest, for all the reasons commonly discussed. My online brokerage offered a primitive online retirement calculator. I took a guess at my desired retirement income, then it estimated the needed portfolio. Well, I realized I had a long way to go and started doubling my savings rate!
About 2 decades later, I FIRED with a portfolio about 13% less than predicted, but then expenses are 13% less than originally estimated. Pretty accurate considering all the changes in 2 decades:
- Lost my last dependent (aging parent)
- Married in my late 30's, to a hard working career gal; became DINKS (no kids). Fortunately, DW is also a saver!
- Tech career soared, then tanked the last half dozen years
- Chronic overachiever and leader became a burnout looking for the door
- Poured money into the market, much of the time into the "lost" investing decade of 2000-2010. It was an act of faith, more than any effort to "buy low"
I'm glad I made plans back then since they have allowed DW and I to FIRE together. In many respects, though, my life has completely changed in the past 2 decades.
Still, all the errors and changes somehow offset each other and we got out about 13% before plan, in large part because we don't need as much $$ as I had feared! Bottom line: we somehow FIRE'd 6 years ahead of the most aggressive plan I could have realistically imagined 20 years ago.
FB
