mickeyd
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
A really fine article that lists a number of excellent points to ponder about retirement money choices. I'd refer this to someone who was considering ER, but still was not sure what to do.
http://finance.yahoo.com/focus-reti...Retirement-Killers?mod=retirement-preparation
You basically have two choices: You can be a master stock-picker like Warren Buffett or Peter Lynch and try to find the next Wal-Mart. Or you can broadly diversify your assets, mostly via low-cost index funds such as Vanguard Total Stock Market (VTSMX).
There are many types of investments and investment accounts, and they all have their own quirks when it comes to taxes. Not knowing all the rules can lead to too much taxation -- and less money for retirement.
Paying just 1% a year on a $100,000 portfolio over 20 years could result in your forking over more than that amount in fees. That's a hundred grand that could have been in your pocket
Before you decide to retire fully and permanently, discuss a phased or gradual retirement with your employer and/or business partners. Or the possibility of working on a project basis, allowing you to take several months off each year. Or maybe just a one-year sabbatical. Explore your options before you no longer have them.
http://finance.yahoo.com/focus-reti...Retirement-Killers?mod=retirement-preparation