I've been reading here for quite a while, so finally decided it's time to introduce myself.
I'm a local government employee in Minnesota's largest metro area (does my membership double the number of Minnesotans in this forum?). My pension rule of 90 date is July '05, but I'm struggling with working until then. Fully expect to leave before then, & my challenge will be to decide whether to start collecting pension immediately, thereby incurring a permanent reduction of 12% of my rule of 90 amount, or waiting until I reach rule of 90, which would then be extended beyond July '05 by the the number of months I leave before that time.
I've used Quicken's Retirement Planner to analyze different scenarios, and projections seem to be fine under virtually all options. What worries me a bit is how different projections can be using different programs - FIRECALC, MS Money's planner, ORP, Fidelity's retirement planner, etc. I suppose I shouldn't be too concerned, as some of these programs show us to have millions left when we're both gone, while Quicken indicates amounts ranging from 5 to 6 figures.
When we retire we're planning to move permanently to Florida, most likely to an active adult community. We've been looking in the Ocala & Leesburg areas, with one non-age restricted community in Lakeland on our list as well. We'd love to be closer to one of the coasts, but higher costs, congestion & the possible need to evacuate have persuaded us to look further inland. I would really like to hear from anyone with any knowledge or experience with active adult or deed-restrricted communities.
Oh, one admission I do have to make: We rarely use dryer sheets, & when we do - here it comes - we only use them once! I do hope this does not result in my immediate banishment or ostracism.
Bill
I'm a local government employee in Minnesota's largest metro area (does my membership double the number of Minnesotans in this forum?). My pension rule of 90 date is July '05, but I'm struggling with working until then. Fully expect to leave before then, & my challenge will be to decide whether to start collecting pension immediately, thereby incurring a permanent reduction of 12% of my rule of 90 amount, or waiting until I reach rule of 90, which would then be extended beyond July '05 by the the number of months I leave before that time.
I've used Quicken's Retirement Planner to analyze different scenarios, and projections seem to be fine under virtually all options. What worries me a bit is how different projections can be using different programs - FIRECALC, MS Money's planner, ORP, Fidelity's retirement planner, etc. I suppose I shouldn't be too concerned, as some of these programs show us to have millions left when we're both gone, while Quicken indicates amounts ranging from 5 to 6 figures.
When we retire we're planning to move permanently to Florida, most likely to an active adult community. We've been looking in the Ocala & Leesburg areas, with one non-age restricted community in Lakeland on our list as well. We'd love to be closer to one of the coasts, but higher costs, congestion & the possible need to evacuate have persuaded us to look further inland. I would really like to hear from anyone with any knowledge or experience with active adult or deed-restrricted communities.
Oh, one admission I do have to make: We rarely use dryer sheets, & when we do - here it comes - we only use them once! I do hope this does not result in my immediate banishment or ostracism.
Bill