Sanstar
Recycles dryer sheets
After reading posts for a couple years, and few brief replies, I think it's time to become an "official" participant. I retired last summer at 59 after 35 years in healthcare; starting with 5 years in the Army. My DH of 41 years isn't ready to join me in my life of leisure and wants to go the distance, retiring in 2 years at 66. Our assets include owning our home on an acre in a small town about 20 miles from large city, a second home in San Antonio (lived in and maintained by one of our three adult kids and spouse) a car, truck, Airstream and Explorer to tow it. We like to go glamping at one of the many lakes or rivers in our region with our two dogs.
We feel about as prepared financially as we need to be. I have $1.5M in three retirement funds untouched after a year. DH has $1M; his military retirement pay of $36K/year, which we get now, along with Tricare medical and dental. It does have the survivor's benefit and we both have long-term care insurance. He has another small pension of about $4K/year which he'll start with SS when he retires at 66. I plan to start SS at full retirement in 6 years. We're comfortable with our asset allocation, discussing and adjusting 1-2 x a year. We have always LBYM and don't expect this to change in retirement. We plan to begin transferring retirement funds to post-tax accounts at the end of each year, based in our annual income, working to avoid high tax brackets, starting this December.
I learn something new every time I read posts on this forum. It was also a huge influence in my decision to retire last year. Two other things that helped, was a week long "dollar challenge" before retiring, followed by both of us tracking every penny spent for a month. I then sorted to essentials and non-essentials (pet expenses, convenience and ready to eat foods, gifts, entertainment, car and truck, glamping, ect). It was comforting to know we would be sheltered, warm, fed, have one vehicle and Airstream and still have enough left after combined pensions for our beloved pets, Internet, and a few other "wants".
I know you'll let me know if I missed something significant and thanks to all for the great forum!
Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum
We feel about as prepared financially as we need to be. I have $1.5M in three retirement funds untouched after a year. DH has $1M; his military retirement pay of $36K/year, which we get now, along with Tricare medical and dental. It does have the survivor's benefit and we both have long-term care insurance. He has another small pension of about $4K/year which he'll start with SS when he retires at 66. I plan to start SS at full retirement in 6 years. We're comfortable with our asset allocation, discussing and adjusting 1-2 x a year. We have always LBYM and don't expect this to change in retirement. We plan to begin transferring retirement funds to post-tax accounts at the end of each year, based in our annual income, working to avoid high tax brackets, starting this December.
I learn something new every time I read posts on this forum. It was also a huge influence in my decision to retire last year. Two other things that helped, was a week long "dollar challenge" before retiring, followed by both of us tracking every penny spent for a month. I then sorted to essentials and non-essentials (pet expenses, convenience and ready to eat foods, gifts, entertainment, car and truck, glamping, ect). It was comforting to know we would be sheltered, warm, fed, have one vehicle and Airstream and still have enough left after combined pensions for our beloved pets, Internet, and a few other "wants".
I know you'll let me know if I missed something significant and thanks to all for the great forum!
Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum
