Recent content by dwk

2009 was a difficult year. I lost my job in April, 2009 -- still unemployed, but waiting for an offer from HR. Anyway, I lost my job -- wife's cancer is now stage 4 and she is no longer a candidate for surgery or radiation therapy. In September, 09 decided to sell our primary residence. Had...

Real life example Six years ago, my wife and I were in out late 40's -- we both worked, had some extra money and decided to purchase a 2 bedroom condo in SW Florida. The idea was to rent it seasonally and use it for the 14 days as a vacation home. Fifteen months later, hurricane Charlie...

My mom who is approaching 80 sent me a message concerning the WSJ article regarding Erickson's Retirement Communities. She currently lives in a suburb north of Baltimore and is considering a move to an Erickson Community, Oak Crest. She has a number of friends that have moved into the...

Haven't been on the board for sometime due to some significant life challenges. I would describe my risk/reward tolerance as moderate. Most of my retirement accounts are in my 401K and index funds. I'm 54 and was looking to retire in the next 3-5 years, but unless the market changes for the...

Shedder -- advice: I'm not retired [53], but I've been off of work for about 12 weeks after a lumbar fusion L2-L3. None of this stuff is really worked related, just the normal wear and tear with some trauma mixed in. I've also had 2 cervical fusions, resulting in my neck being fused from...

College in 72 I went to college straight from high school. Had a number of factors that influenced that decision -- mom and dad said i was going, had my high school sweetheart who I married, we've been together 38+ years, money was and issue and I wasn't mature enough or knew what I wanted to...

Impact on ER I have planned on retiring in 2009 at the age of 55. The only income that I will have is the return on my investments and my DW social security (she has a medical disability). So my challenges are health care and making sure I don't exceed a SWR. Which I think is doable. For...

Progress on back surgery Its almost 6 weeks since surgery and things have gotten much better, although there was a rough 4-5 weeks in the beginning. After surgery, I still had significant/constant pain even while taking my spasm/pain meds. About a week ago, the spasms started to return -so I...

Over the Thanksgiving holiday I began experiencing tenderness/cramping in my lower back. In the course of two hours it developed into the worst pain I've ever experienced -- I'd be on the floor in a fetal position just crying in pain. I tried the rest, take the otc meds but nothing helped...

After discussing my wife's case for social security disability for three years, she finally received a favorable decision. Prior to her becoming ill, she worked as a nurse at a local hospital. My wife is 53. Is it necessary to wait until she is 59 to start receiving her pension? Ideally...

Thanks Just a quick thank you to everyone for their messages. dwk

DW and I are 53. She was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer three ago and has been through hell. She's not working due to her health -- and we're still fighting the disability battle. This month I was diagnosed with melanoma. I have a resection, skin graph and lymph node dissection next...

The question is what are the requirements for enrollment for this program. Family has a minimal income, but owns $200,000+ home -- should the government step in. Personally, I think the government needs to have a safety net for families that experience a catastrophic illness or trauma. I think...

My parents are both in their 80's. Dad's health is failing and Mom is hanging in there. They own their home, lbtm, and have long term healthcare. About 7 years ago, they purchase a fixed and variable annuity. The fixed is coming due and the VA has two years left. The fixed annuity is paying...

Fire sale Florida real estate DW and I just got back from the Charlotte Harbor / Punta Gorda area. We were looking at possible rental /investment property. There are a number of problems that need to be fixed before prices will rebound. They are; Taxes: especially for out-of-state...