Recent content by testtubes

Played the Plantation Course at Kapalua, Maui last year. This the course they play the Mercedes Championship on in January. Got the twilight rate of $130. This is way more than I would usually pay but figured it was worth extra bucks just to say I played on a tour event course. It was very nice.

One of the fantasies I have gone back to year after year when thinking about early retirement was to leave the heat and humidity of South Louisiana for a month or two each summer. I have always wanted to drive the motorhome up to Colorado for the months of July and August. Do any of you know of...

Age: 54 Not retired now but it will happen withing the next 12 months Two boys ages 30 and 26 ( both finished college with good jobs) Married for 33 years to a great wife who retired from the classroom 4 years ago I'm just waiting to pull the ripcord, I know I have enough money to go, just...

My 401K account is with Vanguard. As I near early retirement, Vanguard has a calculator that gives you what they consider to be the optimal asset allocation relative to how close you are to retirement. With less than a year left until early retirement, this calculator tells me I should have...

I'm looking for some opinions on whether a early retiree, after rolling over their 401K money, should draw income from this money under the 72T rules, or just pay the extra 10% tax, and only draw money when and if needed. I realize that not using the 72T plan could cost me 4 to 5K a year in...

I'm sure everyone has their own opinions. After running your numbers through Firecalc, what do you think is an acceptable chance for success? Do you think that maybe some of the scenarios that they look at in the history of the market might have safeguards built in now that may protect us from...

In 1988 my company started offering a 401K plan with a 6% match. In 19 years I have accumulated roughly $625K and I plan on retireing in Octobor of this year at 55.

Back to the drawing board I see my mistake. Firecalc is showing the success percentage for 30 years with no adjustment for inflation. I need to enter the numbers so that adjustments for inflation start after the five year span of 72T. Can you hear the air leaking from my ballon?

I have been working with FIRECALC on a goal monthly income from my investments once I am retired. Several people have told me 4 or 5 percent max. I will be taking a $900k lump sum at retirement and rolling it into an IRA account that I will be drawing from on a monthly basis under the rules of...

Can any of you tell me if there are any restrictions on outside earnings while drawing income from an IRA under the rules of 72T. Example: If I retire at 55 and my income is soley derived from my wife's pension and $45k I withdraw annually from my IRA account under the rules of 72T, can I make...

JDW-Fire, I would be very interested in what the majority of people in here consider the real percentage of pre-retirement income is really needed in retirement. My pre-retirement income is $75,000 and my wifes pension is $1250/month. Of my 75k, I now put 11% in 401k. So I know once I retire, I...

My wifes retirement pension after 25 years in the classroom as a regular teacher is $19,200 here in Louisiana. Lucky you,

Looking over all of the posts on this board two things have become very clear to me. 1- there are a ton of people in here that have real financial expertise when it comes to the decisions that have to be made with regard to early retirement and 2- I'm not one of them When it comes to finances...

Answering a few questions: Is my pension COLAed? Im guessing that is asking me if my pension is adjusted for cost of living. The answer would be that my wifes portion is ($1300), but the Louisiana Teachers Retirement Program only makes small adjustments once every 5 years or so. My portion which...

Yes I forgot about Social Security. At 62, (seven years into early retirement) I will start drawing approx. 1400/month so I will be able to reduce my income from investments if neccessary. My wife will not be able to draw SS because as a teacher she has never paid SS. Her retirement money comes...