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I read thru this old thread, but wanted recent experience or feedback. - https://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f29/laguna-woods-leisure-world-anyone-71908.html Well, DW and I are going to tour the Laguna Woods Village and Leisure World (Seal Beach, CA) 55+ communities in the near future...

Well, I'm starting to think about FIRE or Semi-Fire and it's time to consolidate 401ks to make life simpler for me and those that might receive it in the future. I've been lazy and kept all my former 401k accounts, about 6 of them. They are either in Target 2030-2035 funds of S&P500. Expenses...

The group has always been great at analyzing key limits and benefits, i.e. ACA, tax brackets, SS vs annuity, etc. I'm interested in the $7500 EV rebate, but don't qualify for the Federal Rebate as-is, since I'm still gainfully employed by choice but frugal. I know, I should just suck it up and...

I waited until the last minute filing taxes as life happens, so I'm second guessing myself now. Here are the scenarios: High schooler kid 1 worked all year and earned ~$31k and paid $2199 in Federal taxes on W-2. We contributed $6k to a traditional IRA to get more tax refund for her, about...

Last minute thought for 2022 - IRA or Roth for my son, age 15. Should I open a IRA and then back door it into a Roth? Well, I didn't think he was going to make and save enough $$ in his first part time job, but he did. He earned about $7k this year and has $4k left. Spent $3k, part on a...

Is this starting too young, Custodial Roth IRA for 15 year old? Well, my teenager started a job this summer and so far sticking with it part time while in high school. Since she is so young, we cover most of her needs except when she really want Starbucks or designer ripped jeans. She knows...

I w*rk for a mid-sized public company, so benefit programs are not so elaborate, but appears to be more and more open-minded. I don't need all my pay (base, bonus, options, RSUs, etc.) and in a high tax bracket. I would like to start a conversation with my HR Benefits department regarding a...

Curious if anyone is playing the Fed Tax credit game with PHEV (plug-in) cars? After the first year, sell or trade-in the car for about the amount of the rebate, so the net cost for the year is limited to sales tax paid. Background: I'm in CA and PHEV cars qualify for the Fed Tax credit (up...

Just when I thought we figured things out, "life" tosses an opportunity aka curve ball. Current situation: Married, family of 4, living in CA, filing taxes jointly, single income household as DW is SAHM. Two kids in elementary school. Possibility: DH will be commuting to Texas a few weeks per...

The other thread noted a few paths to FIRE via Real Estate. So, I've been thinking what to do with my rental income. I have a fair amount of stocks in taxable and retirement funds, so rather look at other things. When I go to visit my properties for a "monthly inspection", if I had my kids...

Over the last few years, I've concentrated on funding/maxing company 401k, roth ira, paying off all mortgages (personal and investment real estate), and increasing taxable accounts. I felt the taxable accounts were important for funding early retirement years (age 50 - 59.5) if needed. I find...

I'm thinking more about retirement in 2 years, at age 50. I anticipate more time for personal activities and family time. With this I can see my budget increasing which I'm ok with as long as the spend increases the enjoyment of time, enrich our lives. A little background - married, 2 kids...

Anyone start a scholarship endowment or fund? I have a few years to go before I hang up the corporate j*b as I have a few personal non-financial areas to become comfortable with along with topping off my kids 529 funds. When I attended college, I worked full-time ($7/hour), struggling with...

It’s almost time to seriously decide on taking a break from fulltime w*rk. I think I can survive the next 2 - 3 years in my current j*b, several incentives make staying lucrative, so we will see. If I go sooner, it’s to spend time with aging parent, young kids, spouse and just relax more...

So, I'm 47 this year and thinking about retiring when I'm 50ish, probably in 3 - 5 years, taking 6 months off, then part time or contract type work until 55 just to stay mentally sharp (concerned with dementia or other illness). 2015 and beginning of 2016, the stock market was not generous, so...

Starting to think about the upcoming 15th year wedding anniversary (Aug 2015). DW & I have not been to Hawaii before. Before kids, we enjoyed several cruises. So, I was thinking a 7 day cruise porting 4 islands can be a nice way to experience Hawaii. While the cabins are small (it's only to...

Ok, my daily driver/car is about 8 1/2 years old with about 138k miles. It gets about 20 - 21 mpg in bumper to bumper driving/traffic and 28 mpg on the freeway without traffic. It won't get much $2k - 3k as a trade-in so nothing really. It runs fine, but I'm thinking I should join the electric...

Sorry if this was answered previously.... For 2015, currently a fulltime employee as a w-2 wage earner where I plan to contribute $18k for the year (contribution limit). I have an opportunity for an assignment under my LLC. This could result in $30 - 60k for the year that can be added to...

So this last year has been pretty interesting as I shifted from full time employment to contract work (more pay, less stress - worked about 40 hours a week with some telecommuting and taking 3 weeks of vacation). At age 44, I reached FI based on a modest lifestyle in St Paul, MN with income...

Looking for some advice on Mom's Roth IRA. Mom is in her late 60's, lives on her spousal social security (waiting to claim her SS at age 70 which increases monthly income about $600) and rental income (surplus of $2k each month that goes into CD savings/I Bonds) that I bought her in the 90's. No...

There was another thread about ER/College/Financial Aid, so it had me thinking.... I know there could be a large range of what is a fair or good number/budget for a kid's college fund, based on many factors, i.e. parents/kids age, income, Midwest region, in/out of state, public/private...

My neighbor hit me up with a question that I wasn't sure about, so I figured I would pose it here since it is more 401k based. He's been interviewing new nannies for the summer. He normally treats them/pays them as a W-2 employee. He pays the employer taxes, FICA, etc. then he also deducts...

Here's my story on the job, semi-FI, life front. Considering risk and options.... residence & car paid off, just monthly bills. Currently, I've been at my job for less than a year, making reasonable to good salary. J*b is ok but very stressful and demanding on my personal time. Also, my...

Ok, the last few weeks were a bit rough at MegaC*rp. Issues after issues, and 60+ hour work weeks. I've informed my boss, this is not what I signed up for.... I'm all for "putting out fires" but I'm not in it for a steady diet. I proposed bringing in 2 contractors if we can't get headcount...

Ok, I was having lunch with a contractor that we have on a project. He mentioned that his DW has reasonable megacorp health benefits, so he is leveraging as much of his income into a self-employed 401k, stocking away about 40k a year. He is in his mid-40s so no catch up contribution included...