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Unfortunately I too must withdraw from the class of 2016 to complete at least OMY. Last 6 months have been an eye opener as to how much my parents and almost launched kids will need $$ from me in the future. Parents in particular are late 80s and likely to both live into their 90s. Only very...

In an indirect manner I was questioning my own wisdom. My rational mind understands basic financial principles and the value of a steady hand. In fact until very recently I didn't give much thought to changing anything about my investing strategy except a gradual shift in AA to my current 55/45...

Thanks for all of the perspectives.There is so much experience and wisdom shared on this forum. I appreciate it more and more over time. Hopefully my perspectives will help others down the line as I learn and experience more.

My current AA is pretty average for someone approaching 60 at 55/45 equities to bonds. After doing well by trusting AA for the past 30 years or so one would think I would feel more secure staying this way indefinitely. Even though my numbers are reasonably well padded the thought of a major...

Yeah we can always find "an expert" or two predicting a crash or a major ally on any given day. A small majority of the prognostications I have read over the last 6 months are pretty gloomy. It was much easier to take those with a grain of salt when RE was a long ways off.

I have never purposely timed the market in anticipation of major market swings. That strategy has served me well. With FIRE on the near horizon and a growing number of "experts" predicting an major and sustained correction I am questioning the wisdom. what do you all think??

I suspect during the first five years or so after retiring many previously charitable individuals will be busy making sure that their financial projections were accurate or more padded than they thought. After that resuming giving without anxiety will be a particular joy.

We are flying to the Phillipines on new years eve. Will stay 2 weeks mostly beach hopping. El nido, Puerto Princessa, Borocay etc.. Even though my DW of 27 years is from Manilla this is the first trip for us to her home country.

"No it isn't, that chart shows all dollars, including private insurance. And insurers account for only single digit percentage of health care spending. Why is it controversial to say the providers get bigger pieces of the pie? We've heard about $900 charges for a bottle of aspirin at the...

The numbers we are discussing include only dollars coming from the federal government. "The real numbers", which include private insurance and patients that pay out of pocket is much higher. It is easy to point a finger at any of the major cost centers and call them the problem. That is not...

Single payer is the best solution, but only if we eliminate the insurance, legal and pharmaceutical lobbies from the equation. Everyone loves throwing stones at the health care providers but DRs now collect less than 10% of "medical dollars". No boo hoos for physicians but the real savings are...

If net worth becomes the basis for SS eligibility, how long before there are taxes levied on people based on net worth? I have compassion for the poor who really need social security to get by. On the other hand for people who have lived way beyond their means and have no savings HANDS...

EastWestGal, The new system is an improvement and yes the US is a late adopter, however to label physicians that have high volume practices and resent the change is unfair. As you are doubtless very well aware, the growing morass of beaurocratic paperwork physicians are now required to...

The switch to electronic medical record was and still is touted as a pathway to enhanced patient confidentiality, saving $$, allowing easier access to patient data for healthcare providers, saving time ETC.. With rare exceptions such as the VA system and Kaiser Medical IT has mainly been a giant...

More than a few of us 1%ers hope to bridge the years between RE and medicare by having just the right AGI to use the ACA. It will not be by accident.

add age. Forgot to list my age at RE: 60

OOPs that is number 7 Longranger, 12/25/2016, or make that #8.

Looks like 12/25/2016 I get anxiety just thinking about my last year of work which will begin 12/25/2015 give or take a day or three. The worst part will be giving my 1 year notice as I will be blindsiding many of my colleagues. Yep that is not a misprint approximately one year notice. We...

#4 with occasional deviation towards #3.

At 58 planning on 1.5 OMYs. Firecalc etc. says 100% now. Working only for the cushion. Will be 60 if the plan holds. Sure hope I don't regret the next 18 months.

Horrible?? I don't get it. If someones expectations for a happy life before and after retirement require perpetual very high income most are creating a self fulfilling prophecy of unhappiness. Very few high wage earners will save enough to maintain their lifestyle without a move to a lower COL...

How much of your budget have you been spending per year? Do you put the remainig $$ back into your portfolio?

What I need more than the 2.5M in investable assets and a high likelihood of a good SS chunk beginning in 5 to 12 years is the courage to take a leap of faith. Like many on this forum I have long realized that no matter how long I work and save nothing will guarantee financial security. Peace of...

It is easy to drive yourself crazy if you hold the government to any rational standards of financial or moral behavior. If only the US government practiced LBYM. HAH to that!!!! We are the most frequent target the "Joneses of the world" try to keep up with. Stupid spending, corruption,unwise...

Papadad111 I too would like to know more about the many regular posters I learn from every day. IMO many share a remarkable amount about their lives, philosophies etc.. Without the relative anonymity this forum provides many(?most) of these posters would probably participate less. Let's be happy...