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Yes, thanks Gauss, I ran the numbers for drawing SS at 70 and it makes far more sense to do that. Plugging that in to Firecalc, along with my wife's projected SS, and the additional gains from severance, puts me at around 96%. It looks like the danger area for me is when I am around 63-70, where...

If you're looking at ACA/Obamacare for insurance, just be sure to understand the income minimums and maximums in order to qualify for a subsidy. Since you will likely be living off of savings, with taxable income only coming from your after-tax account gains/dividends, you might not hit the...

Understood about the distinction you're making re healthy/unhealthy vs young/old. The point I'm trying to make is that, in general, the young subsidize the old in a health care system... so I won't begrudge a young person that retires early for taking an ACA subsidy that they are eligible for.

In essence, aren't the young and healthy the ones subsidizing the old and unhealthy in any healthcare system? I suppose we could just self insure and pay our fair share for all of what life brings at us... no subsidies to worry about. As a former young person, I've done my fair share of...

Nevermind, found the answer here. It is doable and apparently is kind of the whole point of a Roth conversion ladder. https://rootofgood.com/roth-ira-conversion-ladder-early-retirement/

Ok, thank you both!

An update and subsequent question. If I am on the wrong end of the stick and get cut, I would have severance and stocks vesting that, after tax, would add about $100,000 to my net worth. I'm beginning to think it is possible to FIRE. I'll still probably seek out work, but this has turned in to a...

And of course, right after I posted this, I found the answer. It appears that COLA will adjust the estimate over time, per this from the SS site, 3rd bullet... We can’t provide your actual benefit amount until you apply for benefits. And that amount may differ from the retirement estimates...

Hi, I think this is probably a stupid question. But... I'm using the Social Security retirement benefits estimator to work out my benefits at 67 and 70 if I were to stop working now. The question is this: these estimates are in "today's" dollars and, as I approach retirement, I should expect...

Thanks for the input Laurence. I have considered part-time work, but assumed that most part-time jobs don't offer benefits. Am I wrong about that?

I have a 401k (current employer) and a Roll-over IRA (from prior employer), in addition to the Roth. I also have another small 401k that I have never rolled, though I should do that. DW also has a modest STRS with about 7 years in it. We're considering rolling that over too.

I really like Macs... at home. About a year ago, my company started to offer Macs as well as Windows laptops. As my old Dell was way past warranty and I was due for a replacement, I chose the Mac option. It has been... an adjustment. As I am still w*rking, I am very dependent on MS Office. The...

Thank you NgineER, I had never considered a Roth roll-over as way to access the funds early. In my mind I had considered my Roth the last thing I would touch. Granted, I haven't been able to contribute to it the past two years due to my income exceeding the cutoff. Since I have resolved to keep...

Thank you, I was able to get it to work after logging out and going incognito. There must have been a cookie screwing me up. Anyway, with $0 contributions from now until 62 - $1600/mo $0 from now until 65 - $1969 $0 from now until 67 - $2272 The benefit at age 67 is about $800 less per month...

Yup, snipped from an earlier post... I try to access the calculator while logged in to my.ssa and I get a "Forbidden Unfortunately, you do not have access to this service. Please check your url for errors and try again." message. Anyone else encounter that?

Thanks mrWinter. I've actually gotten a bit browbeaten by family and friends for aggressively paying off the house and paying cash for my cars, as opposed to piling more in to investments. But I've been able to increase my after tax savings rate to 40-50% since paying it off two years ago.

Thanks everyone for the valuable input! If I may summarize what I view the consensus to be: - Retirement now without compromises in budget would be risky and not allow for margin of error. - Really focus on increasing the after tax "bridge" to 59.5, so I wouldn't have to 72t the pre-tax funds...

Thanks Dtail, good thoughts. I'm currently in a MCOL area, with higher property taxes (compared to the region) to fund good schools. I moved around a lot as a child, and longed for stability and roots. I want to make sure my children get that, so I wouldn't consider a move until they're done...

That's the ticket--a sabbatical! I think what you're all witnessing here is a midlife crisis. I'm glad that I'm not in to motorcycles and fast cars .:laugh:

I hadn't really even considered SS in my calculations, frankly. I've grown accustomed to thinking of it as more of a bonus if it's still around when I hit 67.5 or 70. :) . Thank you very much for pointing out the calculator, and I love the Mark Twain quote!

Honestly, when it comes to investing, I have proven to be a horrible stock picker. I tend to panic sell (2007, I'm looking at you) and then sit out too long. A while ago I resolved to just fund invest and not pay too much attention to the noise. Outside of 1 year of expenses in savings, I pretty...

Thank you all, and this is pretty much what my gut was telling me. I need to save more and get through the teen years (increased insurance, interests, etc.). Re the not wanting to work, that was perhaps glib, but I am getting sick of what I have been doing for the past 20 years. It pays well...

Hi Dtail, yes, I Firecalc'd it, and concur that it is risky at 80% success rate. So it sounds like I need to lower the expenses or keep working and saving. I have budgeted $5400 year to fund big ticket items and car replacements. Cars are ~5 years old and I expect 5 more years out of them...

Long time lurker outing himself due to changing circumstances. :) I'm 44 years old and have been working towards FIRE before I even knew it was called FIRE. I work hard, but, frankly... I really don't want to work. Anyway, the company I work for is being acquired. I have no idea whether I am...