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As we are approaching our retirement "number", a number of thoughts come to mind, mainly related to "is that still really enough?". Seems to me that there are a number of risks: 1 - What will our expenses be? (we still have kids in college, don't know whether they'll find jobs, etc.) 2 - What...

So our kids are now both in college, and the house is really big here in suburbia. For a few more years the kids need their bedrooms at home for summer, etc., and who knows whether they'll be able to find w*rk once out of school. But at some point we really won't need all the space. We could...

As I've traveled through my life, I've always had one "most beautiful place" to me. Over the years I've added two more places to that list that really stand out. So I'm curious - what are the most beautiful/stunning places that you've been? For me, although I do like some cities -...

Up until a few years ago, I had funds from over four families. I felt more comfortable having my eggs in "multiple baskets". After reading a lot of posts, I came to the conclusion that my fears were probably unfounded, and I've consolidated most of my savings into two fund families, with 85% of...

So I had opened a 3 year CD with PenFed almost 4 years ago. It matured and rolled over to a new 3 year CD this past January. I periodically had gone online to check my balances during this time. I even signed up for and received email updates that interest was posting to my account -- the most...

To start out, I've *temporarily*(?) lost my j*b and almost have enough to ER. The big gotchas would be to reduce spending slightly, and hope for the market to continue upward. We currently spend about 4% of our current savings/year, but I'd rather be at 3%. So this requires either a 33%...

An article on Yahoo today says that the Obama Administration is telling the companies like AIG, GM, Bank of America who were bailed out and have not yet repaid the loans that they must drastically cut the pay of the top 25 execs at the firm. Bank of America said the ruling would put it at a...

As a bit of background, I'm 51, healthy, no more than 5 lbs overweight, in reasonably good shape. I woke up on a Monday and had a little burning when I urinated. Later that evening I got a bit of fever. I called my urologist on Tuesday am and wanted to either go in or get an antibiotic. They...

Megacorp is downsizing and has offered those with many years of service a voluntary separation package. Part of this package is that they will pay our COBRA premiums through the end of 2008. Before that time I should have gotten another job or would be able to get private insurance or coverage...

I'm probably 2-3 years from FIRE, but was having a thought. About 15 years ago I did a two year night school Master's degree program. While reasonably fun to do, it was also a lot of time and work. Two nights a week at school. Lots of extra reading. Many weekends with long projects, many team...

I know this is (mostly) preaching to the choir, but this is really good. Share it with your friends! http://www.thestreet.com/_tscrss/newsanalysis/opinion/10345796.html

So this thought occurred to me. If you want to RE but are well short of Medicare age, and for some reason are "uninsurable" (which we know may NOT mean that you have any serious health problems, but might be a financial risk to the insurance company), perhaps this idea works: 1. Quit working...

I'm normally NOT a person easily alarmed or a hypochondriac. I read a book about 10 years ago about viruses - how they mutate and propgate. It covered AIDS, Ebola, and...flu. Once I read this book I've never been so sanguine about flu. The 1918 pandemic was pretty scary. When I read about...

I was waiting until after the end of the year to sell some fund holdings and move money around to adjust my portfolio. I figured I had done enough this year (incurring enough extra tax liability) and I would "spread it around" into 2007. With the Democratic congress, I'm reconsidering that...

So my DW has had some tests in the last year and looks like she has a low thyroid. She went to an expensive doctor in the city for a second opinion. She seemed to like him, he gave her a prescription and she has returned a few times, a few months apart, for visits/monitoring. Last visit about 2...

Hi, I'm pretty new to the boards and have posted a few times in the last couple of weeks -- yet I never did the formal intro! I'm 49, married, have 2 kids 11 and 13. I work in middle management at a high tech company that is a leader in its field. My wife is a stay at home mom. We own a house...

I saw the topic about isolation. As most of you know, introverts are those who gain more peace from being alone more than most of the population. They need time to think, reflect. Studies have shown introverts have more active frontal lobes (!). It is thought that about 25% of the population...

I'm still about 2 yrs from RE, and I'm using Excel to track my portfolio. I comingle both short term funds and longer term cash, and I account for the short term cash as a line item in my spreadsheet. For example, If I have $1M, and I want 65% stocks, 30% bonds, and 5% cash (as a...

I could probably retire now, and more or less maintain my std of living. But I'm 49, I have two kids 11 and 13, and I'm concerned that even if I buy medical insurance today, it might go up so fast that it harms my standard of living in a few years. A cushion that allows me to make some bigger...

My first posting. I'm 49 and only a couple of years from FIRE. I just got me a copy of Work Less, Live More - great book! Kudos to Bob Clyatt. I have two questions around the 95% rule in bad years: 1 - The rule is supposed to be "following a bad year" - what constitutes a bad year? A loss? Or...