wyecrabber1
Recycles dryer sheets
- Joined
- May 20, 2015
- Messages
- 148
I was on the board a number of years ago, more than I care to remember. Back in 2005, my wife and I create a family retirement plan; we both had good jobs, a retirement home in Florida and a very small mortgage on our primary residence that was to be paid off in 4 years.
Then the perfect storm hit. Our son, 24 years old was killed in an auto accident. My wife and high school sweetheart was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. In 2008, along with the economy collapse I lost my job after our division in a large pharmaceutical company was sold and decimated. I was out of work for almost three years; with a very sick wife, having to pay cobra, holding multiple properties and a failed real estate transaction had everything we had worked for in the past 30 years coming undone. Between the loses in our investments, having no income and paying several mortgages. I had to take a large portion from my 401K to keep a roof over our heads. I was months from filing for bankruptcy when I landed a job in 2011. It's a good job, but nothing like I had previously. I've hired a tax attorney to guide me through the taxes issues resulting for the 401K withdraw -- it's not pretty, but it can be managed.
My wife was in and out of hospitals for surgery and chemo every year of 8 years. She fought a good fight, but died in 2012. After she was gone, I went into a very bad depression. I slowly pulled myself out of my darkness with the help of family and friends. I'll never recover financially and have the retirement my wife and I dreamed of. But, I'll be ok.
Last summer, I married a wonderful lady who I know is my gift. I had hoped to retire when I was 57 back in 2005 -- that's not going to happen. I tell myself that the events in the last 10 years of my life would have destroyed many people -- While I don't feel like I've won, because I have lost so much -- I take pride with who and where I am.
So I'm glad to be back. I'll post my retirement figures / questions in the appropriate forums later.
Then the perfect storm hit. Our son, 24 years old was killed in an auto accident. My wife and high school sweetheart was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. In 2008, along with the economy collapse I lost my job after our division in a large pharmaceutical company was sold and decimated. I was out of work for almost three years; with a very sick wife, having to pay cobra, holding multiple properties and a failed real estate transaction had everything we had worked for in the past 30 years coming undone. Between the loses in our investments, having no income and paying several mortgages. I had to take a large portion from my 401K to keep a roof over our heads. I was months from filing for bankruptcy when I landed a job in 2011. It's a good job, but nothing like I had previously. I've hired a tax attorney to guide me through the taxes issues resulting for the 401K withdraw -- it's not pretty, but it can be managed.
My wife was in and out of hospitals for surgery and chemo every year of 8 years. She fought a good fight, but died in 2012. After she was gone, I went into a very bad depression. I slowly pulled myself out of my darkness with the help of family and friends. I'll never recover financially and have the retirement my wife and I dreamed of. But, I'll be ok.
Last summer, I married a wonderful lady who I know is my gift. I had hoped to retire when I was 57 back in 2005 -- that's not going to happen. I tell myself that the events in the last 10 years of my life would have destroyed many people -- While I don't feel like I've won, because I have lost so much -- I take pride with who and where I am.
So I'm glad to be back. I'll post my retirement figures / questions in the appropriate forums later.
