Another Can I Retire Question

[pjigar]

Since you have a lot of money in taxable account, you can easily manage AGI in order to maximize ACA subsidies. You may have to move some investments in taxable accounts so they don't through so much dividend or interest every year but I think it is doable. I think you are ready if you can ride the ACA bus until you are medicare age. Good luck.

PS: 3% at current number gives you some room for some adjustments.

[Aerides]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kook @vacation4us - I agree that health insurance is the wild card. Luckily, both of us have been very healthy so far ***knock on wood***

It doesn't have to be a wildcard - you can look at potential costs on the ACA site or on healthsherpa. Of course, plans change and things go up, but to get a baseline you can poke around. A high deductible plan that affords continued HSA contributions might cost more out of pocket, but allow some tax/subsidy wiggle room. When planning to ER, we put in a swag estimate of $10k per year, knowing that some years could go to $20k and made sure we'd be fine with that. Better to come in under budget than the alternative.

And price is not determined by your health, neither is health a predictor of your out of pocket expenses. In fact most people who are very active might be more at risk of things like blowing out knees or rotator cuffs and what not.

[Bryan Barnfellow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by socca Happy wife, happy life. Unhappy wife, hide the knife. There has been plenty of chatter on this forum over the years regarding the pros/cons of having second (or more!) properties, and the pros/cons of becoming a landlord. After watching relatives go down this path, my personal position is H*LL NO! to ever acquiring a second property. However, YMMV .

+1 on this. We've spent much of life reducing the cost of our living infrastructure. Adding a new property just wouldn't work well for us. One alternative approach is to rent a house or flat in a place you like for a month or two. I have found that helps to let the air out of the vacation home balloon. Also, make a list of all the additional costs that a second home will add to your budget. It can be quite sobering. But of course everyone's mileage may, and will, vary.

BTW, does KOOK, mean that you prepare the meals in your family?

-BB

[Kook]

EastWest Gal - thank you. That is an interesting strategy and I like it! It's too late to try to keep our income below the ceiling for this year, but I think I can manage it next year. It will be close. I am learning about roth conversions as well. If I convert taxable to roth, does that reduce my AGI?

TNBigfoot - No, my plan isn't relying (too) heavily on SS. I only inputted 20K per year in the calculators, which should be a good sum less than what I am currently due to receive. However, I am 57 now, so who knows where it will be when I actually take it. I assumed 3% inflation.

pjigar - thanks. I am doing some research an ACA and I am hopeful we can stay under the cliff. Also, as mentioned to EastWest Gal - I am investigating Roths. I haven't been able to contribute in the past but maybe next year if it helps my AGI.

Aerides - thank you. I will go on to Health Sherpa tonight! Interesting point about seemingly healthy people being more of a risk. One reason I want to go ahead and pull the plug while I am still able is so that I can be more active. Mountain biking, running, skiing, hiking, etc is a big part of that. I hadn't thought of it that way before

Bryan Barnfellow - that is exactly what I proposed to my wife, is that we do long term rentals. The ONLY problem with that is that we have pets and a lot of places don't accept pets. We would like to take them with us, especially if its long term. We have talked verbally about the added expenses of a second home but a spreadsheet is definitely in order. Regarding my username - HA! Although I definitely do all the cooking....that is not it. It is more a combination of the fact that it reflects my personality and that I like palindromes. Curious about your username - - do you hang out in a barn? (sorry, couldn't resist! )


Thank you all for your responses, I have some thinking and research to do!

[Bryan Barnfellow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kook Bryan Barnfellow - that is exactly what I proposed to my wife, is that we do long term rentals. The ONLY problem with that is that we have pets and a lot of places don't accept pets. We would like to take them with us, especially if its long term. We have talked verbally about the added expenses of a second home but a spreadsheet is definitely in order. Regarding my username - HA! Although I definitely do all the cooking....that is not it. It is more a combination of the fact that it reflects my personality and that I like palindromes. Curious about your username - - do you hang out in a barn? (sorry, couldn't resist! )

I understand the pet situation. It's one of the things that prevents us from getting a dog. We travel a lot (or, at least used to). There are international pet sitting exchanges, where you list your home, dates, and pet sitting requirements and the site matches you up with people who want to have a free accommodation in return for feeding, walking, etc. your pet(s).

Regarding my forum name: I am an honorary Fellow of the Order of the Barn. I cannot reveal more than that!

[TNBigfoot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kook TNBigfoot - No, my plan isn't relying (too) heavily on SS. I only inputted 20K per year in the calculators, which should be a good sum less than what I am currently due to receive. However, I am 57 now, so who knows where it will be when I actually take it. I assumed 3% inflation.

I’ve used 3.5% where I can adjust. The FIDO calculator doesn’t allow that option.

[kimcdougc]

DH is 63 and I am 61. We currently pay $1,876 per month with an $3,300 deductible for ACA healthcare. I do have to admit, our ACA plan sucks but it will have to do until we both get on Medicare.

Don't want to wish our lives away, but can't wait till we turn 65. Will get a big raise! Yay!