Gave retirement notice...decision is done...12 months to go :) :)

[Toddtheformeraccountant]

OK, this is probably the third time I've posted. I was the schmuck that last year told mega that I wanted to retire...they responded by doubling my salary and giving me more interesting responsibilities. I contemplated staying a couple more years.

But the BS bucket has grown substantially, particularly with some real dilbertesque decision making and resource allocations (personnel) to my group....and I just can't stand being there and the stress and the nonsense....and I finally said, I'm done. I talked to my boss, telling him that I want to retire early next year. Conversation went much better than I expected, he was very professional and it was a great conversation.

I feel an incredible weight off my shoulders!!

Me 53...DW 54. Last kid about to start college next year.

Our numbers should be fine....we spend $150,000 per year in expenses at most (and that's with heavy padding)... we have $2M in IRA/401K/HSA money, and $5.5M in regular brokerage. House paid for, about $1.0M value.

Could frankly just leave tomorrow...I could live without what I'll make between now and when I leave....but I feel loyalty to the people I work with and want to "end" the right way. I wouldn't feel right just blowing them off.

Another thing I've struggled with (in yet another contemplative post) is what to do with my time. I finally realized....I'd be a real idiot to keep working just to keep myself busy. Work, for entertainment? How stupid would that be. Also, sad....working at a job you hate, because, you can't find something else to do?

Finally realized on that, I'll find things to do and keep myself busy...it'll be a struggle and there will be an adjustment period for sure...but I'll figure it out.

Thank you for everyone in this group, responding to my repeated posts, and in reading all the great material here....thank you thank you!!!!!!

 

[ziggy29]

OK, this is probably the third time I've posted. I was the schmuck that last year told mega that I wanted to retire...they responded by doubling my salary and giving me more interesting responsibilities. I contemplated staying a couple more years.

But the BS bucket has grown substantially, particularly with some real dilbertesque decision making and resource allocations (personnel) to my group....and I just can't stand being there and the stress and the nonsense....and I finally said, I'm done. I talked to my boss, telling him that I want to retire early next year. Conversation went much better than I expected, he was very professional and it was a great conversation.

When the BS bucket overflows, enough is enough.

I think back to my dad's retirement. For a long time he said he wanted to retire at 55 because of the BS bucket (obviously, he didn't use that term). But when he hit 55, his boss, not wanting to lose him, went out of his way to shield my dad from the BS and office politics, and let him concentrate on just doing his job, which he enjoyed when he was able to do absent the BS bucket.

But a couple years later, they dangled an early retirement incentive he could not resist. It included a year's salary as severance, 100% employer paid medical until age 65, and an extra five years of service for pension calculations. Even though he was liking his j*b more than ever at that point, there was no way he was not taking that deal!

So if the numbers work and you are ready, congrats!

 

[Dtail]

At 7.5m in investments and a 2%WR, everything is good. It is time.
Now keep us informed of the wonderful things you will do in retirement.

 

[pb4uski]

One of the most surprising things about retirement is how content I can be just puttering around and in the whole scheme of things not doing much of anything. Retirement gives me free time to help friends and family with little stuff that makes their lives easier as well as some volunteer work. I've served as guardian for two elderly relatives and executor for their estates, manage a commercial property for my mother and her investments, do about 8 tax returns for a family trust and family and friends, shuttled an uncle who injured his hand in a mower accident to medical specialists over 3 hours away, serve as treasurer for our community association, etc... and still find plenty of time to play golf.

 

[trying2save]

Congrats Todd! must be a good feeling to know that you have a concrete date.

 

[JakeinChina]

OK, this is probably the third time I've posted. I was the schmuck that last year told mega that I wanted to retire...they responded by doubling my salary and giving me more interesting responsibilities. I contemplated staying a couple more years.

But the BS bucket has grown substantially, particularly with some real dilbertesque decision making and resource allocations (personnel) to my group....and I just can't stand being there and the stress and the nonsense....and I finally said, I'm done. I talked to my boss, telling him that I want to retire early next year. Conversation went much better than I expected, he was very professional and it was a great conversation.

I feel an incredible weight off my shoulders!!

Me 53...DW 54. Last kid about to start college next year.

Our numbers should be fine....we spend $150,000 per year in expenses at most (and that's with heavy padding)... we have $2M in IRA/401K/HSA money, and $5.5M in regular brokerage. House paid for, about $1.0M value.

Could frankly just leave tomorrow...I could live without what I'll make between now and when I leave....but I feel loyalty to the people I work with and want to "end" the right way. I wouldn't feel right just blowing them off.

Another thing I've struggled with (in yet another contemplative post) is what to do with my time. I finally realized....I'd be a real idiot to keep working just to keep myself busy. Work, for entertainment? How stupid would that be. Also, sad....working at a job you hate, because, you can't find something else to do?

Finally realized on that, I'll find things to do and keep myself busy...it'll be a struggle and there will be an adjustment period for sure...but I'll figure it out.

Thank you for everyone in this group, responding to my repeated posts, and in reading all the great material here....thank you thank you!!!!!!

Congrats Todd on the retirement. Good call on leaving the company on good terms and being a professional. This is the right thing to do.

Take a month or two off, and take some time to think about what you want to do next. You have the assets, so perhaps look into hobbies, travel, helping others and so on. Best of luck!

 

[ocean view]

I’m guessing that you actually enjoy doing accounting work since you chose to include that in your screen name and that the BS stems from the non-accounting part of your job—meetings, HR bs, management, staff, etc. I am also an accountant and I missed that part of my work life, until I found my dream volunteer gig at my local food bank helping in the Finance dept. It is the best of both worlds. They give me fun, challenging analyses to do, I set my own hours (4 hrs/wk), no meetings, no email, weeks off when I want, loads of gratitude from the full time staff.

So if you find yourself with excess time on your hands and you long for the joy of a balanced subledger, consider lending your skills to a nonprofit.

 

[HI Bill]

Congrats! Hope the next 12 months aren't too bad for you. I told my office in December last year I'm departing in the fall....and I'm wishing I had said spring or summer, instead! Walking around the block at lunchtime, I can almost taste freedom!

 

[kimcdougc]

Congratulations for finally deciding on a date. You can't get the time back. Look forward to hearing how you have chosen to fill or not fill your time after retirement.

 

[Retch The Grate]

congrats! Seems like a good wrap up.

 

[Adventurer]

OK, this is probably the third time I've posted. I was the schmuck that last year told mega that I wanted to retire...they responded by doubling my salary and giving me more interesting responsibilities. I contemplated staying a couple more years.

But the BS bucket has grown substantially, particularly with some real dilbertesque decision making and resource allocations (personnel) to my group....and I just can't stand being there and the stress and the nonsense....and I finally said, I'm done. I talked to my boss, telling him that I want to retire early next year. Conversation went much better than I expected, he was very professional and it was a great conversation.

I feel an incredible weight off my shoulders!!

Me 53...DW 54. Last kid about to start college next year.

Our numbers should be fine....we spend $150,000 per year in expenses at most (and that's with heavy padding)... we have $2M in IRA/401K/HSA money, and $5.5M in regular brokerage. House paid for, about $1.0M value.

Could frankly just leave tomorrow...I could live without what I'll make between now and when I leave....but I feel loyalty to the people I work with and want to "end" the right way. I wouldn't feel right just blowing them off.

Another thing I've struggled with (in yet another contemplative post) is what to do with my time. I finally realized....I'd be a real idiot to keep working just to keep myself busy. Work, for entertainment? How stupid would that be. Also, sad....working at a job you hate, because, you can't find something else to do?

Finally realized on that, I'll find things to do and keep myself busy...it'll be a struggle and there will be an adjustment period for sure...but I'll figure it out.

Thank you for everyone in this group, responding to my repeated posts, and in reading all the great material here....thank you thank you!!!!!!

Really like the way you phrased this! It encapsulates much of my thinking as well! It would be fairly depressing to feel one could come up with nothing more enjoyable or worthwhile to do!