I retired 5.5 years ago at 44 - the best move I ever made. I didn't have much figured out, but I tracked expenses carefully, and rough-calculated that we (DW & I) had enough. Well, so far so good (we started with $1.25 million, built a small house, and currently have $1.2 million). In the last few months, I've discovered this site and the Vanguard Bogleheads (it would have been nice to know about both when I was trying to decide when to quit
), and a whole lot of stuff I was ignorant about has emerged: #1 is this business of a SWR (or is it just a WR or a WD?) ... when is considered the best time to make the withdrawals? The first of the year with the amount being placed in a MM or ST Bond Fund and drawn out monthly, or end of year or only as needed, or some other method? I've just been spending what we need (about 3.25% of total), and since we live fairly simply, it's been working. Perhaps I should be more precise.
Thanks. It's really great to be here.