caninelover
Full time employment: Posting here.
I thought I would post another update as I get closer to FIRE. When I started on this forum, my ER target date was 55. Now I can officially make it earlier at 52! Still a few years away, but I am on course so far.
As of October 2019:
I turned 47 this year. I had a job change (with the prior j*b paying a severance that was invested, since I found a new j*b I liked right away). Other than that, life is cruising along!
401k/tIRA: $855K
Roth IRA: $50K
After-tax investments: $261K
HSA/Retirement Medical: $50K
Cash: $100K
Total: $1.3 M
Debt: $450K, 27 years remaining @3.5% fixed. Home value is about $650K. No other debt.
Firecalc, Fidelity and Vanguard all say FIRE at 52 will be nearly certain
Looking forward to tracking expenses to tweak my post-FIRE budget. I can't believe I am so close to the finish line now!
Prior updates: December 2017 - Update from my 2009 intro post
Hi all!
What a difference a few years makes. I was looking back at my intro thread from ~8 years ago. Here are the changes:
1. 45 now, still single, but met Mr. Right and we are are happily cohabitating. No plans to marry (his kids are grown and I never had/wanted any) and we keep our finances separate (except for a small joint checking account to share day-to-day expenses). We are both very happy this way and it is working for us.
2. Desired retirement age is still 55. Gettin' closer...
3. I now make about $150K per year (give or take, depending on bonus)
4. I now have $750K saved in a 401k (max savings plus great company match...and nice market returns since 2009). AA a little more conservative now, at 55% stocks/45% bonds
5. Cash / e-fund: $100K (yes its a lot - but it would take me awhile to find a new job if I lost my current one. this is about 2 year's expenses).
6. VG Investment Accounts: $210K (mostly in index funds, generally along the same AA as above)
7. I still have my tiny Roth that has grown to $13K now (I haven't been able to add to it because of my income but it is still there )
8. Debt side: no more student loan, but I did sell my old tiny 900 SF condo and purchase a new 2100 SF townhouse last year. I badly needed more space and the location of the new place is ideal. However, it did up my mortgage debt: I now owe ~$470K with 29 years left on it at 3.5% fixed. I plan to keep the new place and the current mortgage until I retire, when I may opt to pay off the balance. The place is currently worth around $640K or so. Although my SO lives there with me, I provided the down payment with my own funds, secured the mortgage individually, and the property is titled solely in my name. SO pays a small amount of rent in addition to the shared day-to-day expenses. I do have a living trust that allows him to stay in the house for a year if I should die (so he is not immediately tossed out on the street), before the house is sold and proceeds going to my personal trust. He is aware of this and does not require any additional security.
I still can't believe the changes from 2009
If anyone has any suggestions on tweaks for the last 10 years of accumulation, please let me know!
My original intro post from 2009:
------------------------------
Hi, I'm caninelover and would like to learn from all you fine folks.
So here is my first post! I'm glad I found this place, I've been lurking for a couple of weeks and am ready to jump in. I've already found a lot of really good information, and hope to learn even more.
I am 37 and single/no kids, prefer to stay that way. My desired retirement age is 55. I currently make between $115K-$125K per year (depending on bonus). I have $200K saved in my 401k, invested aggressively 90% stocks/10% fixed income. There is also a Roth IRA with $8K, plus $45k (about a year's expenses) in cash, mostly in VG money market funds. On the debt side, I have a mortgage with $200k/15 years fixed at 5.5% left on it so it should be paid off when I'm 52. I also have $40k left from grad school student loans, fixed at 4.25%. No other debt.
As of October 2019:
I turned 47 this year. I had a job change (with the prior j*b paying a severance that was invested, since I found a new j*b I liked right away). Other than that, life is cruising along!
401k/tIRA: $855K
Roth IRA: $50K
After-tax investments: $261K
HSA/Retirement Medical: $50K
Cash: $100K
Total: $1.3 M
Debt: $450K, 27 years remaining @3.5% fixed. Home value is about $650K. No other debt.
Firecalc, Fidelity and Vanguard all say FIRE at 52 will be nearly certain
Looking forward to tracking expenses to tweak my post-FIRE budget. I can't believe I am so close to the finish line now!
Prior updates: December 2017 - Update from my 2009 intro post
Hi all!
What a difference a few years makes. I was looking back at my intro thread from ~8 years ago. Here are the changes:
1. 45 now, still single, but met Mr. Right and we are are happily cohabitating. No plans to marry (his kids are grown and I never had/wanted any) and we keep our finances separate (except for a small joint checking account to share day-to-day expenses). We are both very happy this way and it is working for us.
2. Desired retirement age is still 55. Gettin' closer...
3. I now make about $150K per year (give or take, depending on bonus)
4. I now have $750K saved in a 401k (max savings plus great company match...and nice market returns since 2009). AA a little more conservative now, at 55% stocks/45% bonds
5. Cash / e-fund: $100K (yes its a lot - but it would take me awhile to find a new job if I lost my current one. this is about 2 year's expenses).
6. VG Investment Accounts: $210K (mostly in index funds, generally along the same AA as above)
7. I still have my tiny Roth that has grown to $13K now (I haven't been able to add to it because of my income but it is still there )
8. Debt side: no more student loan, but I did sell my old tiny 900 SF condo and purchase a new 2100 SF townhouse last year. I badly needed more space and the location of the new place is ideal. However, it did up my mortgage debt: I now owe ~$470K with 29 years left on it at 3.5% fixed. I plan to keep the new place and the current mortgage until I retire, when I may opt to pay off the balance. The place is currently worth around $640K or so. Although my SO lives there with me, I provided the down payment with my own funds, secured the mortgage individually, and the property is titled solely in my name. SO pays a small amount of rent in addition to the shared day-to-day expenses. I do have a living trust that allows him to stay in the house for a year if I should die (so he is not immediately tossed out on the street), before the house is sold and proceeds going to my personal trust. He is aware of this and does not require any additional security.
I still can't believe the changes from 2009
If anyone has any suggestions on tweaks for the last 10 years of accumulation, please let me know!
My original intro post from 2009:
------------------------------
Hi, I'm caninelover and would like to learn from all you fine folks.
So here is my first post! I'm glad I found this place, I've been lurking for a couple of weeks and am ready to jump in. I've already found a lot of really good information, and hope to learn even more.
I am 37 and single/no kids, prefer to stay that way. My desired retirement age is 55. I currently make between $115K-$125K per year (depending on bonus). I have $200K saved in my 401k, invested aggressively 90% stocks/10% fixed income. There is also a Roth IRA with $8K, plus $45k (about a year's expenses) in cash, mostly in VG money market funds. On the debt side, I have a mortgage with $200k/15 years fixed at 5.5% left on it so it should be paid off when I'm 52. I also have $40k left from grad school student loans, fixed at 4.25%. No other debt.
