Class of 2018

[ILikeStarTrek]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeWras I'm in tech, and if I got that [severance offer], I'd be gone so fast. Tech doesn't give a flip about anyone over 50. Just leave. I dream about that kind of offer. My megacorp gave those 10 years ago, but stopped. Now, they just try to get you to leave, or if push comes to shove, they give 3 months. I'm going to leave. In May. But, yeah, I totally understand your "grief" comment. I do! I'm grieving my career. I know I could do more. For less even. But geez, Megacorp just doesn't make it easy. <etc> I sit here employed, and riding on a train in a tunnel with this light at the end. The light is getting bright, and it is getting scary! 3 months away. WOAH! Can I do this?

JoeWras,

I'm with you on wishing I could get a nice severance offer!

I want to tell you that even though I've only been on this forum for a few months, I've enjoyed reading your posts in this thread which have been ongoing since you started it 5 years ago. I know you have been dreaming about FIRE for a long time and have often been frustrated at Megacorp. It's great to see that you are finally within a few months.

I'm in the Tech field as well, but as a developer. I have the impression that you're a manager. I've avoided going into management, partly because I didn't want the stress and bureaucracy there. I don't feel too stressed about my job, but it can be tedious. It *is* a job and I would prefer to have all the free time from RE. Now that I'm getting close, I'm just finding it harder to do my work every day - I find myself daydreaming that in just over a couple more months, I won't have to do this anymore but I can enjoy a lot more free time.

I'm now targeting May 1 as my last day. From what I gather from your posts, I think I will beat you out the door by a couple weeks. Hopefully you and I will both be enjoying ourselves in June!

[poppydog]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al18 Upper management let a great manager go yesterday with no good reason. It's better to retire on my terms.

Exactly so! Having been ‘exited’ from jobs twice in my career, it matters to me that I retire in my own terms, having done proper succession planning and leaving my team in a good state.

Me and DW have about ten weeks to go now (04/27.) And we became grandparents last Thursday!

[JoeWras]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilikestartrek JoeWras, I'm with you on wishing I could get a nice severance offer! I want to tell you that even though I've only been on this forum for a few months, I've enjoyed reading your posts in this thread which have been ongoing since you started it 5 years ago. I know you have been dreaming about FIRE for a long time and have often been frustrated at Megacorp. It's great to see that you are finally within a few months. I'm in the Tech field as well, but as a developer. I have the impression that you're a manager. I've avoided going into management, partly because I didn't want the stress and bureaucracy there. I don't feel too stressed about my job, but it can be tedious. It *is* a job and I would prefer to have all the free time from RE. Now that I'm getting close, I'm just finding it harder to do my work every day - I find myself daydreaming that in just over a couple more months, I won't have to do this anymore but I can enjoy a lot more free time. I'm now targeting May 1 as my last day. From what I gather from your posts, I think I will beat you out the door by a couple weeks. Hopefully you and I will both be enjoying ourselves in June!

I am a developer. But you know, Megacorp says "everyone is a leader." Blah, blah, blah. We have all these developers telling each other what to do. Seriously. Megacorp has decided over the last 15 years to have all new talent offshore, so onshore developers seem to spend time looking good and telling each other what to do. There is no new talent to actually lead and nurture. It is a strange game.

On top of that, we identify issues, and they require resources (either people, time or equipment) and there's no power to do anything about it. When we press, we're basically told the same thing: "You are a leader, just fix it." Right.

And you are right, my immediate manager has it even worse.

[Finance Dave]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwp2017 I gave my written notice . Six weeks left, only 20 days at work. A very good feeling after 33 years at the same company.

Congrats! Hope it's all you dreamed of.

[Finance Dave]

DW's last day is March 28th.

My brother's last day is June 1st.

My last day is not exact yet...but will be in October this year.


Hat Trick!!!

[Pellice]

Well, I told my boss today I was leaving in the summer. I was planning to tell her next week. But, as it turned out, she is getting a promotion and leaving around the same time. She told me this first, then I told her. I think we both expected the other to be devastated, and due to our mutual departures, that didn't happen, lol! That makes the transition easier, as the organization will probably hold everything in abeyance pending reorganization - which means I won't have to conduct much in terms of planning for next year. And my boss won't be hyper about my getting every single procedure and loose end in order.

[ClayMore]

Just a wrap up. I interviewed and got offered the job at a significant increase on base from 210 to 230. Perk pack at 15(Auto allowance & welfare expense) IC & LTIP of 180. I took the offer and my new plan is to complete major goals of the job, get DW used to tighter money and solve for health insurance cost with the additional pay from now until mid 2019. I would have to work to end of ‘21 to get retiree hc and that’s too long to wait. Thanks to advice on here, I realized more diligence was needed on readiness to RE.

[akidagain2018]

Three years to retiree healthcare is nothing! Totally worth it!! I've been working 8+ years toward retiree healthcare at a job I'm overqualified for and as such get treated like crap by 'less gifted' [insert eye roll here ] colleagues. Still worth it!! Can't wait to leave the dopes at the job behind. To have cover for the risk of the cost of healthcare is big. I found my retiree plan is good enough and cheap enough that I plan to keep it over Medicare Part B, the part you pay for that isn't drugs. Things to think about.... Good plan, IMO.

[JoeWras]

12 weeks. It is getting real. I have to say, I wake up both excited, and also with a little pit in my stomach. I mean, am I really going to do this?

[ugeauxgirl]

I always think of the worst case scenario. You are quitting a job you hate because you have enough money that you don't have to do it anymore. So if you decide you hate retirement or the market goes down, you can always get another job. You didn't want the old one back anyway did you? And you don't have to make anywhere near as much money- you can take a job- IF you want to, just cause you like it and it doesn't even have to pay well. And if you don't like THAT job, you can quit that one too!

I wish I could take my own advice- Ha

[Dtail]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeWras 12 weeks. It is getting real. I have to say, I wake up both excited, and also with a little pit in my stomach. I mean, am I really going to do this?

It will be one of the best things you have ever done. Don't back off.

[poppydog]

Yay! Last two months for me and DW! Eight weeks to go.

We’re having different “wind down” experiences. Me - my successor has been selected and I’ve been passing most of my tasks to him, leaving me happily under employed. Love it!

DW on the other hand is being beasted to complete all manner of (unnecessary) projects because they’re scared that no one after her can do them - they will just have to cope....

Roll on 04/27!

Best wishes to all my fellow 2018 retirees!

[JoeWras]

Thanks. Needed a booster shot!

Funny thing. I love home improvement. I don't necessarily want to dabble in retail. But, I have a friend who ERd from another company and works PT at one of the home improvement big boxes and loves it.

Back up plan for rice and beans money, should it come to that. It won't though.

[ears20]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeWras 12 weeks. It is getting real. I have to say, I wake up both excited, and also with a little pit in my stomach. I mean, am I really going to do this?

I’m having the same emotions, Joe. I’ll be telling my boss next week about my 4/30 retirement. I liken it to the feeling I had when I went whitewater rafting over a 20’ waterfall: extremely excited to do it, but more than a little nervous, too.

I keep telling myself that the plan was solid last summer, and I’m 18% better off than I was then. I also know I have some options to bring in some income through PT w*rk if it looks to be necessary.

Hold steady and keep the faith...!

[mcbraemer]

I too have set a firm ER date of 5/15/18, after 42 years of full-time career work. DW retired last May (and is a few years older than my 63.5 year age). We can finally spend some significant time together, and apart, that doesn't involve w*rk.
No turning back for me - I can taste the freedom, and won't miss another summer, like I have missed essentially since 1976.
Go Class of 2018 !!!

[seabourne]

Gave unofficial/verbal notice today when my supervisor came by to schedule a goals discussion. Planning on exit 5/4/18, but want to be sure they can get someone onto my project by then, as the end of May things will heat up and they need to be up to speed. Also want him to give any raise allocated to me to someone else, as I'll be out before it hits anyway and he only gets so much budget.

Slightly stomach churning, but I'm about 25% over what I figured I would need due to the past year's returns (partly because we have once per year appraisal of the company stock price that came out last week - up 35% this year!), so even with the current volatility, I'm pretty comfortable. Currently dumping 50% into 401k to try to hit the max for the year by departure (already banked the annual matching money as of this morning's paycheck!) so I can easily manage IRA conversions and taxes this year for ACA plans if need be.

Exciting times for all!

[Pellice]

It IS so exciting! I've actually STOPPED dumping money into my 401k because my FA and I are planning that I will live off some savings and sick leave payout for the 5 months after 8/1, and not draw on my retirement savings until 2019. So I'm putting money into my plain vanilla savings account for now. But, just got a (modest) check for my part in the sale of my parents' home, and that is going to get the savings account up to what I need, the emergency savings account filled again, and my new car paid off. Once that is done, I will see what spending more freely feels like! I have a fall trip planned already, am sending a deposit this weekend. It feels like intermission before the Third Act right now!

PS: What do you call an emergency savings account after retirement? Previously it was the "replacement job earnings" account. Now does it become the "supplement-in-case-of-market-downturn" account?

[green night]

I’m 4 weeks out. I’ll be FIRE at 46.

Anyone have a final days at work checklist? I feel like I only know that I’ll send an email to work colleagues with new contact information.

[Dd852]

Quote:

I’m 4 weeks out. I’ll be FIRE at 46. Anyone have a final days at work checklist? I feel like I only know that I’ll send an email to work colleagues with new contact information.

Make sure you’ve downloaded any contacts you want to keep into your private address book.

Are there any emails or documents that you’d rather not have anyone see after you go? Delete now.

Are there any emails or documents that might conceivably be useful to you later? Thumb drive (yeah I know they aren’t really your property but...)

Are there any project loose ends that could spur an unwanted phone call later? Do a handover document while you’re still getting paid.

Say goodbye privately to people whom you like but you won’t want to see again so you don’t feel like there’s unfinished business.

Go through your pockets for any unclaimed expense receipts - you have only one last shot at reimbursement.

[WestUniversity]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeWras 12 weeks. It is getting real. I have to say, I wake up both excited, and also with a little pit in my stomach. I mean, am I really going to do this?

Same thing here. I have reworked my numbers so many times I know that they are solid. Still however there is that part of me saying OMG this is for real. And you are so much closer than I am. I can’t imagine what you must be going through...[emoji15]