Souschef
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
As someone here said," When your BS bucket and your FI bucket are full, bail".
How abrupt was your final decision?
- Thread starter FLSUnFIRE
- Start date
brett
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2010
- Messages
- 5,926
I left with a golden handshake. It was abrupt and it was not abrupt.
I knew it was coming because of senior leadership change. I wanted it to happen and had been ready for a few years. I was so certain that it was coming that I had canvassed some associates in my industry for recommendation of good lawyers. I wanted to be ready.
Then it came. But it was really an 'unofficial' heads up. The package arrived two weeks later. I was thrilled. My spouse was not so sure. She expected me to have second thoughts. It felt so good when I was actually handed the paperwork. It felt even better, two months or so later when my lawyer reached a secured a termination agreement that he could recommend to me.
I could have walked two or three years earlier at 56. So glad that I waited. I cashed out my options at the right time, the termination agreement essentially gave me two years plus of salary, the extra few years enabled me to take advantage of some defined benefit pension benefits that I otherwise would not have qualified (age and service) for.
It was all good. No regrets. Glad I worked the extra few years. Never looked back.
I knew it was coming because of senior leadership change. I wanted it to happen and had been ready for a few years. I was so certain that it was coming that I had canvassed some associates in my industry for recommendation of good lawyers. I wanted to be ready.
Then it came. But it was really an 'unofficial' heads up. The package arrived two weeks later. I was thrilled. My spouse was not so sure. She expected me to have second thoughts. It felt so good when I was actually handed the paperwork. It felt even better, two months or so later when my lawyer reached a secured a termination agreement that he could recommend to me.
I could have walked two or three years earlier at 56. So glad that I waited. I cashed out my options at the right time, the termination agreement essentially gave me two years plus of salary, the extra few years enabled me to take advantage of some defined benefit pension benefits that I otherwise would not have qualified (age and service) for.
It was all good. No regrets. Glad I worked the extra few years. Never looked back.
PaunchyPirate
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Over a couple year period I became more and more uninterested in furthering my career at MegaCorp. I found that I was pretty content not killing myself to please others while no longer receiving salary advancement. I had reached the salary peak for my role. So I coasted for awhile and started to study what it would take to walk away from it all. Research, spreadsheets, healthcare planning, etc kept me entertained for months. Eventually, I decided I was ready and able to make the call. I waited one more month for the 2019 healthcare plans to be revealed to ensure there were no surprises and then gave 6 weeks notice on November 2, 2018. Most of the next few weeks were spent documenting a lot of my work and turning it over to the 30 year olds I was leaving behind. Final day of work, December 14, 2018. Left for my Christmas Caribbean cruise a week later.
Mr._Graybeard
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2011
- Messages
- 2,981
Employer installed a software "upgrade" which of course was a downgrade for those who used it. A couple months later a companywide buyout was offered. My department wasn't targeted for any reduction in staff, but I and two other senior co-workers took the offer. Boss was surprised, asked me to stay on for six more weeks, which I did to ensure I'd get the full severance package. It included nine months of family health coverage, which carried us until the Obamacare rollout.
One guy had been on the job more than 30 years and had a lot of vacation time left. He signed the papers and was gone for good the very next day. That's abrupt!
One guy had been on the job more than 30 years and had a lot of vacation time left. He signed the papers and was gone for good the very next day. That's abrupt!
Big_Hitter
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
About 4 years ago, I wrote here in the forums that I was targeting 3/2020 for my date. When reorgs happened in 9/19, I tried to push myself out with a package that paid me beyond the original date. Leaving megacorp is always abrupt.
aja8888
Moderator Emeritus
Slid into home doing engineering consulting on a private basis (my Sub S Corp) for energy companies. It was a long slide as the clients were great, the projects were challenging (and fun), the money was great, and the people were wonderful to work with. The slide took a few more years than I planned, but I don't regret any single day of it.
Souschef
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Things at work started to slide when my boss of 10 years retired. The new manager started bringing in his own people, and I had been topped out as far as salary.
I was over 65, so did not have the worries about health insurance that a number of you early retirees did.
I had recently married a lady who was also widowed, and I did a lot of traveling. I waited until my profit sharing was deposited to my 401k, and left. Two days later we were on a 2 week tour of South America. I have never looked back.
I was over 65, so did not have the worries about health insurance that a number of you early retirees did.
I had recently married a lady who was also widowed, and I did a lot of traveling. I waited until my profit sharing was deposited to my 401k, and left. Two days later we were on a 2 week tour of South America. I have never looked back.
Retire52
Recycles dryer sheets
I knew the date 3 years out. in the Army you retire at the rank you last held if you complete 3 years at that rank. so when I pinned on my last rank I planned for retiring 3 years later, to the day[emoji16]
PS. i had a boss that miscalculated his day a d fell short one month, to his horror. did not affect him financially, but his retirement rank on his ID card was one grade lower which only impacts your privileges, such as flying on Space A flights and getting VIP treatment on post during retirement travel.
PS. i had a boss that miscalculated his day a d fell short one month, to his horror. did not affect him financially, but his retirement rank on his ID card was one grade lower which only impacts your privileges, such as flying on Space A flights and getting VIP treatment on post during retirement travel.
Ronstar
Moderator Emeritus
I wanted to retire in 2007. But then DW said that I couldn’t retire years before her. Her plan was 2013. So instead I started ratcheting down work hours until I was working 1-2 days a week. DW was fine with that.
I gave 6 months notice in October, 2012. I had company stock that I wanted to sell. The company said that they would buy the stock if I worked until April, 2014. So I did. DW retired August 2014.
I gave 6 months notice in October, 2012. I had company stock that I wanted to sell. The company said that they would buy the stock if I worked until April, 2014. So I did. DW retired August 2014.
Car-Guy
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Two full buckets did it for me. Bucket 1 was cash, Bucket 2 was BS. Bucket 2 was beginning to overflow...
martyp
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
I went from not thinking about retirement at all to a final decision in 2 months. Based on some of the other answers that would be abrupt.
My work situation was deteriorating so I checked my pension plan. I was surprised at how good the numbers looked. I spent 2 months talking to the benefits office and working on a spreadsheet. That was June-July. I walked out the door in mid December.
10 years later, comfortably retired in Thailand, I have no regrets.
My work situation was deteriorating so I checked my pension plan. I was surprised at how good the numbers looked. I spent 2 months talking to the benefits office and working on a spreadsheet. That was June-July. I walked out the door in mid December.
10 years later, comfortably retired in Thailand, I have no regrets.
Love this thread!
Like others, pretty abrupt. I was on a conference call in the summer of 2016 with some potential customer and I looked out the window and thought to myself "I don't care about this anymore" haha. Came home , ran the numbers and thought to myself "OMG I can do this". Last day of work was January 6, 2017. I was 50 years old.
I can't express how happy I am about that decision. Seriously, maybe I'm just not that ambitious, but I don't get people that have boatloads of money that work into their 60's and 70s. I guess they just love their work. I never did. I liked it, but it's clearly not my passion.
Like others, pretty abrupt. I was on a conference call in the summer of 2016 with some potential customer and I looked out the window and thought to myself "I don't care about this anymore" haha. Came home , ran the numbers and thought to myself "OMG I can do this". Last day of work was January 6, 2017. I was 50 years old.
I can't express how happy I am about that decision. Seriously, maybe I'm just not that ambitious, but I don't get people that have boatloads of money that work into their 60's and 70s. I guess they just love their work. I never did. I liked it, but it's clearly not my passion.
Lewis Clark
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2018
- Messages
- 1,030
I had planned to work from home part time teaching online college classes for several more years. Then in December 2019 I realized the work wasn't fun any longer, and we were 5X annual spending above my target number. When I was contacted about planning for the summer 2020 schedule I decided enough was enough.
The elapsed time between making the final decision and giving notice was about one week. But I had already committed to teaching in the spring 2020 semester, so essentially gave 5 months notice.
Not happy retiring into the global pandemic, but we should be ok.
The elapsed time between making the final decision and giving notice was about one week. But I had already committed to teaching in the spring 2020 semester, so essentially gave 5 months notice.
Not happy retiring into the global pandemic, but we should be ok.
jollystomper
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2012
- Messages
- 6,196
Not abrupt. I had an OMY glide path plan. Details can be found in this thread: https://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/omy-glide-path-plans-81406.html
I had a plan to retire at age 55. Financially I was ready sooner. But... I was still going to pad the budget some more... till the boss announced at a staff meeting that I'd be travelling every 3rd week, for a full 7 day week, for a very stupid business reason. (Not productive, just show...) That night I told my husband I wanted to retire. He made me go over the numbers, and once he was comfortable he agreed. I gave notice that Monday. So, yes, pretty sudden.
That was 6 years ago - no regrets.
That was 6 years ago - no regrets.
Rambler
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2007
- Messages
- 2,487
I gave 4 years’ notice. I was in a named position which required SEC disclosure, and I had no heir apparent because my next in line was older than me and was planning his own departure well before mine. That meant I needed to find, hire, and train a replacement with some wiggle room, and keep the secret until it was publicly announced.
CyclingInvestor
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Hit my target $ at 46 in 2004 (4 years early), but work (programming) was going very smoothly. 2 years later they inflicted ExtremeProgramming on us (offices->open floor plan, 1 meeting/week to 3-5/day, teams for everything), so I gave notice - they ask for 6 weeks to train my replacement, which I gave them.
At 57 and having my full 30 years in, Can bail at any time... But it can take up to 3 months before the checks start. I can continue to work, but then must be gone 6 months before I can return PT, with strict earning restrictions...
Have talked with the boss about PT salary, but hes pushed for me to stay due to currently being shorthanded...
But with my vacation time and schedule... I work 10 12 hour shifts in 2 weeks... then off 2 weeks just pulling 1 12 hour nite shift....
Have talked with the boss about PT salary, but hes pushed for me to stay due to currently being shorthanded...
But with my vacation time and schedule... I work 10 12 hour shifts in 2 weeks... then off 2 weeks just pulling 1 12 hour nite shift....
I have a similar outlook although I actually loved the engineering part of my job I couldn't stand all the "important meetings" etc,.
I "retired" at age 49 in 2008. My finances are still very secure but I never did have that burning ambition either.
Didn't follow the path of some of my friends to get into management or executive roles and double my salary. Not surprisingly they are still working most likely because of lifestyle creep.
I wanted to be a Mechanical Engineer not a high level baby sitter and budget hawk.
When I left I heard there was a layoff and severance package coming.
I volunteered for it and found out that a woman I worked with, who was a very good engineer but in my opinion was the victim of office sexism, was able to keep her job because I volunteered (she was on "the list" for the layoff) to leave. I felt good about that and in fact she is still there and is a senior engineer /scientist in the R & D department.
Two things propelled me to pull the FIRE trigger:
1. I was working on a very detailed doc for a legal client of mine, only to have the f*rm's computer system crash while I was putting on the final touches. The doc had taken about a week to compile. Even though we had an allegedly sophisticated computer system, the doc could not be retrieved. When I was told that, I had a searing pain in my skull. I said in a very loud voice (my off*ce was near the f*rm's lobby) "I DON'T NEED THIS. I CAN LEAVE WHEN I WANT. I DON'T NEED THIS..." Everyone who heard me was flipped out. (Turns out that a much-later xray showed a now-healed aneurysm in my brain. That pain in my skull that day was likely the cause of it.) In any event, I thought at the time: This is not worth it.
2. I was then celebrating my 50th birthday on a vacation with my SO. We were walking in a generally beautiful resort, when, for no particular reason, an epiphany hit me near an ugly old parking lot. I just stopped, turned to my SO, and said: "I'm 50. I've worked hard for 25 years! I DON'T OWE ANYONE ANYTHING. I AM GOING TO QUIT MY J*B WHEN I SEE FIT!" And my SO said "Fine!" And off we walked...
I then set the date, 18 months later, on which to depart the f*rm. That gave me the chance to ensure that when I jumped, the net would likely appear. I replaced my roof, HVAC, etc. on my paid-off house. I bought my first bond positions and set aside a wad of cash by selling some stock. Etc. Etc.
After I ER'ed, we went back to that resort again, and had an even more posh stay -- the nicest hotel, great restaurants... AND I took a photo of that "Epiphany parking lot" which I have to this day!
So there were abrupt moments, and a little careful planning too.
And I have no regrets. At all.
1. I was working on a very detailed doc for a legal client of mine, only to have the f*rm's computer system crash while I was putting on the final touches. The doc had taken about a week to compile. Even though we had an allegedly sophisticated computer system, the doc could not be retrieved. When I was told that, I had a searing pain in my skull. I said in a very loud voice (my off*ce was near the f*rm's lobby) "I DON'T NEED THIS. I CAN LEAVE WHEN I WANT. I DON'T NEED THIS..." Everyone who heard me was flipped out. (Turns out that a much-later xray showed a now-healed aneurysm in my brain. That pain in my skull that day was likely the cause of it.) In any event, I thought at the time: This is not worth it.
2. I was then celebrating my 50th birthday on a vacation with my SO. We were walking in a generally beautiful resort, when, for no particular reason, an epiphany hit me near an ugly old parking lot. I just stopped, turned to my SO, and said: "I'm 50. I've worked hard for 25 years! I DON'T OWE ANYONE ANYTHING. I AM GOING TO QUIT MY J*B WHEN I SEE FIT!" And my SO said "Fine!" And off we walked...
I then set the date, 18 months later, on which to depart the f*rm. That gave me the chance to ensure that when I jumped, the net would likely appear. I replaced my roof, HVAC, etc. on my paid-off house. I bought my first bond positions and set aside a wad of cash by selling some stock. Etc. Etc.
After I ER'ed, we went back to that resort again, and had an even more posh stay -- the nicest hotel, great restaurants... AND I took a photo of that "Epiphany parking lot" which I have to this day!
So there were abrupt moments, and a little careful planning too.
And I have no regrets. At all.
Last edited:
Had a date planned about 5 years out. At 4.5 years had my house up for sale and under contact for a new one out of state. House situation went to hell. New game plan ended up being 3+ months all dependent on house sale. The day it closed was my last day so it was kinda abrupt.
