Poll: Fat FIRE II

[zekeboz]

Kicking off a poll to better understand where folks are at with useable assets, retirement and non-retirement funds only. Please exclude house(s), boats or that Lambo from your childhood dreams... ;-)

 

[Gumby]

It's your poll, so you can ask whatever you want. In my view, however, you're still not going to get an accurate picture of the lifestyles of the rich and famous people on this board. You could, for example, have far less than $500k in your investment portfolio, but if you are pulling in $250k per year in pension/social security income, you'll be living pretty high on the hog.

 

[zekeboz]

Agree but I see that as a different poll, it would be difficult at best to try and poll two different data points given the available poll functionality.

 

[statsman]

I am not going to click on the poll results. I don't need to see that we are not keeping up with the Jones.

Now off to see if someone new to the forum has posted whether they should retire early in their 50s with an $8+ million portfolio ...

 

[street]

I am not going to click on the poll results. I don't need to see that we are not keeping up with the Jones.

Now off to see if someone new to the forum has posted whether they should retire early in their 50s with an $8+ million portfolio ...

To some that question is stupid or their thinking someone is bragging about their portfolio etc..

At one time I asked that question and was ridiculed for asking such a question. I really didn't know and was asking if I had enough and I guess I was very naïve. I had no idea I could retire, and I always respect that same question when asked.

I will take part in this poll, the last one was not of interest to me at all.

 

[rodi]

I assume that, unlike the recent poll, this does not include primary home. I assume this is investible assets that can generate income in the form of cap gain, div, withdrawals, or rent for non primary real estate

 

[Dtail]

[/B]
To some that question is stupid or their thinking someone is bragging about their portfolio etc..

At one time I asked that question and was ridiculed for asking such a question. I really didn't know and was asking if I had enough and I guess I was very naïve. I had no idea I could retire, and I always respect that same question when asked.

I will take part in this poll, the last one was not of interest to me at all.

True with your example, but then we also see questions of can I BTD for 15k/25k with a large portfolio............

 

[Calico]

Does anyone else find it confusing to have two threads with exactly the same name?

Any chance this thread could be renamed "Poll: Fat FIRE II?"

 

[braumeister]

Good idea. Thread title changed.

 

[zekeboz]

Good idea. Thread title changed.

Thanks - I tried changing it earlier but it seemed to not have taken.

 

[zekeboz]

Folks - So far I think the numbers are quite interesting, thanks for taking part so far. Tomorrow I'll post another poll based on where your source(s) of funds for expenses come from (credit goes to Gumby for the idea).

 

[Midpack]

Kicking off a poll to better understand where folks are at with useable assets, retirement and non-retirement funds only. Please exclude house(s), boats or that Lambo from your childhood dreams... ;-)

Why? Like others I lied on FF1 since it was pointless, I won’t vote on FF2. As others have pointed out, even if everyone is totally honest it’s meaningless to do a poll with SI, FI and everything in between lumped together. Not to mention single v married, 50-somethings v 80-somethings etc. I know, I’ve unwittingly done bad polls…

 

[zekeboz]

Why?

People are curious what levels of funds FIRE individuals have. For the next poll I'll make an option for those that want to lie, what option should I make for you? ;-)

 

[Calico]

Good idea. Thread title changed.

Thank you!

Now I can just go back to being confused by all the things that normally confuse me.

 

[Midpack]

People are curious what levels of funds FIRE individuals have. For the next poll I'll make an option for those that want to lie, what option should I make for you? ;-)

I don’t care, it doesn’t change my circumstances at all. I’ll have to take your word for it about other peoples curiosity. While we’re speaking for others, maybe the other option should be “none of your business, anonymous or not” - might be substantial…

 

[zekeboz]

While we’re speaking for others, maybe the other option should be “none of your business, anonymous or not” - might be substantial…

Sure great idea unfortunately I can not update the poll options now. Next time.

 

[Aerides]

People are curious what levels of funds FIRE individuals have. For the next poll I'll make an option for those that want to lie, what option should I make for you? ;-)

Which people?

One thing I've observed in my time here, folks generally are not interested in discussing their net-worth, other than when they are first planning and getting ready to retire. Once they do, rarely does the number come up again, and for most of us it changes over time, quite significantly. It's rarely meaningful without the context of location and lifestyle, and the number won't tell you anything about those.

 

[zekeboz]

Which people?

Really..? Lets see over 500 folks clicked and viewed a thread link with the Poll label and out of those over 10% took part.

Whats wrong with community engagement? If 'people' don't like it then they don't have to take part.

You gotta give your members more credit.

 

[street]

True with your example, but then we also see questions of can I BTD for 15k/25k with a large portfolio............

Yes, you are right. Thanks for straightening me out.

 

[Letj]

I am confused by the poll. Is it asking what your desired portfolio/what you’re aspiring to in order to retire or is it asking whether you are currently retired at that portfolio level?

 

[zekeboz]

I am confused by the poll. Is it asking what your desired portfolio/what you’re aspiring to in order to retire or is it asking whether you are currently retired at that portfolio level?

The latter, what do you have now.

 

[corn18]

I put $2M but I also have a COLA military pension and free health care that I value at about $1.6M.

 

[FlaGator]

While I responded (accurately), I do wonder why it matters. Echoing other comments, those who folded up the tent had "enough". Those considering doing so should make that decision without regard for neighbor envy. The number that worked for my objectives at 55 with 2 young kids isn't relevant to anyone's situation but mine.

So, why the curiosity?

 

[Sunset]

I'm totally unclear whether to answer as an individual or married couple. Since we each have our "own" $$, answering as a couple would increase the number.

Maybe married folks should answer with 50% of their value

The exclusion of the house of course distorts the final answer, as our house in the midwest is worth less than a single car garage in San Fran, so owning a paid off house in San Fran means that person has a big stash in real estate value.

 

[luckydude]

Kicking off a poll to better understand where folks are at with useable assets, retirement and non-retirement funds only. Please exclude house(s), boats or that Lambo from your childhood dreams... ;-)

If the intent of the poll is to survey how many people are FatFIRE, I suggest using a retirement income approach that takes into account one's income generating portfolio, pensions, etc. NW by itself is a meaningless number.

The most common NW cited for FatFIRE is $5 million, which based on 3% SWR yields $150k annually. So you can use that as a yardstick for a FatFIRE annual income amount. That income can include dividend/interest from one's portfolio, SSI, pensions, annuities. This would account for someone who may have less than the $5 million FatFIRE NW threshold and yet have pension, annuities, etc. that provides additional income, etc. That would be a more meaningful way to measure FatFIRE.