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I am 66 and have been trying to play golf for 16 years. I am terrible. Yesterday I shot maybe 140. I stopped keeping score as it was depressing me. After many lessons with the best teachers around here, I still sometimes mis-hit half my shots (meaning dribbled off the club for one errant reason...

You will see that I have been a member here since 2006. I have been planning my early retirement since well before that. But as things have gone, I am still working. Having now turned 65 there is nothing "early" about my status. But I am determined to be semi-retired. I am a fee for service...

I have been a member for some time, regularly review what is going on, but rarely post. However, I have a question for which I do not see any answers in the threads. I am turning 65 later this year and am doing my Medicare research. Based on the threads I have read, I am going to start with...

Our daughter is on our family health plan which covers adult children through age 26, even if they are not students. The plan is through Independent Health here in Western New York, a good local provider. I purchase the plan through my local bar association. The plan has no yearly or overall...

We have a very substantial part of our stash (the "safe part") in Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMX). Performance has been fine given the insanity. It is valued well within its traditional parameters, and has not suffered from the bond fund melt downs discussed in the WSJ. It is only down a bit...

Let me aplogize in advance for this request for help. As you see I do not post often. In 01 I lost my resolve and bailed my 401k at the very bottom. DW, well employed at that time, and not paying attention to me, did nothing and did well (at least until the current meltdown). DW (56) is no...

I think this is a health issue of sorts. I have been playing golf for about 5 years. I started at age 52. I am pretty fit but not a very good golfer. I usually score between 115 and 120 and disintegrate off the tee and for the long fairway shots, often shanking 5-9 shots per nine holes...

I was trying out the "Flexible Retirement Calculator" at Flexible Retirement Planner It has some interesting features and read outs. I particuarly liked the custom inputs for retirement income as I am sorting out scenerios with retirement income at different levels. I was wondering if...

My review of VUVLX shows it loss $2.05 or 14% today, 12/17/07. I have never seen any of my Vanguard funds move that much. The market was not that bad. Any one know what happened?

I live very close to Ontario. I just found out that our family health insurance through my trade group is going from $11,000 per year to $14,500 per year. My plan is good but hardly gold plated. This increase is typical for all the plans for all the carriers in my area. I see no end to these...

This morning's WSJ has some articles about the past October crashes including 1987. That black day will be 20 years ago on Friday. I remember it killing my then meager IRA. What would you do now if stocks dropped 10% in a week and then 23% on one day? Just wait? Rebalance the next day? Buy...

DW (55) is out of mega-corp for good in February. I (57) have been in the large law firm business, for better and for worse, for 27 years. I plan to open a solo part time practice in January. Income will be a fraction of current. And if it still drives me crazy might bag it for good. We...

In the Parade Magazine newspaper insert for today, April 7 (yes someone does read that thing) there is an article that says the "average age of widowhood in this country is 55". I googled the phrase and found references to the Census as the source of the statistic. I searched the board and could...

I just got the new Consumers Report with the cover articles on money: 1) 10 Easy Steps to the simple financial life 2) 60 funds you can count on, and 3) What to Watch for in '07. I am a long term reader of CR and use it for many decisions including for a while the beer I was drinking (to the...

What does the group think of Long Term Care Insurance (LTC)? DW and I are in mid-fifties and close to FIRE. We are in good health and do not smoke. We are thinking of LTC policies with a $225 starting benefit (good for my area), lifetime benefit, a 5% compound interest factor and a long...

I just joined and was prompted to write by the Wall Steet Journal section 12/11/06 on retirement. The frontpage story is entitled, "The Retirement Lies We Tell Ourselves". One of the "lies" is that we can live on less than 70-80% of pre-retirement income. On page R-4 of the section, the writer...