Class of 2020

[COcheesehead]

Do we all realize how lucky we are to take a hit so early in retirement? Most SORR failures happen at market peaks.

 

[tinlizzy]

Anybody here postponing or reconsidering 'graduation' in light of current financial events?

Me, my plan A was to retire June 1. Plan B was to retire 12/1 and they would owe me 7 weeks of vacation. I decided on 6/1 and after Easter I start 5 weeks of vacation BUT I'm going to delay my retirement and fall back to Plan B. Two reasons - I want to see if my dividends get cut ( I'm fairly positive Las Vegas Sands will suspend) and I want to make sure my son and DIL don't get laid off and need me financially.

I'm really looking forward to having 5 weeks off and staying in the house. Working with the public is very stressful right now.

 

[FLSUnFIRE]

I'm glad this mess happened now... I thought the market was a bit frothy so even though I'm pushing my date to the right (eyeing the end of the year to make my decision) I will feel more confident about the future than I would after such a long bull market (I was running numbers with a 40% decline as I planned on the summer). If the market doesn't go down much more, I still should be able to maintain a SWR with the hope/expectation that there will be a bull to push me along early in FIRE. If I think I can stomach it, I may decide to w*rk till April 2021 (April Fools Day would be a fun date) in order to max out my 401 one more time while keeping my W-2 income near zero.


Currently "telecommuting" but there is not much I can accomplish but training. It is nice not going in but still technically w*rking and not able to pursue a lot of other activities I enjoy due to social distancing take away enjoyment of being away from the office. Hopefully, when things start going back to "normal," I will feel like I'm returning from vacation and feel refreshed from the break to get me through the rest of the year.

 

[Mountain skier]

I am still retiring in late May. We decided to lower our AA 7/93. Will increase equities when market stabilizes.

 

[retire2020]

OP here:
My gosh...what a shocking downhill drop in just two weeks! If I had not retired on 12/1/2016 then at the peak I would have accumulated 4M. But today it would have been only 3M. I retired on 12/1/2016 also with 3M and today I've around 2.45M. I dont know whether it was a right decision or not but only time would tell either way. Just on 3/12, everything was financially well but two weeks that followed frightened me. Planning to stay the course on 60/40(which has now become 50/50 and will leave it there not re-balance) and check yearly.

 

[GoBugGo]

So much irony here, isn't there?

I wanted to retire to get rid of my godawful commute - NOW: no commute

I wanted to retire in order to start some serious travel - NOW: no travel now for anyone for the most part.

So true!

 

[Retire2013]

Do we all realize how lucky we are to take a hit so early in retirement? Most SORR failures happen at market peaks.

What does "SORR" stand for?

 

[SunnyOne]

Sequence of Returns Risk

 

[Ger0n1mo]

Please Count Me In

Your LIST update is here!

Congratulations to everyone that's "Made It" so far! Livin' the dream!

Class of 2020 (Un)Official list... (I like lists! ):

• dingo - 1/2/2020 (Congrats! (snuck in front of Ergragg1)) {CHECK}
• Erbragg1 - 1/3/2020 (Early bird... Teacher's pet... ) {CHECK}
• Octogirl - 1/3/2020 {CHECK} (Getting shafted on part-time work?)
• INTJ10 - 1/9/2020 {CHECK} (W*rking an overpaid temp job)
• Out_the_Door - 1/24/2020 {CHECK}
• idledancer - 1/27/2020 {CHECK}
• nobodyspecial - 1/31/2020 {Waiting for Update...}
• AS2019 - 2/14/2020 {CHECK} (Announcement)
• Third Son - 2/29/2020 {CHECK}
• target2019 - 2/28/2020 {CHECK}
• nobody - 3/6/2020 {CHECK}
• 51notout - 3/6/2020 {CHECK}
• Maenad - 3/13/2020 {Waiting for Update...}
• Go-NoGo - 3/16/2020 (Definitely Go! ) {Waiting for Update...}
• georgemoe - 3/20/2020 (after 43 years!)
• CoastboundPNW - 3/31/2020 (Filed and counting!)
• DRC726 - 3/31/2020
• mattwallace24 - 4/2020 (Placeholder between March & May)
• Grimelowe - 4/3/2020 (45yo - Nice!)
• jaharrer - 4/30/2020
• Dalmore - 5/1/2020
• HNL Bill - 5/1/2020 (Subject to change)(but It's gonna happen! )
• Mountain skier - 5/2020 ("late May")
• RobLJ - 5/15/2020 (Retiring the rest of the way! )
• kingkarmann - 6/1/2020
• OTDasap2020 - 6/1/2020
• brainsagolfer - 6/1/2020 (maybe earlier?)
• pdxgal - 6/30/2020 (Committed now! )
• TN Jim - 6/30/2020 (40 years is enough!)
• ugeauxgirl - 7/1/2020 (Class ringleader )
• COcheesehead - 7/10/2020
• wmackey - 7/10/2020
• FlyFisher - 9/1/2020
• L Carlisle - 9/1/2020 (MOSTly retiring...)
• spikeykiller - 9/10/2020 (Say "NO!" to OMY! )
• GoBugGo - 9/25/2020
• cnocmmz - 9/25/2020
• Unpaintedhuffhines - 10/1/2020 (RSU's FTW! )
• bada bing - 10/1/2020 (Placeholder for now)
• Draggon - 11/1/2020 (Leaving 9/23/2020 w/PTO)
• Mr. Vacation4us - 11/2/2020
• f35phixer - 11/12/2020 (Not committed - likes their J*B!?)
• ohiodep and the DW - 12/1/2020 (Leaving work 9/17/2020 on vacay!)
• Mrs. Vacation4us - 12/15/2020 (Mr. V cut in front of her!)
• retire202052 - 12/2020 (I may have figured out the pattern of your UserID )
• gamboolman - ??/2020 (pick a date, any date... )
• RxMan - ??/20?? (Class of 2020 Official Stalker)
  
  

Anyone else want to post their target? Also, lemme know if I miss one.

Hi Draggon,

Please add me to the 2020 class list. I was planning to retire mid-April and then the pandemic created too many unknowns for me. I closed on a lake home on March 20 but I can't move forward with selling my house until the quarantine eases up. I also will not be able to line up movers, etc. And, since my portfolio has taken a hit I decided not to rush into retirement just yet. I hope by the end of May, latest.

 

[Draggon]

So, I went on vacation to a 'safe' country last month. A month later, I'd lost ~1/3 of my investments, the ability to travel, and the ability to pay cash for a house in Hawaii. I've deferred my May date...may as well change it to TBD....OMY?

Sorry to hear that, HNL. Keep us posted! For now, I dropped you down to 12/31 just in case things change.

 

[Draggon]

To put it mildly, the world has changed a bit since the last update on 3/16/2020. Almost unbelievably.

That said, Your LIST update is here!

Congratulations to everyone that's "Made It" so far! Livin' the dream (although likely in isolation)!

Class of 2020 (Un)Official list... (I like lists! ):

• dingo - 1/2/2020 (Congrats! (snuck in front of Ergragg1)) {CHECK}
• Erbragg1 - 1/3/2020 (Early bird... Teacher's pet... ) {CHECK}
• Octogirl - 1/3/2020 {CHECK} (Getting shafted on part-time work?)
• INTJ10 - 1/9/2020 {CHECK} (W*rking an overpaid temp job)
• Out_the_Door - 1/24/2020 {CHECK}
• idledancer - 1/27/2020 {CHECK}
• nobodyspecial - 1/31/2020 {CHECK}
• AS2019 - 2/14/2020 {CHECK} (Announcement)
• Third Son - 2/29/2020 {CHECK}
• target2019 - 2/28/2020 {CHECK}
• HighFlight - 3/4/2020 {CHECK} (but not the easy way!)
• nobody - 3/6/2020 {CHECK}
• 51notout - 3/6/2020 {CHECK}
• Maenad - 3/13/2020 {Waiting for Update...}
• Go-NoGo - 3/16/2020 {CHECK}
• georgemoe - 3/20/2020 (after 43 years!) {Waiting for Update...}
• CoastboundPNW - 3/31/2020 {Waiting for Update...}
• DRC726 - 3/31/2020 {Waiting for Update...}
• Grimelowe - 4/3/2020 (45yo - Nice!)
• jaharrer - 4/30/2020
• mattwallace24 - 5/2020 (Placeholder)
• Dalmore - 5/1/2020
• Mountain skier - 5/2020 ("late May")
• RobLJ - 5/15/2020 (Retiring the rest of the way! )
• Ger0n1mo - 5/31/2020 (Hoping...)
• kingkarmann - 6/1/2020
• OTDasap2020 - 6/1/2020
• brainsagolfer - 6/1/2020 (maybe earlier?)
• pdxgal - 6/30/2020 (Committed now! )
• TN Jim - 6/30/2020 (40 years is enough!)
• Lienlord - 7/1/2020 (fuzzy - due to pandemic!)
• ugeauxgirl - 7/1/2020 (Class ringleader )
• COcheesehead - 7/10/2020
• wmackey - 7/10/2020
• free2020 - 8/31/2020
• FlyFisher - 9/1/2020
• L Carlisle - 9/1/2020 (MOSTly retiring...)
• spikeykiller - 9/10/2020 (Say "NO!" to OMY! )
• GoBugGo - 9/25/2020
• cnocmmz - 9/30/2020
• Unpaintedhuffhines - 10/1/2020 (RSU's FTW! )
• bada bing - 10/1/2020 (Placeholder for now)
• Draggon - 11/1/2020 (Leaving 9/23/2020 w/PTO)
• Mr. Vacation4us - 11/2/2020
• f35phixer - 11/12/2020 (Not committed - likes their J*B!?)
• ohiodep and the DW - 12/1/2020 (Leaving work 9/17/2020 on vacay!)
• tinlizzy - 12/1/2020 (deferred from 6/1 - i.e. Plan B!)
• Mrs. Vacation4us - 12/15/2020 (Mr. V cut in front of her!)
• FLSUnFIRE - 12/31/2020 (date taken from "the end of the year")
• HNL Bill - 12/31/2020 (deferred due to pandemic )
• retire202052 - 12/2020 (I may have figured out the pattern of your UserID )
• gamboolman - ??/2020 (pick a date, any date... )
• RxMan - ??/20?? (Class of 2020 Official Stalker)
  
  

Anyone else want to post their target? Also, lemme know if I miss one.

 

[Draggon]

OP here:
My gosh...what a shocking downhill drop in just two weeks! If I had not retired on 12/1/2016 then at the peak I would have accumulated 4M. But today it would have been only 3M. I retired on 12/1/2016 also with 3M and today I've around 2.45M. I dont know whether it was a right decision or not but only time would tell either way. Just on 3/12, everything was financially well but two weeks that followed frightened me. Planning to stay the course on 60/40(which has now become 50/50 and will leave it there not re-balance) and check yearly.

Hey OP! You made me look, and sure enough, it was you back in 3/2013. I guess your plans changed since you bounced in 2016! A million here, a million there, it's all just dust in the wind eventually...

 

[Grimelowe]

Hey all! Strange times. I'm effectively done tomorrow. I did all my check-out stuff with my manager and HR today. All that is left is to mail my laptop back to them when the postage paid box arrives. 2 hours in the morning on the phone with my replacement (a friend), and then I'm officially done.

I've found out these past few days how much my colleagues, managers, and friends had planned for my "quitting party" It's a bit disappointing to not be able to gather together for a few drinks. food, and stories.

Either way, we'll be deep in the forest by Friday afternoon. Cheers!

 

[ugeauxgirl]

Hey all! Strange times. I'm effectively done tomorrow. I did all my check-out stuff with my manager and HR today. All that is left is to mail my laptop back to them when the postage paid box arrives. 2 hours in the morning on the phone with my replacement (a friend), and then I'm officially done.

I've found out these past few days how much my colleagues, managers, and friends had planned for my "quitting party" It's a bit disappointing to not be able to gather together for a few drinks. food, and stories.

Either way, we'll be deep in the forest by Friday afternoon. Cheers!

Congratulations!

 

[Vacation4us]

We are still on Target unless I can convince DH to go sooner. Work is crazy stressful and things change on the daily. It’s just a matter of time before Covid 19 is upfront and personal. Trying to convince DH it’s ok to run and hide, we have done our time. November can’t come soon enough for me.

 

[TN Jim]

I moved the date up, I will retire April 10. Just need to finish paperwork.

 

[Go-NoGo]

I pulled the trigger on my scheduled date - the very day that DJIA made its single largest drop in history. So much for timing!

 

[REWahoo]

I pulled the trigger on my scheduled date - the very day that DJIA made its single largest drop in history. So much for timing!

Based on your user name you had a 50-50 chance and zigged when you should have zagged.

 

[Go-NoGo]

Based on your user name you had a 50-50 chance and zigged when you should have zagged.

Ha ha, so true!
Story of my life

 

[1242Vintage]

Hey class of 2020.

All my final paperwork has been submitted at work, my CEO has been notified and I’m just counting down the days until my May 1, 2020 retirement day.

Started as a wet behind the ears junior engineer in 1987 and ending my career as the principal in our division. It only took 33 years to get there!

Don’t know about any of my classmates, but my happiest days were those very early years when I actually designed and constructed projects. These day my time is filled with personnel issues, proposals, and the bottom line profit margin. Not so much fun and even less job satisfaction.

Looking forward to a new chapter of life with my lovely wife on May 1, 2020.

 

[CoastboundPNW]

Hi All - Looks like I haven't updated on planned vs. actual. Yes, retired as planned 4/1. Like Grimelowe, there were a few retirement celebrations that either had to be canceled and one that happened remotely over video chat - strange times! While my style is not to have big send-offs, etc., the part I did miss was being able to give hugs to a few folks. The upside of course I did it (30 years) and that now my time is my own. Yes, having to 'hunker in the bunker' with my newfound freedom is odd, but enjoying doing more cooking, planting some veggies, etc until we are all free again to roam. My DH has two more years and then the adventures truly begin. Hope all of you 2020 classmates are doing well during this quarantine time!

 

[Draggon]

Started as a wet behind the ears junior engineer in 1987 and ending my career as the principal in our division. It only took 33 years to get there!

Don’t know about any of my classmates, but my happiest days were those very early years when I actually designed and constructed projects. These day my time is filled with personnel issues, proposals, and the bottom line profit margin. Not so much fun and even less job satisfaction.

Looking forward to a new chapter of life with my lovely wife on May 1, 2020.

I can completely relate on all counts. I started as an assistant engineer (Associates Degree) back in 1989, finished my degree part-time, and am finishing as a manager of engineers. The good old days were definitely before my management move. Funny thing about it is, I have literally never applied for a management position...

 

[free2020]

I can completely relate on all counts. I started as an assistant engineer (Associates Degree) back in 1989, finished my degree part-time, and am finishing as a manager of engineers. The good old days were definitely before my management move. Funny thing about it is, I have literally never applied for a management position...

Me too. Managing other people was the same as being a counselor of sorts for personal problems. A little bit would be Okay but not all of the time. The other real issue I had was what came from upstairs! My sense is that the fishing pond above is filled with mostly flesh eating fish. In my experience, management ranks tended to attract the worst elements. With very few exceptions. There is such a dearth of good leadership.

Much happier as an individual contributor and small team player.

 

[albireo13]

I started as an engineer back in '79 and have stayed the technical path. I can't stand useless meetings so, avoided management. Turned down a few offers for management positions.

In any case, I was planning to retire May 30, 2020 but, have decided to push it off for awhile until the economic picture gets a bit more clear. I worry about our kids losing their jobs, in which case we want to be in a position to help them out if we can. Best to keep my income for a bit longer.

Also, I changed my 401K contributions to 100% equities now! Time to buy low!
Still hoping/planning to retire in 2020 ... I'll say Oct 1 is a target.

How can I get my name added to the 2020 list?

 

[Draggon]

How can I get my name added to the 2020 list?

Welcome aboard, albireo13! Your post is all it takes. I usually update the list every couple weeks based on all the posts since the last list posting.