Retire52
Recycles dryer sheets
Hello,
I am a 49 yr old has been. Retired from 30 yr career working for Uncle Sam in the Army. My DW is about 90% retired, no I would have to say 95% retired--she is still a proud member of the Army Reserves. After following one of this forum's vets, Nords, I too suggested to my DW to get off active duty and jump into the reserves and therefore pretty much retire with me. It was a great move and DW has never been happier with her career. Thank you Nords for the great advice!
I have been a member for several years and have leached off the great info from the collective wisdom of the members and thought I should finally get off my duffle bag and at least introduce myself.
After a successful career in the military, meaning they didn't kick me out before 20 years when I could collect a pension, unlike approx 87% of my fellow retired officers, I decided to retire, retire instead of pursuing another paying gig...best decision I ever made. Life has been wonderful the past year since I put myself out to pasture. Just returning with my family from living abroad for a year in Spain.
Speaking of family, besides my DW, I have 4 daughters. 2 young ladies in college and 2 lovely girls in 11th and 8th grades. They keep my life from ever getting too boring or let me worry about what I'm going to do with all my money.
After having a year of pasture living under me, I haven't had too many surprises or challenges. Financially, the military pension, health care and our savings have been very very good to us. As with the majority in this forum we had been pretty good about LBYM during our active duty years and now it is bearing fruit.
Not to say there aren't bumps on the road. For instance we way over spent during our year in Spain. Lived a high cost life style with private school for the two youngest, renting a house on the Mediterranean, two kids in college and vuala, we were $52k in cred card debt! We've chopped it down about half and will pay it off in the next 12 months, and they are at 0% interest over that period, but nonetheless it was a good wake up call to not let the guard down.
Not too worried as we've got about $13k monthly after tax between pension and annuities. Plus our investments total $2.1M. All the investments are in low cost index funds. About $1.1 in taxable Vanguard stocks 80% in VTSAX rest in VTIAX. $1 in retirement funds are in the fed govt Thrift Savings Plan and IRAs also in Vanguard-- the retirement funds are split about 60% in TSP and 40% in IRA Roth. The investments in the retirement accounts also are all stocks and track the same AA as my taxable accounts. I know I'm not very diversified and lack bonds, but I can live on my monthly income comfortably--except in a resort area in Spain as I've found out the hard way.
As far as the non financial side of RE, I couldn't be happier. I know I am still feeling my way through this major life change but it beats the heck out of *orking!
I have really enjoyed being a voyeur the past few years and now look forward to a more active membership.
Cheers from Gainseville FL
I am a 49 yr old has been. Retired from 30 yr career working for Uncle Sam in the Army. My DW is about 90% retired, no I would have to say 95% retired--she is still a proud member of the Army Reserves. After following one of this forum's vets, Nords, I too suggested to my DW to get off active duty and jump into the reserves and therefore pretty much retire with me. It was a great move and DW has never been happier with her career. Thank you Nords for the great advice!
I have been a member for several years and have leached off the great info from the collective wisdom of the members and thought I should finally get off my duffle bag and at least introduce myself.
After a successful career in the military, meaning they didn't kick me out before 20 years when I could collect a pension, unlike approx 87% of my fellow retired officers, I decided to retire, retire instead of pursuing another paying gig...best decision I ever made. Life has been wonderful the past year since I put myself out to pasture. Just returning with my family from living abroad for a year in Spain.
Speaking of family, besides my DW, I have 4 daughters. 2 young ladies in college and 2 lovely girls in 11th and 8th grades. They keep my life from ever getting too boring or let me worry about what I'm going to do with all my money.
After having a year of pasture living under me, I haven't had too many surprises or challenges. Financially, the military pension, health care and our savings have been very very good to us. As with the majority in this forum we had been pretty good about LBYM during our active duty years and now it is bearing fruit.
Not to say there aren't bumps on the road. For instance we way over spent during our year in Spain. Lived a high cost life style with private school for the two youngest, renting a house on the Mediterranean, two kids in college and vuala, we were $52k in cred card debt! We've chopped it down about half and will pay it off in the next 12 months, and they are at 0% interest over that period, but nonetheless it was a good wake up call to not let the guard down.
Not too worried as we've got about $13k monthly after tax between pension and annuities. Plus our investments total $2.1M. All the investments are in low cost index funds. About $1.1 in taxable Vanguard stocks 80% in VTSAX rest in VTIAX. $1 in retirement funds are in the fed govt Thrift Savings Plan and IRAs also in Vanguard-- the retirement funds are split about 60% in TSP and 40% in IRA Roth. The investments in the retirement accounts also are all stocks and track the same AA as my taxable accounts. I know I'm not very diversified and lack bonds, but I can live on my monthly income comfortably--except in a resort area in Spain as I've found out the hard way.
As far as the non financial side of RE, I couldn't be happier. I know I am still feeling my way through this major life change but it beats the heck out of *orking!
I have really enjoyed being a voyeur the past few years and now look forward to a more active membership.
Cheers from Gainseville FL
and I was going to let that go.
