Let me first say that this board is one of the best things I have stumbled on while aimlessly wandering the web looking for happiness (ok, maybe I am not that aimless). You guys are the most well mannered forum members I have ever seen and you have wonderful comments and helpful information to share. The best thing is that its all backed up with great experience. From asset allocation and SWR to FIRE lifestyles and places to live, the information is a gold mine for me.
I have been lurking for a while, but just couldn't hold my gratitude in for much longer. I just had to say thank you for all the information and take a minute to introduce myself.
I am not so sure about RE, but I am sure about wanting FI. My plan is to have enough in investments in the next 2-4 years to be able to say goodbye to the grind if I am so inclined. I have to say that I dislike the corporate world, but I get to work out of my house and have lots of freedom in my current job and bring in way more than I am worth every pay check. The point being, I would almost be crazy to give it up. However, in the meantime I feel like I am not doing what I should be doing. I don't have any sense of passion for my current job. Its very unfullfilling. I struggle with how much I need to have in the reserves before I can let that cash flow go. 1M after taxes seems like a minimum. 2M seems like way more than enough. When do you give up the gravy train of a big salary and in my case vesting stock options?
My current dream is to get to a point where I can live without a job, but still pursue creating a business that I really enjoy. A business that brings in anywhere from 10K to 30K a year profit to help supplement my investment income would be great. I have some ideas, but time will tell if I can make a go of it...
Anyway, thanks for creating this forum and sharing all of your information. I will be coming back and probably mainly lurking every week.
Here is a little more about me and my financial status...
- 35 years old
- I have 265K in a very balanced brokerage account, mix of index and individual stocks along with a bond fund, 50K in a European brokerage, 600K in vested options if sold today (still lots vesting). 130K equity in my home. 80K in 401K. 70K in company stock purchase plan (waiting on qualifying disposition). 25K in cash. About 40K investing in a Venture Capital partnership which I assume will give me my money back, but it could go belly up or do much better. Plus some privately held stock in a company getting ready to IPO.
- I am debt free except for 90K on my mortgage.
- single (for now)
- salary around $190K depending on bonus (very hard to give up even though I live on about 35K a year).
Thats me in a nutshell. Any advice, commiseration, or admonishment is welcome. In the mean time, I am going to continue to explore the forum and play with FIRECalc!!!
Biker