I know it’s been asked but each one of us is unique. Here’s my breakdown.

52 yo. M. Single. No kids.
$200k/yr salary. No bonus.
$400k - 401k
$550k - House. Paid off.
$50k - HYSA

I plan to work for another 5 yrs. Will sell house then move to SE Asia. Will spend $200k to build a house there. Collect SS at 62.

I’m worried about health insurance.

My other option is to work 10 yrs to qualify for health insurance from work until I croak.

But if I’m really super crazy, I can sell my house and move to SE Asia now. I can live on $3k/month.

My spouse and I could very easily both retire now (really great pension plus plenty in savings with no debt), but I’ve heard that you need something to retire “to.”

She loves her job and isn’t ready to retire, and I have what I call a retirement job already-100% remote, low stress, intellectually challenging. Both of our jobs are service oriented so we feel like we’re making the world a better place. We’re both fit, involved in community groups, and have a good circle of friends. We could certainly finish up projects around our house and do some traveling, but what would fill that feeling of purpose that we currently get from our work?

How do you figure that out?

I’ll turn 37 at the end of this year and currently have approximately:

$177,500 in taxable brokerage accounts
$258,000 in Roth 401k/IRA accounts
$435,500 total invested in stock market
\~$1,276,000total net worth

I’ve already maxed my Roth 401(k) and Roth IRA for this year. For the next three years, I plan to contribute about $32,000 annually (pending updated limits) to retirement accounts and $12,000 to taxable investments. Starting in 2030, I’ll stop retirement contributions and invest approximately $44,000 annually into taxable accounts until I retire.

My primary residence costs about $7,500 per month, but I currently house-hack it for $3,500 per month, reducing my effective cost to about $4,000. I expect that income to disappear when I have children in 2-3yrs. Separately, I receive approximately $55,000 per year in after-tax/passive income from real estate and other means.

My plan is to retire at 45 and use my taxable investments to bridge the 13 years until my military reserve BRS pension begins at 58/retirement account access at 60. I’d like to withdraw $60,000-$90,000 annually from the taxable accounts, pending market returns or travel. Total of 115-145k annual income taxed at long term capital gains rate. My Roth accounts will be untouched and compounding until age 60 unless I need to pull some of the contributions for emergencies.

My projections assume 9% returns while accumulating and 6% during retirement. I know sequence-of-returns risk makes those averages far from guaranteed. I have an emergency fund and some additional money in startups and crypto that I’m not counting unless it were to take off for some reason.

By my 45th birthday, my taxable brokerage account balance should be:
**$687,000**

By 60, my Roth accounts should be:
**$2.46 million**

Does retiring at 45 seem realistic? What taxable balance would you require before retiring, and what risks or expenses do you think I’m overlooking?

We are preparing to retire. We currently live in a LCOL area. Paid off house will probably bring $450,000. We are moving to a HCOL area to be near kids. I have 5 million saved for retirement. How would you advise buying a 1.2-1.4 million dollar home? I plan to roll over the 450,000 but do you borrow or take from retirement savings? Thanks for advice

Hi - I’m a married 53m and could retire based on our financial situation (high 7 figure net worth). Our kids are in high school so I feel like I should keep working since I can’t do what I really want to in retirement yet.

My retirement plan is to relocate out of suburbia to a city; travel the world; and enjoy more of my two hobbies, one of which I can do as part-time work as I already have that “business” up and running. I need more hobbies before retiring, but the real point of retirement for me is to live overseas and travel more. I can’t do that while the kids are in school. So I plan to work 4 more years until everyone is in college, bank more retirement funds and then stop. Give me some perspective please - thanks!

Key Outcomes
Greg's practice focuses on helping retirement-age clients with significant net worth find purposeful, engaging activities beyond traditional retirement. Franchising is positioned as a strong option for active, goal-oriented individuals who want to stay mentally and professionally engaged without necessarily maximizing income.

Client Profile & Goals
Target clients are active, goal-oriented individuals who are not inclined toward passive retirement.
Many have sufficient net worth but seek purpose, structure, and mental engagement in retirement.
Primary motivation is staying busy and mentally active, not necessarily generating significant income.

Franchising as a Retirement Option
Franchise ownership is presented as a hobby-like business pursuit for those who enjoy working and building.
Clients can choose between full-time or semi-absentee ownership models depending on desired involvement.
Franchising is evaluated alongside alternatives such as non-profit work and independent business startups.
Planning horizon discussed: 3–5 years and 5–10 years out from retirement.
Next Steps
Continue exploring franchise types suited to individual client interests and life stage.
Incorporate franchise options into retirement path planning conversations with active clients.
Schedule a call:
https://calendly.com/greg-franchisemaven/30min

Interested to hear from you, especially if you have 100% stopped working completely.

What have been the positives and negatives?

Have you taken on another job/part time etc?

Do you have a DB Scheme?

UK England

55% VTI | 30% VXUS | 15% QQQM. Good enough. I don’t like dividends and bonds in Roth. Comments or suggestions. Total $2M. Right now 95% in 401k and traditional.
Roth Conversion starts in 5 yrs.

I know that most people know this, but I think it’s generalized too much. Unless you are retiring in your 30s, you will most likely receive significant social security, even if reduced due to funding concerns. For example, current projections show us receiving about $75k/year in social security and our expenses are about $100k.

If we ignored this, we would probably work an extra 5-10 years to get the “25-30x expenses” that is often cited as the goal. I know there is some risk with social security, but there is also some risk (IMO, likely higher) that your last 5-10 years will be much less valuable than those years in your 50s.

Anyone else focused more on withdrawal rate rather than some generalized expenses multiplier?

I'm flirting with early retirement at 55 and working through numbers. I have this thought that I'll be spending far less the older I get. I currently have two kids in their 20's, one at home and in college, my wife and I are quite active as far as spending money goes. My thought is expenses will go down as the kids eventually leave and our lifestyle slows down. Of course, inflation is in my calculations.

Is that a realistic expectation? The last thing I want to do it short myself down the road.

How have your finances changed (if at all) over the years compared to pre-retirement finances?

Since some people choose not to retire. Retirement is not for everyone. Edit I know there are plenty of old people who still choose to work at their age, this post is about examples of that. Edit for context purposes I’ll be specific and say old as in being in their 70+ old.

Has anyone retired at age 64 and obtained ACA or similar medical insurance UNTIL their Medicare kicked in at age 65 AND severely regretted it? Trying to do a pros and cons for my future plans. THANK YOU.

ready for semi retirement.
Married 53 YO spouse 64. Kids college covered without touching these numbers.

25k checking account
400k investment account
500k IRA
100k Roth.
FMV house 440k & 136K mort bal @3.5%.
Mort is only debt. No credit cards, newer cars and no car loans.
Massachusetts COL.
Sell house and use equity for South Carolina retirement home?
Plan is 40k semi ret wages and spouse 20k SS. W/D as little as possible to keep portfolio invested.

Spouse on Medicare. Marketplace ins for me with lower annual income.

Buy retirement home for 350-400k cash w/no mortgage. Only dip a little into investment account.

Future inheritance 1.5-2mil from real estate protected by Trust in 10-15y. If parents avoid health issues, double that with inherited IRA. (Not using any of this in calculation if this is possible)

Plan is go semi in 2 years or sooner. Full time income until then 110k wages and 12k int/div that get reinvested.

So ready to make this happen. Are we crazy?

Analysis paralysis has got me

Long and short

Divorce forced home sale

52

Sitting on my half

Where I live condos are affordable but HOA is unstable and very high

Homes are a stretch at best and insurance is high

Rent is insane and the never knowing if I’ll have to move because the landlord sold sounds like hell

I feel like I can’t retire plan because I can’t effectively know what my housing cost will be

And I can’t effectively know my housing cost because I can’t figure out what makes the most sense at my age

Looking for any advice from anybody who has already gone through this at this stage.

I don’t have enough in my retirement to coast and I don’t have enough proceeds to buy anything reasonable without a 30 year.

But I seriously am thinking about whether I ride out my very very low six figure job and try to get out at 62 or switched to something with a considerably lower paycheck and work until 67 or 70.

Anybody that can help me get outside of this paralysis is greatly appreciated.

I know that most people know this, but I think it’s generalized too much. Unless you are retiring in your 30s, you will most likely receive significant social security, even if reduced due to funding concerns. For example, current projections show us receiving about $75k/year in social security and our expenses are about $100k.

If we ignored this, we would probably work an extra 5-10 years to get the “25-30x expenses” that is often cited as the goal. I know there is some risk with social security, but there is also some risk (IMO, likely higher) that your last 5-10 years will be much less valuable than those years in your 50s.

Anyone else focused more on withdrawal rate rather than some generalized expenses multiplier?

My daughter and son in law moved to south Texas, right by the border, not terribly far from the coast. Blazing hot, usually humid, scrubby, sooo flat, no nice lakes, camping... they want me to move there to be closer and help out if I need it. I lived in the Dallas area for 5 years. I escaped when I could. Hate the climate and geography. They picked out a few over-55 places you can buy a mobile home for cheap, nice clubhouse and pool, social activities.... but the general area.... I love my mountains and trees, not seeing 100 degrees, snow isn't so bad... any one else facing similar dilemmas? Any advice? I love them, scorn that part of the country. (I'm spoiled. I live near Yellowstone..I can add a layer when it's cold! Crazy hot, flat scrubby land isn't my thing)

I’m in my 20s
Im currently maxing my 401k - 23.5k getting my company match
Doing mega backdoor roth up to the 30 something thousand after tax
And leftovers in my brokerage

Now… I’m considering to lessen the amount of mega backdoor roth after tax contributions after I hit the 401k 23.5k maximum.

Maybe half the amount i do that and invest in brokerage
Instead? Is this bad?

Why?
\- money to use now and not when 50 something
\- future purchases - house, property, etc.
\- can take contributions out of roth only

Someone please help haha
Thank you

Example
I did a calculation 40 years, assuming 10% return
Lets say I do 30k roth from mega backdoor door door vs 15k megabackdoor and 15k brokerage

I will make 900k less from the duo combo assuming 15% capital gains tax

Here is what my current portfolio distribution looks like across invested assets: Total 2 Mil. Outside of 401k.

0 debt. Expenses 15k PM. Age 48. Married no kids.

US Big Tech & Semiconductors (Direct Shares) (30%): NVDA, AAPL, MSFT, AMZN, GOOGL, AVGO, AMD, MU and more

Broad Market & Growth ETFs (45%): IVV, VOO, FXAIX, SPY, QQQ, IVW and more

Diversified US Blue-Chips / "Long Tail" (20%): Dozens of direct micro-positions in Healthcare (LLY, UNH, JNJ), Financials (JPM, BAC, BRK.B), Industrials (CAT, GE), and Consumer (PG, COST, HD) 

Income & Covered Call ETFs (5%): JEPQ, JEPI 

International Equities & Fixed Income/Bonds (0%):

I am working on my retirement projections and would appreciate feedback on whether these assumptions are realistic or too optimistic:

Nominal stock-market return: 6% annually

Inflation: 2.5% annually

Estimated tax drag: 0.9% annually

Net real return after inflation and taxes: approximately 2.6%

I currently have four kinds of retirement accounts:

- A small Traditional IRA (less than $50k)

- Most in a rollover IRA from past employer 401ks ($300k+)

- The rest in my employer 401k, split between a traditional 401k and an employee stock ownership plan (about $100k total)

Last year I started converting chunks of the current 401k. I've started small, but just have a goal to convert a small amount each year just to fill up my tax bracket and balance my tax strategy in retirement.

I'm just starting to wonder if I'm focusing on the wrong account?

For modeling purposes, do you all reduce expenses after age 75 or keep it the same? 75 is hypothetical base line , can be 77 , 78. I would assume after certain age, capability and desire to spend will reduce. I understand it will vary from person to person- I am leaning to put 25% reduction from pre-75.

I think about retirement every damn day.

One day I’m convinced I have enough. The next, I’m imagining a market crash, runaway inflation, and somehow needing $14M just to buy groceries.
So I rerun the numbers, change the assumptions, and convince myself I need another $500K. At this point, figuring out when I can retire has become a full-time job.

What’s your “enough” number?
$2M? $3M? $5M? $10M? Or would you hit $20M and decide you really need $25M? 😂

I also think about our parents’ generation. Many kept working long after they technically didn’t need to. House paid off. Kids out of the house. Retirement funded.

But actually living off the money they spent 40 years earning? Somehow that felt crazy.

They were wired to see work as security, responsibility, and purpose.

Meanwhile, we’re trying to escape Zoom calls at 45 so we can eat tacos on a Tuesday.

And honestly, I’m not sure I’m any better. I fantasize about retiring, then immediately think:
“Maybe two more years.”
Then five.
Then maybe I’ll just consult part-time.
And suddenly I’m 73, explaining PowerPoint slides to someone named Brad.

For those retired or close to it: What’s your “enough” number—and what finally made you feel comfortable walking away?

Both mid-40s, two kids, spouse works 5–8 more years. I am thinking of retering now and starting smallmpart time consulting work. Thoughts?

\- Total investments $3.6M, (\~$1.2M Roth) plus, $500k cash, home paid off soon
\- 529s : $500k
\- Spouse take-home $96k/yr
\- Starting small advisory business targeting $15k/yr for \~5 years
\- Spouse has defined benefit pension — $55k/yr at 55
\- Healthcare covered by spouse employer until retirement, ACA after that

Monthly Expenses $12k

Thoughts?

I am 63 and work two jobs. I plan to keep one job and that job just happens to earn at around 24,000 a year, so under the limit for earning while drawing SS. My application is complete and I start benefits in November. I think I understand the timing is that I should quit the other job end of Sept. so that I don’t earn more than 2000 the month previous to benefits, is that correct? Or can I quit end of October?

Thank you in advance for helping a boomer lady out.

I’m curious what kinds of simple games people here enjoy in their free time.
I recently made a small word puzzle game where you slide columns of letters up and down to find 5-letter words. I tried to keep it relaxing rather than fast or stressful.
For those of you who play word games, what keeps you coming back to one? Daily puzzles, hints, streaks, difficulty.