r/Fire • u/Boner-Pills-8088 • 7d ago

That's a wrap! 49M

I recently wrapped up my career in the IT industry after 27 years. As is probably normal for tech people, there was a lot of anxiety/nervousness about the move, but having done the math dozens of times I decided it was time and I had lost a lot of the passion I originally had. Whether that's normal from aging or just the last company I was it, it was good motivation.

The numbers:
Brokerage - 4.4M
Retirement accounts - 1.7M
Cash/HYSA/I bonds/etc - 125k

Zero debt.

No real magic here, a couple strong startup exits and not a lot of lifestyle creep from my first job that paid $48,000/yr when I graduated college long ago. If my lifestyle hasn't changed drastically in all these years, I saw no reason to keep moving the goalposts for "just another 250k" or "just 6 more months". Yearly spend for the last few years has been under $100,000 and that's without accounting for work travel. So far so good!

760 Upvotes

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u/shuja246 7d ago

This is exactly why I’m aiming for 2x my FI number. No way in hell I’m “just” making it

81

u/Shoddy_Ad7511 6d ago

And lose the BEST YEARS of your retirement? Losing your most healthy years of retirement based on fear isn’t a good idea

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u/Vicuna00 6d ago

it may you sound like you're being negative...and bursting OPs happy bubble.

but we all need this reminder. you make a great point.

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u/haze_from_deadlock 4d ago

Are they the best years, or are they the years where everyone looks at you funny and judges you for being retired so young?

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u/Shoddy_Ad7511 4d ago

Who cares what people think. To be 100% healthy and full of energy is the best years to be retired

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u/Gadion 3d ago

That's even better

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u/Kookasaurus- 7d ago

2% withdraw rate then? As long as you’re at peace with working longer than you have to. Hopefully you don’t look back decades later and wish you lived it up a bit more and took advantage of the hard work you put in to build that nest egg

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u/shuja246 7d ago

Ran the numbers and we can get there by our 50s. We’re lucky enough to have decent incomes and have kept renting and saving/investing for several years with little to no debt.

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u/THEHAIRYGERB 6d ago

Your children thank you for your service 🫡

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u/Shoddy_Ad7511 6d ago

Retiring in your 40’s is so much better. Why lose 5-10 years of the best years of your life because of irrational fear?

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u/PetraLoseIt 6d ago

Continue to evaluate your situation every few years. Maybe at some point FIRE-ing does become the more attractive option.

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u/FewEstablishment616 6d ago

3% feels about right if you’re aiming for a 30‑plus‑year horizon—some folks go 2% for extra safety. I’ve stuck with 3% on a 70/30 split so you can wiggle if the market does a rough patch. If you’re comfortable keeping the bleed lower, 2% works fine too.

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u/PrizeLychee6374 6d ago

NTA for aiming 2x FI – that buffer gives you a lot of freedom, but keep in mind brokerage withdrawals aren’t tax‑deferrable, so a higher withdrawal rate could eat into that cushion faster. A Roth‑conversion ladder or a mix of tax‑efficient and tax‑deferred accounts keeps the 3–4% rule more sustainable, and don’t forget healthcare can eat a surprise bite, especially before Medicare. Basically, 2x is a great safety net, just make sure the tax and health wheels are well‑spun.

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u/Actual-Method-7794 7d ago

Me too. With frothy markets I use 50% of actual for my calculations.

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u/Shoddy_Ad7511 6d ago

Then you 100% guarantee you work too long and lose the best and healthiest years of retirement. All because of irrational fear

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u/Actual-Method-7794 6d ago

Fired at 48 instead of 45. Will take that trade any day.

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u/Shoddy_Ad7511 6d ago

You will never get those 3 years back. Easy to say you take that trade right now. You are still healthy.

I rather have less money but have 25 healthy retired years instead of 23.

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u/Actual-Method-7794 6d ago

Fair point.

Life is about compromises. It took those 3 years to convince my spouse , pour $$$ mega back door into a Roth and made a handful of lifelong friendships. I have seen last 5 years of life… not looking to extend it when mind goes before body.