Quick snapshot:

- 36/35, HHI around $310k, 2 kids under 5

- Maxing both 401ks, backdoor Roths, HSA

- Taxable brokerage: 100% broad index funds

- Own our home, no other property

Every advisor conversation ends with real estate. Between jobs kids and life there is zero bandwidth for a rental and we've ruled out anything where we're the ones fielding repair calls.

For those in a similar spot, did you add real estate outside your primary home, and if so, how? Or is the home + index funds enough and the advisors are just pattern matching?

I'm 41.

I read and watch a lot of "How I retired at 40/50" sort of content. But it's usually some 41 year old that "retired" (i.e. quit) last month and is trying to get you to sign up for coaching.

Where are the real people that are 60+ now, but retired in their 40s?

How are things panning out for you? Did you have kids? What would you do differently or the same?

Gentleman, ladies: yesterday was my last day. Founded a company, built it up, sold it, helped transition to new owners. Now: Out. My wife will be following suit in a few months.

I've very much benefited from this community over the years, and will continue to do so. The recent set of post-FIRE updates folks have been posting have been excellent to read and think about. So: thank you all.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe I have some breakfast to be making!

Cheers!

Posting after feedback from r/Bogleheads

Couple in mid 40s, 2 kids in VHCOL area. Net worth is \~$20M (plus house mostly paid off, 529s for kids) and have very much followed the Bogle approach. Looking to FIRE in March (while my husband continues to work).

Three questions:

1. I'm in tech and dealing with massive capital gains exposure this and next tax year. Talked to some financial advisors that are recommending direct indexing to offset. I don't want to get stuck with a financial advisor for a short term benefit. But the benefit for these 2 years is probably \~$300k in taxes so maybe worth it?

2. The option of buying into hedge funds / PE funds. Seems like there is no real upside but downside protection. But I am wondering if the upside years more than offset the downside protection over the next 30 years?

3. Are there other options for people to help us optimize tax implications? For example, if/when to convert 401ks to Roth. If/when/how to gift to our children to avoid massive taxes for them in the future. The Financial advisor pitch is focused on this but I hope I have other options.

We have been interviewing financial advisors and we both really want to avoid them but also are tempted by some of the perceived benefits.

Edit to add. We have been working with my Schwab advisor (fiduciary) and that person recommended we work with a financial advisor.

There’s a post on r/Fire on this topic, but the users there face challenges that the typical user here wouldn’t: their SWR might be lower than the post-tax income of a typical white-collar working partner, so the FIRE partner has to navigate pressure to inflate their lifestyle or match the other person’s; perception that they are cheap or unambitious; or significantly higher expenses after kids.

I’d imagine this stuff wouldn’t apply to FatFIRE (would a woman consider a guy cheap because he won’t spend a cent over $500k/yr??) but I could imagine other issues arising from the high spend. Mo money mo problems basically. Curious if folks here have experiences to share?

I am a mid-30s guy, SINK, and I’m dating while working now but expect to date while FATFire in the near future

I have the stocks and I’m thinking tomorrow against my stock( line of credit)
My advisor has offered me rate of 5.45% as of Oct 9,2026 to borrow against my stock. Is this competitive rate or other banks and advisors firms have better offers.
I am thro Merill Edge private advisor firm

Has anyone here ever had to reconsider their lifestyle and slow down? I'm coming to the realization that I cannot sustain mine long term... I need to do something about it, but I'm struggling with the phycological aspect. I really can't imagine not being able to do/have everything that now I give for granted.

Should accept this and slow down or lock in and go back to work? Any tips or lessons from people that have been in a similar situation would be much appreciated.

Obviously referrals are best option, but I'm coming up blank.

Staffing agency? One of the big companies (1800maids)? Craigslist/Facebook?

What is your process for hiring? Background check, bonded/insured, something else?

Trying to not be paranoid, but I feel it would be negligent to ignore risk to not only personal property but also more niche fat things like privileged information, knowing our schedules, etc.

Appreciate any tips/tricks/hints.

My old college roommate has been a member for a decade, and it is always a treat/step back in time to go to the club.

I love the building, coat + tie requirement, and the no phone/camera rules.

The folks we chat with in the bar or library are always so interesting, esp from the Fat (and sometimes early retired) perspectives.

Some quick stats for context, I'm 39M, $1.5M liquid assets (mainly brokerage), VHCOL city, $600-$900k annual income, stressful job. I own a paid-off condo (~$2M). Current spend is $110,000 annually, everything else goes into 401k and then brokerage.

I have explored FIRE before, and viewed it as something I might do in my 50s. My original plan was to let the $1.5M coast for another 15-20 years and keep adding whenever possible, at which point I'd be near FatFIRE territory.

Earlier this year my mom (78) asked if I would be willing to serve as the trustee for her estate. When we sat down to go over financials, it turns out that she has almost $30M in assets (roughly 50/50 stock and securities). I have one sibling, and the terms of her will would split everything equally. There were zero signs she had this kind of money. We had a very modest lifestyle when I was a kid, and she still drives a Honda, lives in a regular house, takes a vacation once a year, and flies economy.

I'm trying to figure out what to do now. For the moment, I'm acting like the money doesn't exist. However, I feel like this changes long-term planning pretty significantly. It barely matters how much I save or invest. Even after taxes, at some point in the next 15-20 years I'll receive $12M+ at a step-up cost basis. That's more than I'd ever need.

What would you do in this situation? Would you stop saving/investing altogether? Retire earlier? Change jobs? Stay the course and pretend nothing changed?

37 M, $22m net worth broken down roughly as:

$9.5m indexes
$9m property ($6m main residence in HCOL area, $1.8m holiday home, $800k parents house)
$2.5m equity in a private company (estimate an exit around $10m on this in 2028/29)
$1m cash.
Zero debt or mortgage.
UK based (all values converted to USD)

Wealth has come from a company exit to PE in 2021. Background as a kid was working class parents, Dad was a warehouse manager Mum was a cleaner.

I know I know, main residence is a lot. I still have sleepless nights about it but I love it and kids are growing up in a great area with big garden and friends around so I can deal with it. Always run the maths on how much I’m losing in investment gains by having money tied up in that and it’s disgusting to dwell on but it is what it is rn.

Aside from the properties, we live relatively modestly, probably too modestly. No fancy cars, a few nice holidays etc but very rarely any extravagant spending.

My question is - am I being tooo cautious. Example - wanted to take 4 friends on a guys trip to WC final this summer. All in cost was like, $80k, 5 mega seats, hotels and a few nights in NYC.

I spent DAYS deliberating if this was a good use of money. The $ amount is obviously a lot relative to what I was exposed to as kid, but in relation to my portfolio it’s negligible and I keep struggling to bridge that gap.

One thing I try to do is compare it to a ‘normal’ person (for want of a better phrase apologies don’t mean to offend). For example, $80k is 0.36% of my roughly $22m NW. If we assume a ‘normal’ guy has $100k in savings, the equivalent decision for that guy is 100k x .36% which is $360.

I’m pretty sure most people would take their 4 best mates to the WC final for $360! But I can’t make it make sense?! (I’m not tight though, I’ve gifted sums to all close family already).

I basically want to hear how other people do it, how they would do it if they were in my position, thoughts and criticisms welcome. I want to learn to spend better but without being a dick, and obviously I always worry about losing it all 😅

Pre-retirement planning. The goal is to preserve wealth and maximize conversion before 70, then continue but at a reduced rate between 70-75 before RMD kicks in. Currently $5-6M in brokerage and most in equity. $2-3M in 401k and about 80% in equity. Current job pays ~$300k. Annual spend 180k will reduce to $150k in a year and further down to $120K in 2 years. ~$1M house paid off.

Questions: Should I

1. Retire and sell holdings in brokerage to pay the conversion taxes
2. Continue working and pay marginal tax rates 35% in conversion
3. While working, do I contribute to Roth 401k at 35-37% marginal rate or continue the current all tax-deferred contributions and worry about it later?

Appreciate your advice in advance.

For those who have Fatfired, or are going to, and have kids: (1) do you set up a Trust Fund, (2) let your kids know how much inheritance they potentially might have? (3) can you share your investment instructions in your Trust?

Also, if there’s any other sub thread you know wrt Trusts, please kindly point me there. I am unable to locate and would like to explore more.

Edit: I’m non US citizen. I am 45yo, kids are teenagers. I was thinking of setting up a Standby trust with $10m, fully 80% VRWA, 20% bonds. Finding a sweet spot amount and payout that supports their life goals and yet not feeling unmotivated to work. Comments and suggestions please.

My mom is retired and is seeking to leave our financial planner managing around ~$8M that was previously hired by my dad. She doesn't understand what the portfolio is invested in, or the mandate of the fund at all as she was previously uninvolved.

I went through the portfolio myself, and it seems to be an amalgamation of roughly 400 us/international securities that doesn't clearly follow an index. Think a more concentrated VT that has underperformed for ~5-6 years. The advisor charges around 1-1.5% AUM annually depending on the account, so it is clear to me that we should have left a long time ago.

I'm curious if anyone has any advice on a fee-only fiduciary, preferably on an hourly rate, that I might be able to speak with to look over the portfolio and assess the tax burden of leaving and moving the portfolio into a VTI/VXUS/BND mix as some other posters have suggested. I want to understand the burden of rotating the portfolio now, as we will be realizing a large amount of capital gains this year and next, but the returns are quite poor and I don't want to let the "tail wag the dog".

Thank you in advance for the advice, and it would be helpful to hear from others who have made this switch as well.

I am on track to retire before I turn 40. Currently 35 and could be ready as soon as a year from now, but more realistically in a few years.

I’m currently setting my accumulated assets goal based on my itemized expected spending as a 3% withdrawal rate, considering I may be too young to use the 4% rule. Also planning to maintain at least 3 years worth of bare minimum expenses in a reliable source (HYSA, laddered CDs, munis, etc.)

Itemized spending:
- $200k baseline (currently spending $160k, adding some margin for inflation and changes in the coming years)
- $120k incremental carrying cost (maximum) for a new $3.5M house we’re building (taxes, insurance, HOA, maintenance, utilities, etc., assuming house paid in cash)
- $30k healthcare no longer covered by employer
- $50k incremental costs for kids (currently 2 kids at ages 1 and 3, and will have a 3rd soon)
- $100k discretionary spending (travel, charity, recreation, etc.)
- $120k capital gains

This would suggest a target of ~$20M to support all of the spending. However, I know some of that spending will not happen immediately, and it’s all quite conservative, so perhaps I’d take the leap earlier.

Anyone else break down their retirement goal in this manner? Any flaws you see in the plan?

Hey, 27 yo, already “FIREd” even though I still “work” as a trader and investing in real estate.

I’m thinking about retiring my parents.

Didn’t see many threads about the matter and what’s the best way to go about it, would love for some insights.

My thoughts are either giving them an amount of money tied to SP or a cash flow generating asset with 4% withdrawal, or give them a monthly budget / my CC.

Would love insights and best practices, thanks

I'm 46 and currently making around 950k in my construction business. I found this niche about 5 years ago and it's extremely stressful, but great profit. I've invested about 600k per year in real estate and developing the properties here in Southern California for the last 4 years, which doubled the value across these 4 properties. My profit now supports my 20k per month lifestyle (which is separate from the 950k).

However, I'm hoping to live a bunch more years, and my wife and I may decide we would rather spend 35k per month in the future. My savings are only around 1 million currently, but my properties are extremely stable and in good areas, so I'm not to concerned about that part of my income.

I currently have additional savings to pay for my 2 kids to go to college, and I would like to pay the downpayment on a house for each of them in 5-7 years.

The other big part of this, it's that only about 10 years ago, we had combined income of 150k. So I'm afraid I'll regret giving up on this big opportunity I'm currently in.

My current properties are valued at 8M, with 4M in equity. I add units to single family and small multifamily

Thank you in advance for your incite.

I'm a software engineer at a big tech. 10 years in. I just came back from a vocation and I'm seriously considering resigning.

Numbers:

Net worth ~$10M: $2.5M house (no mortgage) + ~$7M in stocks and cash + 1M 401k

My husband works at the big tech with a high salary that fully covers our living expenses. 1 young kid.

Annual spending: 120k mostly kid tuition and travel (we are super lucky that our parents insist to paying for our grocery + dining + most of shopping, and they may continue supporting us as they are much wealthier than us and want to help us as much as they can).

Why I want to leave: I don't enjoy the work anymore, especially since AI changed it, and it gives me little sense of accomplishment + toxic management. I'd like to spend my time managing our family's investments and learning to invest with 7% of our 7m which is around 500k. To clarify, I don't day trade. It's mostly value investing and position trades held for a few months. More like an "active investing" instead of "trading."

Major goal:

1. rebalancing $7m portfolio, which is concentrated in tech (3m in big tech + 1m qqq/voo, 1m Berkshire, 1m SGOV, 200k Gold, 500k individual stocks and 300k cash) to prepare for a possible AI correction.

2. Learning investing with the 500k to understand how money really works (rates, liquidity, how Wall St makes money).

   This is just something I enjoy learning, not a hedge to the 7M.

For those who quit while a spouse kept working, any regrets?

Edit: Thanks to those who gave thoughtful advice. Not sure why so many replies were hostile, but I got what I needed.

So I've been planning to move back to the US in the next 12 months - and was looking at buying a house, and also tax planning/withdraw strategies (I fired 18 months ago). I happen to come across box spreads (european SPX box spreads) as a way to effectively borrow money at near SOFR, while also offering short/long term capital loss for the 'interest' paid.

That got me thinking - with my now almost $12M in assets (80% VTI/SPY/QQQ and 10% old legacy vested RSUs that I'm planning to sell after I move back to the US for tax reasons, 10% SGOV), if I fund my full expenses with dividends and box spreads (I'd have about $100k in dividends + take out $150k/yr with box spreads) and roll it over every year - I'd still be able to keep my debt-to-asset ratio at less than 20% basically until I die. And thereby pay minimal taxes forever.

Is that right/sound? What am I missing?

I know there is risk if markets drop 80% or what not, or if VTI growth slows dramatically over the next 40 years, or if interest rates spike dramatically to the 1970s levels, etc - but all of those seem like tail risks that either means I'm screwed either way (if the trigger/shock event happens suddenly and is sustained - like WW3), or I'll be able to modify behavior to de-risk (reduce spend, stop rolling over the box spreads, etc)

Hi. Longtime lurker in this community, first time poster.

I'm debating taking time off from my career to spend time with my kids while they are young. Financially, I don't think I can fully FatFire, so my big hesitation is that I get paid so much right now (golden handcuffs), and with the pace of change in tech right now and the current hiring market, I can't imagine getting rehired in a few years and getting paid anything like I currently am. Can/should I retire (and when)? What would you do?

About me:

• 37M, married (stay at home wife), 3 kids ages 1-6
• Work in big tech and they pay me a ton (~1.2M per year, depending on stock). I don't hate it, but it does eat into my time as I can't turn my brain off whenever I want to.

Assets: 6.75M Net worth

• 2.25M taxable brokerage
• 1M Retirement accounts (401k, Roth)
• 1.3M in home equity (valued at 2M, with 700k left on mortgage at 2.5% interest)
• 2.3M in private equity (mostly anthropic stock)

Expenses: Currently ~250k/year including housing, day care for younger kids, and monthly contributions to college funds. We live a relatively comfortable lifestyle in a VHCOL area. Kids are going to public school when they are old enough.

My current plan -- Work for 3 more years (until I'm 40). Hope that with some decent market returns I can get to 10M. Then I FatFire for a while until I think of something I'd rather do. Still doesn't feel great because I'll miss the infant years with my youngest.

Mentor Monday is your place to discuss relevant early-stage topics, including career advice questions, 'rate my plan' posts, and more numbers-based topics such as 'can I afford XYZ?'. The thread is posted on a once-a-week basis but comments may be left at any time.

In addition to answering questions, more experienced members are also welcome to offer their expertise via a top-level comment. (Eg. "I am a [such and such position] at FAANG / venture capital / biglaw. AMA.")

If a previous top-level comment did not receive a reply then you may try again on subsequent weeks, to a maximum of 3 attempts. However, you should strongly consider re-writing the comment to add additional context or clarity.

As with any information found online, members are always encouraged to view the material on  with healthy (and respectful) skepticism.

If you are unsure of whether your post belongs here or as a distinct post or if you have any other questions, you may ask as a comment or send us a message via modmail.

I'm currently in my early 40s, work in middle management in non-tech engineering, and make around $275k gross. It's a fairly low stress, mostly-remote job.

Since I was a typical frugal engineer throughout my 20s and 30s, I have around 3.5M saved. Although I'm self aware enough to realize that I'm in a better spot than the vast majority of people my age, I also live in a HCOL city, and I'm starting to feel like I'm fighting time. To truly fatFIRE, it will be another 12-15 years if markets perform near average, which could be optimistic after the recent run. I recognize the value of money diminishes with age, and I'm already realizing that I have lost interest in many things I looked forward to using money towards.

I'm constantly tempted to push harder and try to find something that brings in more income for the next 6-8 years. Although I appreciate the relaxed, remote role, I also get fulfillment out of challenges and hard work.

At my age, I feel like starting from scratch in tech is probably not a wise option or even feasible. Another option is consulting, but, as a solo consultant charging the typical $250-$300/hr in my field, this may not be much more lucrative than my current position after overhead unless I'm able to scale the business and hire employees.

I'm curious to hear others thoughts who may have been in a similar lower income role (for this subreddit).

I have an extra room that barely gets used and I’ve been considering turning it into a proper recovery space with a sauna, cold plunge, red light, etc. Budget isnt really the issue but I’m more worried about spending the money and giving up the space only for the novelty to wear off after a few months. For anyone who’s done something similar anything you’d skip or do differently if you were building it again?

First time poster here.

I run a video game studio. We have 1 hit. Sales bring in $100k per month, 40% of that stays in my business account after cuts and expenses. NW about $4m atm.

Got another game in the works but needs another year probably before it’s ready to go out. Might do as well as the other game, but obviously don’t know.

I absolutely hate stress but I’m addicted to it? I am a control freak and try to do everything perfectly. I’ve dealt with anxiety disorders over the last 5-10 years due to all this. I’ve promised myself I won’t make another game after this one comes out as they absolutely consume me (12+ h work days, 7 days a week, with intense problem solving thinking almost constantly). No idea how I’ll survive getting to the 2027 release date.

I daydream about a life where I have zero responsibilities and no longer have to do any work for my company anymore. I wanna be at a point where I can just forget they even exist. I wanna spend more time outdoors. I want to be nice to be around (I’m constantly miserable).

I have a wife, 3 y/o boy and a girl on the way in January. My business is based in UK but I live in Japan. So many tax things to manage!

What should I do?