How much is TexAgs rich? I've read that term a few times here. Asking for a friend.
8:02p, 8/5/25
I'm an entrepreneur so I have a different take. I guess by most definitions of retiring my answer is never.
I think of my work life as more of an evolution rather than something that will drastically shift at some point.
At the moment I have a pretty good balance when it comes to the amount of time I'm working. Maybe the vacations will get more luxurious but I don't think I'll want to spend less time working as time goes on.
Big benefit of this type of work is the freedom and flexibility. Every year I'm doing more of what I like and find energizing and shedding stuff I don't enjoy doing. As long as I keep doing that I don't see any reason to stop.
I think of my work life as more of an evolution rather than something that will drastically shift at some point.
At the moment I have a pretty good balance when it comes to the amount of time I'm working. Maybe the vacations will get more luxurious but I don't think I'll want to spend less time working as time goes on.
Big benefit of this type of work is the freedom and flexibility. Every year I'm doing more of what I like and find energizing and shedding stuff I don't enjoy doing. As long as I keep doing that I don't see any reason to stop.
8:03p, 8/5/25
In reply to chrisfield
Depends on whether or not you include your primary residence in your net worth. See the millionaires thread for more details.
chrisfield said:
How much is TexAgs rich? I've read that term a few times here. Asking for a friend.
Depends on whether or not you include your primary residence in your net worth. See the millionaires thread for more details.
10:28p, 8/5/25
In reply to chrisfield
I've seen $4 and $5 million thrown out here so I'm assuming that's Texags rich and if so I'm not rich in money. I've made amazing friends and do mostly whatever I want to so I'm feeling pretty rich about what matters to me.
We all have different motivations so I'm not anti-wealth. It's just not important to me.
chrisfield said:
How much is TexAgs rich? I've read that term a few times here. Asking for a friend.
I've seen $4 and $5 million thrown out here so I'm assuming that's Texags rich and if so I'm not rich in money. I've made amazing friends and do mostly whatever I want to so I'm feeling pretty rich about what matters to me.
We all have different motivations so I'm not anti-wealth. It's just not important to me.
10:49p, 8/5/25
I see the occasional snide comments about "Texags rich", but let's talk about that. Math would say that if you want to retire in your late 50s and need to withdraw $150k per year (which keep in mind, that's gotta cover taxes and expensive ass pre-Medicare health care so you aren't exactly living lavishly), then you are probably shooting for a target in the ballpark of $4-5mm to keep that withdrawal rate under 4%.
That said, if you can get your savings in a solid spot by your late 40s which is very doable if you prioritized it going back to the beginning of your career, the power of compounding returns helps you a ton over 30 years and really adds a major amount of momentum those last 10 years. If you can get close to $2mm by your late 40s, then earning 8% for the next 10 years without saving a single additional dime takes that $2mm and turns it into $4.4mm. And in reality, that 10 years is also when you are likely making the most and have the most power to save. So you don't even necessarily need to be at $2mm by your late 40s. That's also an age when parents are passing away, and an inheritance of $500k is not all that unusual.
Big picture, you don't have to be Money Obsessed Billy Badass if you prioritized saving reasonably for retirement early and consistently. The goal is the power of compounding. An 8% return doubles that money every 9 years. You get that working for you for 30-40 years, you can have a very nice nestegg without being billy badass
That said, if you can get your savings in a solid spot by your late 40s which is very doable if you prioritized it going back to the beginning of your career, the power of compounding returns helps you a ton over 30 years and really adds a major amount of momentum those last 10 years. If you can get close to $2mm by your late 40s, then earning 8% for the next 10 years without saving a single additional dime takes that $2mm and turns it into $4.4mm. And in reality, that 10 years is also when you are likely making the most and have the most power to save. So you don't even necessarily need to be at $2mm by your late 40s. That's also an age when parents are passing away, and an inheritance of $500k is not all that unusual.
Big picture, you don't have to be Money Obsessed Billy Badass if you prioritized saving reasonably for retirement early and consistently. The goal is the power of compounding. An 8% return doubles that money every 9 years. You get that working for you for 30-40 years, you can have a very nice nestegg without being billy badass
10:53p, 8/5/25
In reply to jja79
When you get down to it, what most people want is probably FREEDOM not money.
You almost certainly need some money to get the freedom you want, and money is a great tool to expand your freedom, but money isn't freedom itself.
I think lots of confused people chase money thinking it's freedom (much to their detriment).
You almost certainly need some money to get the freedom you want, and money is a great tool to expand your freedom, but money isn't freedom itself.
I think lots of confused people chase money thinking it's freedom (much to their detriment).
10:56p, 8/5/25
Timely thread. I called our owner today and told him I'm retiring (I work for a startup).
I'm 51 and the whole time/money/health triad has been top of mind lately. I've been working 10-12 hours a day for 3 years after taking a 2 year sabbatical from a 20 year gig in corporate America. The mere thought of me mentioning retirement to my wife last weekend sealed the deal. She saw light and ran for it. There was no backing out as soon as I broached the topic.
We met with FA to confirm what we already knew because I frankly needed the reassurance that it's real.
I'm not one of these people who frets about "what am I going to do in retirement?!" I want to do nothing for weeks...maybe months. I'll read, workout, grill, go see friends, etc. Dont care. I'll figure out some stuff to do. I'm not a busy body so not worried about it.
I did jack **** during my previous sabbatical aside from gardening and loved every second of it. Have missed it since. I don't get people worrying to death about what they are going to do if they don't work, but I guess I'm just wired differently. I'm feast or famine on this topic.
I'm 51 and the whole time/money/health triad has been top of mind lately. I've been working 10-12 hours a day for 3 years after taking a 2 year sabbatical from a 20 year gig in corporate America. The mere thought of me mentioning retirement to my wife last weekend sealed the deal. She saw light and ran for it. There was no backing out as soon as I broached the topic.
We met with FA to confirm what we already knew because I frankly needed the reassurance that it's real.
I'm not one of these people who frets about "what am I going to do in retirement?!" I want to do nothing for weeks...maybe months. I'll read, workout, grill, go see friends, etc. Dont care. I'll figure out some stuff to do. I'm not a busy body so not worried about it.
I did jack **** during my previous sabbatical aside from gardening and loved every second of it. Have missed it since. I don't get people worrying to death about what they are going to do if they don't work, but I guess I'm just wired differently. I'm feast or famine on this topic.
11:03p, 8/5/25
In reply to He Who Shall Be Unnamed
think it would have to be portfolio value if moved to conservative securities generating that amount of income, as I'm sure most portfolios here have been outproducing income in recent years, mine has been several x during the past 3 year run, and only partly from PLTR, but I'll need it to continue prob just a couple more years to get to a more comfortable 4% number
He Who Shall Be Unnamed said:
investment income is probably exceeding the income I generate - did that influence anyone's choice?
think it would have to be portfolio value if moved to conservative securities generating that amount of income, as I'm sure most portfolios here have been outproducing income in recent years, mine has been several x during the past 3 year run, and only partly from PLTR, but I'll need it to continue prob just a couple more years to get to a more comfortable 4% number
12:00a, 8/6/25
In reply to bagger05
Totally agree. Fortunately the things that give me freedom cost very little so that isn't and hasn't been my focus.
If the things that give one freedom cost a lot by all means grind out more money.
If the things that give one freedom cost a lot by all means grind out more money.
6:19a, 8/6/25
In reply to jja79
Thanks for checking in JJ and you said it well. I said it earlier another way in wanting to totally control my time which is freedom to me.
Less than 5% of people retire with two million dollars in liquid savings and all these young bucks on Texags are talking 4-5 million or more.
Like I've said before there is wealthy and then there is Texags wealthy!
jja79 said:
Totally agree. Fortunately the things that give me freedom cost very little so that isn't and hasn't been my focus.
If the things that give one freedom cost a lot by all means grind out more money.
Thanks for checking in JJ and you said it well. I said it earlier another way in wanting to totally control my time which is freedom to me.
Less than 5% of people retire with two million dollars in liquid savings and all these young bucks on Texags are talking 4-5 million or more.
Like I've said before there is wealthy and then there is Texags wealthy!
7:16a, 8/6/25
In reply to AgOutsideAustin
To be fair I think we young bucks are having to make much more conservative assumptions than people who are retired or retiring soon.
Any time I'm ever going through one of these planning exercises and it asks me "what do you expect your social security benefit to be?" my answer is "LOL zero."
And slightly different topic, people who are relatively young and healthy could also be looking at possibly living a lot longer than what anyone retiring today might want to plan for. Especially people who are young, healthy, and have a lot of money.
Any time I'm ever going through one of these planning exercises and it asks me "what do you expect your social security benefit to be?" my answer is "LOL zero."
And slightly different topic, people who are relatively young and healthy could also be looking at possibly living a lot longer than what anyone retiring today might want to plan for. Especially people who are young, healthy, and have a lot of money.
7:30a, 8/6/25
In reply to bagger05
Fair enough but disagree just a little and that's ok.
Run scenarios from the origination of the stock market to include every year so why would going forward be different? Everyone says yeah but it's different this time but I'm a little skeptical.
I've heard most of my life that Social Security is going to run out of money, and now the big thing is that well it will be means tested in the future. Social Security is the absolute number one government social program we have, and if it ever gets means tested or reduced in anyway, or is allowed to go bankrupt, well we have other problems. Good for you to not include it so it will be icing on your cake.
Will be interested to see if life expectancy goes up the next 30 years, so far that's not proving out with all the medical advances we have made.
Not looking to argue or throw shade on anyone's planning I'm just amazed at how well off so many are here.
Enjoy the ride along the way and spend some of that money on the journey to whatever number you need.
Run scenarios from the origination of the stock market to include every year so why would going forward be different? Everyone says yeah but it's different this time but I'm a little skeptical.
I've heard most of my life that Social Security is going to run out of money, and now the big thing is that well it will be means tested in the future. Social Security is the absolute number one government social program we have, and if it ever gets means tested or reduced in anyway, or is allowed to go bankrupt, well we have other problems. Good for you to not include it so it will be icing on your cake.
Will be interested to see if life expectancy goes up the next 30 years, so far that's not proving out with all the medical advances we have made.
Not looking to argue or throw shade on anyone's planning I'm just amazed at how well off so many are here.
Enjoy the ride along the way and spend some of that money on the journey to whatever number you need.
7:45a, 8/6/25
In reply to jja79
A lot of wisdom in this statement!
jja79 said:
Totally agree. Fortunately the things that give me freedom cost very little so that isn't and hasn't been my focus.
If the things that give one freedom cost a lot by all means grind out more money.
A lot of wisdom in this statement!
9:13a, 8/6/25
Trying to make it to 55 when my kids should be out of college (42 now). Not sure I'll last that long though, work sucks even though I really enjoy what I do. I'd just rather be doing something/anything else. I've kind of had enough of corporations, bosses, politics, coworkers, pointless Zoom meetings etc.
Trying to get to ~$5MM, we're about 65% of the way there excluding home equity so we'll see how the next decade goes in terms of salary/investment growth. I can easily see myself retiring the day I hit a number I'm comfortable with (TBD if that's still $5MM when I get there).
Trying to get to ~$5MM, we're about 65% of the way there excluding home equity so we'll see how the next decade goes in terms of salary/investment growth. I can easily see myself retiring the day I hit a number I'm comfortable with (TBD if that's still $5MM when I get there).
9:54a, 8/6/25
In reply to @NFLPlayerProps
That ended up being my magic number fwiw. It was lower but inflation changed the equation over the last 5 yrs . 9 mos in. Love the freedom.
10:06a, 8/6/25
Good on you guys being able to retire in your late 40's or early 50's. I wasn't successful enough early in my career to earn the money it would take to allow me to retire in the near future. Currently 50 years old and I figure I have at least 8 to 10 years before I can realistically look at retirement. My youngest is in 8th grade so 9 more years before he gets out of college. I think that's my goal.
I've been socking away since my first job out of college and am near the $1.5 million mark in liquid assets. I could have made up some serious ground the past 4 or 5 years as I finally had my home paid off in 21 but decided to take a risk and buy a new house with 30 acres at that time. No regrets there as I love living on property, raising animals and having a place to enjoy with my wife and 2 boys. My deciding factor was finally realizing I wanted to enjoy my investment while I still could and was healthy vs saving my entire life, only to possibly be in too poor of health to enjoy all the money I invested over 40 years of work.
So I'll be paying on that house and property till I'm near 70 unless I want to pay it off early. Good thing is I locked in a 2.75% rate in 21 so I've got that going for me. Bad thing is the property isn't income generating to a degree that actually makes a difference, I'm sure it's going to appreciate over the next 20 to 30 years, but I consider this my final home and would prefer not to have to sell it to live my last 10 or 15 years on earth.
My final issue in figuring out retirement income is getting a handle on my wife's retirement potential. She is an administrator in public education and will get a TRS pension upon retirement. That amount will be effected by any promotions she gets in the next 5 to 10 years when she decides she is ready to retire. I haven't sat down to figure out how to quantify her potential retirement income based on the options they give her when that time comes. I'm thinking its going to be some where around 70% of her highest 3 year earnings average?
I'm just glad that light at the end of the tunnel is getting bigger. I've never been a live to work personality. I'm definitely a work to live person. I've been good at my job and most days don't hate what I've done to make a living the past 30 years, but I also rarely, really enjoyed it in a day in day out basis. It's merely been a means to an end.
I've been socking away since my first job out of college and am near the $1.5 million mark in liquid assets. I could have made up some serious ground the past 4 or 5 years as I finally had my home paid off in 21 but decided to take a risk and buy a new house with 30 acres at that time. No regrets there as I love living on property, raising animals and having a place to enjoy with my wife and 2 boys. My deciding factor was finally realizing I wanted to enjoy my investment while I still could and was healthy vs saving my entire life, only to possibly be in too poor of health to enjoy all the money I invested over 40 years of work.
So I'll be paying on that house and property till I'm near 70 unless I want to pay it off early. Good thing is I locked in a 2.75% rate in 21 so I've got that going for me. Bad thing is the property isn't income generating to a degree that actually makes a difference, I'm sure it's going to appreciate over the next 20 to 30 years, but I consider this my final home and would prefer not to have to sell it to live my last 10 or 15 years on earth.
My final issue in figuring out retirement income is getting a handle on my wife's retirement potential. She is an administrator in public education and will get a TRS pension upon retirement. That amount will be effected by any promotions she gets in the next 5 to 10 years when she decides she is ready to retire. I haven't sat down to figure out how to quantify her potential retirement income based on the options they give her when that time comes. I'm thinking its going to be some where around 70% of her highest 3 year earnings average?
I'm just glad that light at the end of the tunnel is getting bigger. I've never been a live to work personality. I'm definitely a work to live person. I've been good at my job and most days don't hate what I've done to make a living the past 30 years, but I also rarely, really enjoyed it in a day in day out basis. It's merely been a means to an end.
10:08a, 8/6/25
halfastros81 said:
That ended up being my magic number fwiw. It was lower but inflation changed the equation over the last 5 yrs . 9 mos in. Love the freedom.
Yeah, if you believe in the withdrawal rate logic, have moderate suburban life expenses at post-covid prices, need something you might have to sustain for 40 years, leveraged pre-tax savings with those distributions eventually facing being taxed as ordinary income, and have concerns about the viability of social security benefits (as you should), the math takes you to that ballpark as a target.
10:24a, 8/6/25
In reply to DannyDuberstein
Mine was based on 30 years rather than 40 since I'm 65. Also intend to leave the kids a nice windfall but we'll see how that goes.
10:32a, 8/6/25
Anyone have plans they are working towards?
My BF wants to get a boat and do The Great Loop and then putter around Florida, The Bahamas, East Coast, and wherever else the winds take us.
Problem is, he's 9 years older than I am. His plan is to retire in 3 years. I only plan to go to 55, because that's when I can tap into my pension (assuming it still exists at that time). That would bridge the gap to 59 1/2, and I would get retiree medical funds that I can use to pay premiums on our retiree health plan. House will be paid off in 6 years, if not before. One and only kid graduates college next year.
But 55 is still 8 years away for me. Hope is that I can travel back and forth to do most of The Great Loop with him while still being gainfully employed until then.
We went and looked at a boat in person for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Probably not a good idea since now that's all I think about - just want to be first mate to his captain and run charter trips for other Gen X retired couples. Not sure that's a viable "business model", but it sounds like a dream compared to corporate America right now.
My BF wants to get a boat and do The Great Loop and then putter around Florida, The Bahamas, East Coast, and wherever else the winds take us.
Problem is, he's 9 years older than I am. His plan is to retire in 3 years. I only plan to go to 55, because that's when I can tap into my pension (assuming it still exists at that time). That would bridge the gap to 59 1/2, and I would get retiree medical funds that I can use to pay premiums on our retiree health plan. House will be paid off in 6 years, if not before. One and only kid graduates college next year.
But 55 is still 8 years away for me. Hope is that I can travel back and forth to do most of The Great Loop with him while still being gainfully employed until then.
We went and looked at a boat in person for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Probably not a good idea since now that's all I think about - just want to be first mate to his captain and run charter trips for other Gen X retired couples. Not sure that's a viable "business model", but it sounds like a dream compared to corporate America right now.
10:44a, 8/6/25
In reply to DannyDuberstein
I starred you but vehemently disagree anyone "needs" to be in a ballpark of 4-5 million dollars before retiring:
From Google AI: Reports suggest that around 4,473,836 U.S. households have a net worth of $4 million or more.
This figure represents only 3.44% of all households in the country.
DannyDuberstein said:
I see the occasional snide comments about "Texags rich", but let's talk about that. Math would say that if you want to retire in your late 50s and need to withdraw $150k per year (which keep in mind, that's gotta cover taxes and expensive ass pre-Medicare health care so you aren't exactly living lavishly), then you are probably shooting for a target in the ballpark of $4-5mm to keep that withdrawal rate under 4%.
That said, if you can get your savings in a solid spot by your late 40s which is very doable if you prioritized it going back to the beginning of your career, the power of compounding returns helps you a ton over 30 years and really adds a major amount of momentum those last 10 years. If you can get close to $2mm by your late 40s, then earning 8% for the next 10 years without saving a single additional dime takes that $2mm and turns it into $4.4mm. And in reality, that 10 years is also when you are likely making the most and have the most power to save. So you don't even necessarily need to be at $2mm by your late 40s. That's also an age when parents are passing away, and an inheritance of $500k is not all that unusual.
Big picture, you don't have to be Money Obsessed Billy Badass if you prioritized saving reasonably for retirement early and consistently. The goal is the power of compounding. An 8% return doubles that money every 9 years. You get that working for you for 30-40 years, you can have a very nice nestegg without being billy badass
I starred you but vehemently disagree anyone "needs" to be in a ballpark of 4-5 million dollars before retiring:
From Google AI: Reports suggest that around 4,473,836 U.S. households have a net worth of $4 million or more.
This figure represents only 3.44% of all households in the country.
10:52a, 8/6/25
Again, I put parameters in there. Nowhere did I say that was just a blanket number. Clearly people retire with less. I'm talking a situation where if you want to cover 40 years, look to withdraw $150k per year to cover expenses that include healthcare.gov type plans for upwards of a decade or more and ordinary income tax rates on 401k/ira withdrawals, and believe in a 4% or less withdrawal rate, that's the ballpark where the math takes you
All of those parameters can be adjusted with life choices such as when you retire, how much you plan to spend, and how much risk you want to take of the $$$ running out.
All of those parameters can be adjusted with life choices such as when you retire, how much you plan to spend, and how much risk you want to take of the $$$ running out.
11:00a, 8/6/25
We'll likely be in the XX range before I retire but not sure that makes me billy bad ass. In many ways I still feel like money will be a concern. We're wanting to retire to Coeur d'Alene, ID. From the looks of it, a 3200 sq. ft. home will run me on the order of $1MM or thereabouts. I won't want a mortgage in retirement so I'll have to take it out of savings.
As far as net worth, I include my equity in my home which is not much. I took out most of my home equity back in 2021 and locked in 30-yr. money at 2.75% and stuck the proceeds in the market. My home has continued to rise in value but my equity is probably only $225k of the total, or roughly 6% of my net worth.
As far as net worth, I include my equity in my home which is not much. I took out most of my home equity back in 2021 and locked in 30-yr. money at 2.75% and stuck the proceeds in the market. My home has continued to rise in value but my equity is probably only $225k of the total, or roughly 6% of my net worth.
12:14p, 8/6/25
Maybe I'll start a new thread for JJ, myself, and others.
"Retire With Less Than Texags Money"
"Retire With Less Than Texags Money"
12:23p, 8/6/25
In reply to YouBet
Many people get bored easily
others are worried about dying early if they don't have a mission/goal in life
others are worried about dying early if they don't have a mission/goal in life
12:24p, 8/6/25
In reply to DannyDuberstein
concur.
it's just not a very large cohort on the planet that will either live 40 years in retirement-
or have $4 million in savings.
it's just not a very large cohort on the planet that will either live 40 years in retirement-
or have $4 million in savings.
12:29p, 8/6/25
In reply to AgOutsideAustin
Also known as "How much do you really need to retire"
I think most people vastly overestimate their spend, especially from 65 on, and don't even really know the amount they live on today.
AgOutsideAustin said:
Maybe I'll start a new thread for JJ, myself, and others.
"Retire With Less Than Texags Money"
Also known as "How much do you really need to retire"
I think most people vastly overestimate their spend, especially from 65 on, and don't even really know the amount they live on today.
12:29p, 8/6/25
In reply to chrisfield
Considering I have seen firsthand the amazing things you are doing in Ghana, I would say you may be one of the richest people on TexAgs. Your grace, mission, intellect and passion has made you richer than you imagine.
chrisfield said:
How much is TexAgs rich? I've read that term a few times here. Asking for a friend.
Considering I have seen firsthand the amazing things you are doing in Ghana, I would say you may be one of the richest people on TexAgs. Your grace, mission, intellect and passion has made you richer than you imagine.
1:04p, 8/6/25
In reply to LMCane
Well I think some are too caught up on the raw number and conflating present with future. If you retired last year with 2M that number inflates to like 4.25M for someone retiring in 30 years to have the same spending power. The number has to be tied to a timeframe
1:29p, 8/6/25
In reply to Caliber
Yes, this is one of the wild cards. The discretionary spend slacks off at some point. That may be 65 for some and 75-80 for others. That said, long-term care is a different wild card, because that need may then kick in. And then there is the factor of how long it may be needed. Some will never need it. Some may kick the bucket in < 1 year of it. Some may last 10+.
Caliber said:AgOutsideAustin said:
Maybe I'll start a new thread for JJ, myself, and others.
"Retire With Less Than Texags Money"
Also known as "How much do you really need to retire"
I think most people vastly overestimate their spend, especially from 65 on, and don't even really know the amount they live on today.
Yes, this is one of the wild cards. The discretionary spend slacks off at some point. That may be 65 for some and 75-80 for others. That said, long-term care is a different wild card, because that need may then kick in. And then there is the factor of how long it may be needed. Some will never need it. Some may kick the bucket in < 1 year of it. Some may last 10+.
1:40p, 8/6/25
In reply to bagger05
I think one should take EVERYTHING that is in one's control to calculate NW.
bagger05 said:chrisfield said:
How much is TexAgs rich? I've read that term a few times here. Asking for a friend.
Depends on whether or not you include your primary residence in your net worth. See the millionaires thread for more details.
I think one should take EVERYTHING that is in one's control to calculate NW.
2:03p, 8/6/25
In reply to Caliber
Discretionary spending in retirement is easy to control. Since I moved far away I cut out All American Club tickets and an expensive country club. I pay the same amount annually to play golf as my monthly country club dues before retirement. I play several times a week with a group of 20 or so guys from all over the country who also retired to Arizona. I would be surprised if more than 5 of these guys have as much as a million. Some have lived in the community up to 15 years. These are the most relaxed, happiest people I've ever met.
If you have more expensive tastes you probably need more money than the people I've met in retirement.
I'm definitely not criticizing anyone motivated by money. Everyone needs to find what makes them happy.
I spent last week in San Antonio and while I was gone my phone blew up with my friends here saying come home. I hope you all find your place and your people. It might be not be where you think it might be.
If you have more expensive tastes you probably need more money than the people I've met in retirement.
I'm definitely not criticizing anyone motivated by money. Everyone needs to find what makes them happy.
I spent last week in San Antonio and while I was gone my phone blew up with my friends here saying come home. I hope you all find your place and your people. It might be not be where you think it might be.
2:41p, 8/6/25
In reply to JobSecurity
You can run your plan in both real and nominal dollars. Real means you run the plan in todays dollars by subtracting 2.5% from your projected returns. So if you assume the stock market returns 10% a year, instead run the scenario at 7.5% instead to get the amount you need in todays dollars.
4% is just a rule of thumb and doesn't take into account social security and has also been revised upwards to closer to 5%. But yea, if you want to retire before social security and spend $250k a year you will likely need around 5 million in todays dollars which could be fairly close to 10 million 25 years from now.
JobSecurity said:
Related question I've been struggling with: how do you figure out how much you'll spend when you retire? We're early-mid 30s and when I run our numbers it looks fine in today's dollars but I have no idea what anything will cost in 20-30 years.
Say I want 250k spending power in today's dollars. Inflated at 2.5% for 25 years gives you 463k, divided by 0.04 gives you 11.5M for a ballpark target. Which seems kind of crazy. Am I thinking of this in the right way or are y'all using a different method?
You can run your plan in both real and nominal dollars. Real means you run the plan in todays dollars by subtracting 2.5% from your projected returns. So if you assume the stock market returns 10% a year, instead run the scenario at 7.5% instead to get the amount you need in todays dollars.
4% is just a rule of thumb and doesn't take into account social security and has also been revised upwards to closer to 5%. But yea, if you want to retire before social security and spend $250k a year you will likely need around 5 million in todays dollars which could be fairly close to 10 million 25 years from now.
3:08p, 8/6/25
Hard to say exactly when I will and when I will know since I'm in my 30s now, but I plan to retire sometime after all 3 of my kids have graduated college. At that point, I should have mid 7 figures saved, which should be plenty. As a type 1 diabetic, health insurance will always be the biggest question, but who knows what my options will be in 20 years? I don't envision staying busy in retirement being a problem for me at all.
3:54p, 8/6/25
Wild story that I have kept close to my chest for a while. My wife and I have now transitioned from a retire from corporate life in 60s mindset to now doing it almost immediately. We "won the lottery" so to speak.
We have minority ownership in a family business dating back decades… which has now sold. The amount from the sale along with what we have built puts us over the retirement goal. We never thought it would happen in my lifetime… but it surprised us out of no where months ago and here we are!
At 43, I'll be announcing my "retirement" sometime the next 30-60 days from my corporate job and will give a planned 3 month notice. In 2026, I'll start an LLC or trust and focus on investing via swing/day trading, RE, etc. with the "extra" money after our goal.
My wife will follow suit in about 3 years time based on a bonus payout schedule with her contract. She will also be 43 by then.
We had a VERY difficult five years… but now we get to see our three kids grow up (3 year old and twin newborns) and take care of my aging mom. I cannot wait to see what happens next.
We have minority ownership in a family business dating back decades… which has now sold. The amount from the sale along with what we have built puts us over the retirement goal. We never thought it would happen in my lifetime… but it surprised us out of no where months ago and here we are!
At 43, I'll be announcing my "retirement" sometime the next 30-60 days from my corporate job and will give a planned 3 month notice. In 2026, I'll start an LLC or trust and focus on investing via swing/day trading, RE, etc. with the "extra" money after our goal.
My wife will follow suit in about 3 years time based on a bonus payout schedule with her contract. She will also be 43 by then.
We had a VERY difficult five years… but now we get to see our three kids grow up (3 year old and twin newborns) and take care of my aging mom. I cannot wait to see what happens next.
3:57p, 8/6/25
In reply to LMCane
Are you relying on an inheritance that isn't even yours yet? Your parents could outlive that $500,000 pretty quick if they have LTC needs.
LMCane said:
I am 54 now and gave notice to my defense contractor employer I am leaving in June 2026 to go to Europe for a few months.
May work another two years after that in my field (corporate and trade compliance regulations) and then do fun things starting at age 57.
portfolio (if my parents do give inheritance of $500,000 when they are gone) would be a little north of two million liquid assets. not including home.
decision based on all three of your factors: age/ health, amassed portfolio, annoyance of job.
Are you relying on an inheritance that isn't even yours yet? Your parents could outlive that $500,000 pretty quick if they have LTC needs.