Roll call unretired! What is your timeline? Contingencies??

[busymom]

Nov 4, 2023 11:53:22 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

I like the 234k one too! the 159k is not my style.

Would be interesting if we could organize a large contingent of like-minded individuals to pick a beautiful, well situated town for retirement and have then at one time snap up allt he available properties, getting the good prices before prices went up due to the more liberal effect on property prices....

     I'd be willing to take on the one for $159.  Maybe a bunch of us could be neighbors?  

[haapai]

Thank-you for updating us.  I'm not going to quote anything that you plan on deleting.  I'm also a little bit leery about even referring to or reacting in any way to anything that you plan on deleting.  I will cheerfully delete this post if you PM me and ask me to do so, although I cannot guarantee that I will do so quickly.  I also will not whinge if a mod deletes this post without getting in contact with me.  <sigh> sometimes not quoting is not enough. 

Is it really better to find out that you weren't reported by a coworker or volunteer but by some higher-up muckity-muck?  Your boss might be able to protect you from a co-worker, or warn/counsel you about what is coming, but can s/he actually do that when the howler is on the board? 

You do not have to answer.  It might be better if you do not.

If Rukh wants to quote me, I'm cool with that, but I ask the rest of you not to.  She can always delete anything that she posts, but if the rest of you start quoting me, it could be a real headache for the mods.  They are underpaid, please make their lives easier. 

[Rukh O'Rorke]

thanks, haapai. I agree the current situation is far from ideal professionally, and I remain unhappy on several perspectives on it. I have considered different paths and think it best that I don't make any impulsive decisions in the heat of the moment as it were. I also don't want to be unprofessional in any way and appear to throw a hissy fit about how all this has gone. I am positioning myself financially in case of any sudden change outside my control (which is still a potential, but appears much less likely than I feared last week) and my focus is to look forward to the holidays with significant amounts of time off. Will reassess in the new year while eying my next milestone - which is getting to penalty-free access to all retirement accounts.

There is also a lot I don't know about the current crisis evolved, so I may find out more in the upcoming weeks. Right now, the issue itself is actually mostly resolved, so it is mainly the interpersonal fallout that remains, if any! That may also be mostly resolved if we all move on professionally.

[laterbloomer]

I'll delete too if you want...my question is does your boss have no problem you said it or are they happy you said it since they weren't there to monitor things? That's 2 very different situations.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

laterbloomer, I think they are happy I said it.

[laterbloomer]

Then you are in good shape. I wonder if there is any politicking going on behind the scenes against the one that complained.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Of course, a big stock market rally gets underway after I convert a sizable chunk to cash.....you all are welcome!

Trying not to let it get to me! It was not reactionary per se, but efforts to reduce risk exposure prior to retirement. So while non-triumphant in the moment, it is something that is necessary at this stage. While if we had been in a continuous bull market these past few years, I would just have kept 100% stocks and then convert to 90/0/10 right at retirement - or even yolo on 100% stocks - this is a necessary step and I should keep going with accumulating more cash.....and I still need to rearrange my stock holdings to also reduce some risk there.

As a sidebar: Apparently - the "situation" discussed previously is not going to blow back on me negatively, at least from the org internally. May be some tense meetings up ahead with the governance group, and I am just going to smile, understand their POV and keep up with pushing them along where they need to be....i.e. my job. So the crisi bit of it is almost to fully all blown over......

[minnesotapaintlady]

I would love to start funneling new money into cash, but damn if we have no reasonable options for that in my 401K.    The stable value fund has been returning only 1.4% this year.   Then there's a bond fund with kinda/sorta high fees. 

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Oct 25, 2023 12:38:29 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

wish I got sick time payout! I have 5 weeks right now, and with all the holidays and vacation days I need to take or lose before Dec 31....I can't take any extra time off unless super sick. I will get 2 more weeks Jan 1st and be up to 7 weeks sick time. Seems I use about 1 week per year. Need to step that up...I've been trying to, but whenever I am actually sick there seems to be some work crisis I just have to take care of.....

will try harder in 2024. More mental health days!!

I left one job with nearly 6 months of accrued sick time.  They paid out vacation, but not sick time.  I hated losing that sick time as that was my short term disability plan.

My next job, I had managed to accrue 4 months of sick time before I got infected.  When that was added to my vacation time, I wound up being able to get a paycheck up until the time I was awarded disability.  While it's something that you don't get paid for, it's definitely a very good net to have underneath you!

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Nov 15, 2023 15:05:18 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Oct 25, 2023 12:38:29 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

wish I got sick time payout! I have 5 weeks right now, and with all the holidays and vacation days I need to take or lose before Dec 31....I can't take any extra time off unless super sick. I will get 2 more weeks Jan 1st and be up to 7 weeks sick time. Seems I use about 1 week per year. Need to step that up...I've been trying to, but whenever I am actually sick there seems to be some work crisis I just have to take care of.....

will try harder in 2024. More mental health days!!

I left one job with nearly 6 months of accrued sick time.  They paid out vacation, but not sick time.  I hated losing that sick time as that was my short term disability plan.

My next job, I had managed to accrue 4 months of sick time before I got infected.  When that was added to my vacation time, I wound up being able to get a paycheck up until the time I was awarded disability.  While it's something that you don't get paid for, it's definitely a very good net to have underneath you!

I agree, and have always operated that way. Especially when I was a young and poor single mother with few resources. That really eased a lot of anxiety for me.

Things are markedly different right now so I am planning to use up as much sick days as I can over the next year or so.

I am ready to try to retire if I lose my job now and that changes my POV. I think doing more for my own health right now via taking some sick days is my best step to stretch out my remaining work time aka prevent a spur of the moment rage quitting......or - who knows? Could head off a health issue that would sideline me.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Nov 7, 2023 12:26:34 GMT -5 busymom said:

Nov 4, 2023 11:53:22 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

I like the 234k one too! the 159k is not my style.

Would be interesting if we could organize a large contingent of like-minded individuals to pick a beautiful, well situated town for retirement and have then at one time snap up allt he available properties, getting the good prices before prices went up due to the more liberal effect on property prices....

     I'd be willing to take on the one for $159.  Maybe a bunch of us could be neighbors?  

Here's the big problem of going to a small town to live cheaper as you get older and are reaching retirement.  Healthcare.

This is a problem that TD and I are struggling with now.  Both of us are healthy and have few problems that cannot be managed locally.  However, the healthcare in this city sucks for more difficult conditions.  The last couple of years, I have watched someone die from lung cancer that was undiagnosed (despite them being under the care of both a pulmonologist and a cardiologist for nearly a year) and leukemia.  My friend with leukemia wound up being treated here until she was unmanageable before getting sent to Seattle.  Had she been there to begin with, would she have lost her battle??  My personal experience in being in the local hospital was enough to tell TD that we needed to go to Seattle for anything that happens.  Most of my doctors, other than a GP are in Seattle.  

TBH, considering the price of housing up here, I do not understand why the local area has such lousy healthcare.  You would think that with so many people who are working here from home from Seattle and the ilk, that there would be a better impetus to try to recruit better doctors.  The population is nearly 100K and the average price of a SFH is over $500k. 

So it may turn out that as we age, we may decide that we need to sell out and maybe get a condo in Seattle.  I hate the idea of living like that, but I hate more the idea of being at the mercy of the local healthcare system. 

This problem is not unique to just us.  I saw it where my dad lives, and I watch the sort of medical treatment my dad's wife is currently getting.  It's not good, and she doesn't understand that it's not good.  However, as they are doctors, they know best so she does nothing.    

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Nov 15, 2023 15:11:23 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Nov 15, 2023 15:05:18 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

I left one job with nearly 6 months of accrued sick time.  They paid out vacation, but not sick time.  I hated losing that sick time as that was my short term disability plan.

My next job, I had managed to accrue 4 months of sick time before I got infected.  When that was added to my vacation time, I wound up being able to get a paycheck up until the time I was awarded disability.  While it's something that you don't get paid for, it's definitely a very good net to have underneath you!

I agree, and have always operated that way. Especially when I was a young and poor single mother with few resources. That really eased a lot of anxiety for me.

Things are markedly different right now so I am planning to use up as much sick days as I can over the next year or so.

I am ready to try to retire if I lose my job now and that changes my POV. I think doing more for my own health right now via taking some sick days is my best step to stretch out my remaining work time aka prevent a spur of the moment rage quitting......or - who knows? Could head off a health issue that would sideline me.

Then you need to use those sick days if you don't want to stick around anymore.  You know you won't get paid for them.  My point in accruing so much sick time is that sick time offset the time until retirement in both of those jobs.  I forget by how much but it was enough that it helped considerably. 

My only regret from not being able to retire from my last job was the loss of my healthcare benefits in retirement.  When I came out here, I only had about 6 years or so and I'd have had enough to retire and get the benefits.  I'd be retiring at 56, with me being able to buy into my health insurance as an employee (I paid $26/mo for that!!) until 65 (and a spouse, if married).  When I hit 65, they'd cover a Medigap plan.   Since that didn't happen, TD has been chasing jobs for health insurance, and I'm paying a ridiculous sum for Medigap through disability.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Nov 15, 2023 15:36:00 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Nov 7, 2023 12:26:34 GMT -5 busymom said:

     I'd be willing to take on the one for $159.  Maybe a bunch of us could be neighbors?  

Here's the big problem of going to a small town to live cheaper as you get older and are reaching retirement.  Healthcare.

Lots of LCOL area small towns within 45 miles of Mayo Clinic. 

[busymom]

Nov 15, 2023 15:36:00 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Nov 7, 2023 12:26:34 GMT -5 busymom said:

     I'd be willing to take on the one for $159.  Maybe a bunch of us could be neighbors?  

Here's the big problem of going to a small town to live cheaper as you get older and are reaching retirement.  Healthcare.

This is a problem that TD and I are struggling with now.  Both of us are healthy and have few problems that cannot be managed locally.  However, the healthcare in this city sucks for more difficult conditions.  The last couple of years, I have watched someone die from lung cancer that was undiagnosed (despite them being under the care of both a pulmonologist and a cardiologist for nearly a year) and leukemia.  My friend with leukemia wound up being treated here until she was unmanageable before getting sent to Seattle.  Had she been there to begin with, would she have lost her battle??  My personal experience in being in the local hospital was enough to tell TD that we needed to go to Seattle for anything that happens.  Most of my doctors, other than a GP are in Seattle.  

TBH, considering the price of housing up here, I do not understand why the local area has such lousy healthcare.  You would think that with so many people who are working here from home from Seattle and the ilk, that there would be a better impetus to try to recruit better doctors.  The population is nearly 100K and the average price of a SFH is over $500k. 

So it may turn out that as we age, we may decide that we need to sell out and maybe get a condo in Seattle.  I hate the idea of living like that, but I hate more the idea of being at the mercy of the local healthcare system. 

This problem is not unique to just us.  I saw it where my dad lives, and I watch the sort of medical treatment my dad's wife is currently getting.  It's not good, and she doesn't understand that it's not good.  However, as they are doctors, they know best so she does nothing.    

   That was one of the reasons we moved out of Florida.  We were NOT impressed with their healthcare system.  Some surgeons require payment upfront (mine did for minor surgery), and I saw all kinds of posts online for people requesting help in financing needed surgery.  DeSantis definitely doesn't give a darn.  As I've said before, we got to know some terrific people, but you could drive a truck through some of the holes in the healthcare system there.  

[tallguy]

Nov 15, 2023 16:45:18 GMT -5 busymom said:

Nov 15, 2023 15:36:00 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Here's the big problem of going to a small town to live cheaper as you get older and are reaching retirement.  Healthcare.

This is a problem that TD and I are struggling with now.  Both of us are healthy and have few problems that cannot be managed locally.  However, the healthcare in this city sucks for more difficult conditions.  The last couple of years, I have watched someone die from lung cancer that was undiagnosed (despite them being under the care of both a pulmonologist and a cardiologist for nearly a year) and leukemia.  My friend with leukemia wound up being treated here until she was unmanageable before getting sent to Seattle.  Had she been there to begin with, would she have lost her battle??  My personal experience in being in the local hospital was enough to tell TD that we needed to go to Seattle for anything that happens.  Most of my doctors, other than a GP are in Seattle.  

TBH, considering the price of housing up here, I do not understand why the local area has such lousy healthcare.  You would think that with so many people who are working here from home from Seattle and the ilk, that there would be a better impetus to try to recruit better doctors.  The population is nearly 100K and the average price of a SFH is over $500k. 

So it may turn out that as we age, we may decide that we need to sell out and maybe get a condo in Seattle.  I hate the idea of living like that, but I hate more the idea of being at the mercy of the local healthcare system. 

This problem is not unique to just us.  I saw it where my dad lives, and I watch the sort of medical treatment my dad's wife is currently getting.  It's not good, and she doesn't understand that it's not good.  However, as they are doctors, they know best so she does nothing.    

   That was one of the reasons we moved out of Florida.  We were NOT impressed with their healthcare system.  Some surgeons require payment upfront (mine did for minor surgery), and I saw all kinds of posts online for people requesting help in financing needed surgery.  DeSantis definitely doesn't give a darn.  As I've said before, we got to know some terrific people, but you could drive a truck through some of the holes in the healthcare system there.  

My GF spends half the year in Florida.  If she has any major health care needs, she is sure as hell not going to have it done in Florida.  She'll go home for it.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Nov 15, 2023 18:49:57 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Nov 15, 2023 16:45:18 GMT -5 busymom said:

   That was one of the reasons we moved out of Florida.  We were NOT impressed with their healthcare system.  Some surgeons require payment upfront (mine did for minor surgery), and I saw all kinds of posts online for people requesting help in financing needed surgery.  DeSantis definitely doesn't give a darn.  As I've said before, we got to know some terrific people, but you could drive a truck through some of the holes in the healthcare system there.  

My GF spends half the year in Florida.  If she has any major health care needs, she is sure as hell not going to have it done in Florida.  She'll go home for it.

All of my specialists are in Seattle.  Right now, it's not an issue to drive down there but both TD and I have noticed that neither of us are doing drives like that as easily as we used to!  Just last week, I drove my sister to the airport.....during rush hour traffic (yeah, I'm not going to say what I thought when she told me she had a 9:20am flight).  The 1.5 hour trip took me 2.5 hours going south, 2 hours to go north.  I got out of the car at Costco in Burlington to gas up and all my joints screamed at me!

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Nov 15, 2023 14:20:59 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I would love to start funneling new money into cash, but damn if we have no reasonable options for that in my 401K.    The stable value fund has been returning only 1.4% this year.   Then there's a bond fund with kinda/sorta high fees. 

I don't like ours either, but finally had to start in on it....

[Rukh O'Rorke]

In my continuing efforts to 'get good' on retirment planning, I've been reading around on the boggleheads forum.....

Shesh! who are these people?? Paid off house, no debt at all, 5-6 million and just need a bit more to retire....50/50 AA for safety.....

I am so outclassed! and wondering what I am thinking? How do they get so rich with such conservative AA? Am I so much too risky....?....yeah - maybe - but then I'd be no where if I had done 50/50......

I learned me some, for sure! but now wondering if I am being foolish with my plans, lol! But it is either with what I got+20-40%, or just work until 70......trying not to let this shatter my confidence, but I kind got into a spiral over the weekend - and trying to lock down 'just' 2M seems to be out of reach at the moment.....and also thoughts over there about market being 'over valued' and a big dip likely.....I thought we were still trying to recover from the last dip?

Trying to wrap my head around working long haul right now if that happens...while I continue to move towards less risk....but yeah - feeling a bit overwhelmed by the what ifs....

And kind of going back to the drawing board on my plans.....

[minnesotapaintlady]

Nov 20, 2023 13:58:41 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

In my continuing efforts to 'get good' on retirment planning, I've been reading around on the boggleheads forum.....

Shesh! who are these people?? Paid off house, no debt at all, 5-6 million and just need a bit more to retire....50/50 AA for safety.....

I am so outclassed! and wondering what I am thinking? How do they get so rich with such conservative AA? Am I so much too risky....?....yeah - maybe - but then I'd be no where if I had done 50/50......

I learned me some, for sure! but now wondering if I am being foolish with my plans, lol! But it is either with what I got+20-40%, or just work until 70......trying not to let this shatter my confidence, but I kind got into a spiral over the weekend - and trying to lock down 'just' 2M seems to be out of reach at the moment.....and also thoughts over there about market being 'over valued' and a big dip likely.....I thought we were still trying to recover from the last dip?

Trying to wrap my head around working long haul right now if that happens...while I continue to move towards less risk....but yeah - feeling a bit overwhelmed by the what ifs....

And kind of going back to the drawing board on my plans.....

Bogleheads will definitely make one feel they should be doing more.  LOL  They are definitely the other extreme.  I love that board though. They struggle with advice for lower incomes...especially tax advice, but for the most part they are on top of everything and I've found them very helpful.

 

As for asset allocation, I don't think most of them were/are 50/50 in the accumulation phase, but as they say "once you've won the game why keep playing?"  There still are people on that board that are 90 to 100% stocks in retirement.

[tallguy]

Nov 20, 2023 14:41:57 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Nov 20, 2023 13:58:41 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

In my continuing efforts to 'get good' on retirment planning, I've been reading around on the boggleheads forum.....

Shesh! who are these people?? Paid off house, no debt at all, 5-6 million and just need a bit more to retire....50/50 AA for safety.....

I am so outclassed! and wondering what I am thinking? How do they get so rich with such conservative AA? Am I so much too risky....?....yeah - maybe - but then I'd be no where if I had done 50/50......

I learned me some, for sure! but now wondering if I am being foolish with my plans, lol! But it is either with what I got+20-40%, or just work until 70......trying not to let this shatter my confidence, but I kind got into a spiral over the weekend - and trying to lock down 'just' 2M seems to be out of reach at the moment.....and also thoughts over there about market being 'over valued' and a big dip likely.....I thought we were still trying to recover from the last dip?

Trying to wrap my head around working long haul right now if that happens...while I continue to move towards less risk....but yeah - feeling a bit overwhelmed by the what ifs....

And kind of going back to the drawing board on my plans.....

Bogleheads will definitely make one feel they should be doing more.  LOL  They are definitely the other extreme.  I love that board though. They struggle with advice for lower incomes...especially tax advice, but for the most part they are on top of everything and I've found them very helpful.

 

As for asset allocation, I don't think most of them were/are 50/50 in the accumulation phase, but as they say "once you've won the game why keep playing?"  There still are people on that board that are 90 to 100% stocks in retirement.

I'm 100% stocks, and will be forever.  Retired early six years ago.  Don't have $5-6 million, but have more than enough.  And yes, there are people on that board whose primary motivating factor seems to be fear.  Will never accept that they have way more than enough already.  I may not understand it, but it doesn't affect me anyway so, who cares?

[Pink Cashmere]

Nov 15, 2023 15:45:16 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Nov 15, 2023 15:11:23 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

I agree, and have always operated that way. Especially when I was a young and poor single mother with few resources. That really eased a lot of anxiety for me.

Things are markedly different right now so I am planning to use up as much sick days as I can over the next year or so.

I am ready to try to retire if I lose my job now and that changes my POV. I think doing more for my own health right now via taking some sick days is my best step to stretch out my remaining work time aka prevent a spur of the moment rage quitting......or - who knows? Could head off a health issue that would sideline me.

Then you need to use those sick days if you don't want to stick around anymore.  You know you won't get paid for them.  My point in accruing so much sick time is that sick time offset the time until retirement in both of those jobs.  I forget by how much but it was enough that it helped considerably. 

My only regret from not being able to retire from my last job was the loss of my healthcare benefits in retirement.  When I came out here, I only had about 6 years or so and I'd have had enough to retire and get the benefits.  I'd be retiring at 56, with me being able to buy into my health insurance as an employee (I paid $26/mo for that!!) until 65 (and a spouse, if married).  When I hit 65, they'd cover a Medigap plan.   Since that didn't happen, TD has been chasing jobs for health insurance, and I'm paying a ridiculous sum for Medigap through disability.

I have a coworker that has been out “sick” for at least a month now. He’s not coming back, he is retiring when the sick leave is almost gone. 

That is common among my coworkers that have a lot of sick leave. Their official retirement date is months after their last day working. 

ETA: I have some coworkers that have well over 1,000 hours of sick leave. 

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Nov 20, 2023 17:31:13 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

Nov 15, 2023 15:45:16 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Then you need to use those sick days if you don't want to stick around anymore.  You know you won't get paid for them.  My point in accruing so much sick time is that sick time offset the time until retirement in both of those jobs.  I forget by how much but it was enough that it helped considerably. 

My only regret from not being able to retire from my last job was the loss of my healthcare benefits in retirement.  When I came out here, I only had about 6 years or so and I'd have had enough to retire and get the benefits.  I'd be retiring at 56, with me being able to buy into my health insurance as an employee (I paid $26/mo for that!!) until 65 (and a spouse, if married).  When I hit 65, they'd cover a Medigap plan.   Since that didn't happen, TD has been chasing jobs for health insurance, and I'm paying a ridiculous sum for Medigap through disability.

I have a coworker that has been out “sick” for at least a month now. He’s not coming back, he is retiring when the sick leave is almost gone. 

That is common among my coworkers that have a lot of sick leave. Their official retirement date is months after their last day working. 

ETA: I have some coworkers that have well over 1,000 hours of sick leave. 

My former employer allowed you do use this time as paid time to retirement.  

I used to have an employee that used every single day as she accrued it, both sick and vacation (same employer).  It used to drive me nuts because she had nothing in the bank.  She needed to have a stent placed and was without a paycheck.  She got a little better after that.  She wasn’t so critical that we could do without her, but when she was out, me and other staff had to cover her labkeeping chores……which was more expensive.  

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

My husband retired from the military in 2022 and began collecting his military pension the next month.

This also lets us purchase Tricare for health insurance. Once we go on Medicare (age 65), we will get Tricare for Life as our Medicare supplement.

He submitted his VA disability claims and was rated at 100%. That money isn't taxed. This also got us free car registration for one vehicle, and almost $2,000 off our property taxes. For 2024, that's $3,946.25/month. ($47,355 annually)

He started a post-military (corporate flying) job for a local company in 2022. He hopes to hold this job (or a similar one) for 10 years or so. That will take him to age 67.

In addition to his military pension and VA disability which he is currently receiving, he has money in the TSP (Thrift Savings Plan) in the G-Fund (which is no risk. Not great dividends, but no risk.) We're not comfortable enough with the future of the market to roll it over out of the TSP into something with risk. We'd rather just hold for now.

He just started (July 2023) a 401K through his work with Vanguard. There is a modest company match. The plan is to max his contribution each year starting next year (2024) including catchup provisions. We chose the targeted date retirement fund for 2030, so it's reasonably conservative, but not the most conservative, option that Vanguard offers.

Our fully-funded emergency fund is in cash in a high yield savings account.

I will start collecting social security in 4 years (age 62) as I have serious health issues and there's no point waiting.
He plans to start collecting social security when he's retired retired (hopefully around age 67)

Our home is paid for and we have no debt or children.  He's well insured and has long-term disability insurance, too.

I think this is as prepared as we're going to get for retirement. Hopefully he stays working long enough to grow his Vanguard 401K.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Sounds pretty secure, ❤ mollymouser ❤!

sorry to hear about your health issue and wishing you the best.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Been converting some stocks to cash in one of my 401k rollovers, as part of my walking back risk endeavors. I wasn't exactly thinking of leaving this particular money in cash, but realized I've now got about 2 years worth of cash available. Well - need to wait until 59.6 to avoid the penalty. Just a few days over 4 months until that milestone is reached. I only have 1 months cash in current employer 401k, which I could draw from penalty free if retired so that would leave 3 month to cover.

I suppose I could buy an ETF in this account and then transfer the stocks in the current 401k to cash.....seems better as the stock funds available aren't the least expensive, but not sure how to arrange everything - selling the individual stocks was a first step in an as-yet-to-be-finalized plan. So will think on that. With this rollover, I was aiming for medium risk with some growth and income, so not sure if I will just split the diffence - half stocks half MM/treasuries? More to think about...

It's hard! lol!!

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Oh - and I have mixed feelings about being in cash! 1 - it is wild to think I could just cruise for 2 years without a paycheck and no worries about a market downturn. Very nice, secure, etc. stabilizing!

On the other hand, as I am waiting with bated breath for the next bull run which could happen at any moment it is concerning that I would not catch the full of it like I would with 98-100% stocks like I have usually run all this time.

Of course - you never know is the problem! If I knew for sure the big bull was going to start in the next 0-6 mnoths, of course everything would be in the market....I am feeling like that is more likely than a downturn as we are still trying to get to the last ATH from 2 years ago....still a 20% or more drop could happen at any moment and last for a little or a long time.....I know I need to be hedged against this! As I said...

It's hard!

[resolution]

Nov 28, 2023 10:24:16 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Oh - and I have mixed feelings about being in cash! 1 - it is wild to think I could just cruise for 2 years without a paycheck and no worries about a market downturn. Very nice, secure, etc. stabilizing!

On the other hand, as I am waiting with bated breath for the next bull run which could happen at any moment it is concerning that I would not catch the full of it like I would with 98-100% stocks like I have usually run all this time.

Of course - you never know is the problem! If I knew for sure the big bull was going to start in the next 0-6 mnoths, of course everything would be in the market....I am feeling like that is more likely than a downturn as we are still trying to get to the last ATH from 2 years ago....still a 20% or more drop could happen at any moment and last for a little or a long time.....I know I need to be hedged against this! As I said...

It's hard!

Sounds like a great way to drive yourself crazy!

When I try fancy moves like that, I end up selling low and buying high. I do a lot better if I just figure out an asset allocation and leave it all to sit quietly in the allocation.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Nov 28, 2023 10:35:15 GMT -5 resolution said:

Nov 28, 2023 10:24:16 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Oh - and I have mixed feelings about being in cash! 1 - it is wild to think I could just cruise for 2 years without a paycheck and no worries about a market downturn. Very nice, secure, etc. stabilizing!

On the other hand, as I am waiting with bated breath for the next bull run which could happen at any moment it is concerning that I would not catch the full of it like I would with 98-100% stocks like I have usually run all this time.

Of course - you never know is the problem! If I knew for sure the big bull was going to start in the next 0-6 mnoths, of course everything would be in the market....I am feeling like that is more likely than a downturn as we are still trying to get to the last ATH from 2 years ago....still a 20% or more drop could happen at any moment and last for a little or a long time.....I know I need to be hedged against this! As I said...

It's hard!

Sounds like a great way to drive yourself crazy!

When I try fancy moves like that, I end up selling low and buying high. I do a lot better if I just figure out an asset allocation and leave it all to sit quietly in the allocation.

not sure how fancy a move it is? And I don't think it is unusual to make some AA changes as one approaches retirement.


But - thinking a little harder - it is only a 3 month fund gap to accessing the rollover, which I have in Ibonds. So it is more a reflection of dissatisfaction with the funds in the work 401k. But - I'll think a bit more on how best to make the trade. With the work 401k - they are shady in terms of when they deposit so if I transfer funds, I'm sure it will be excuted on the least advantageous day for me....I've complained to HR, and the response was "oh - I'm sure they aren't doing that....." 

[minnesotapaintlady]

Nov 28, 2023 10:17:24 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Been converting some stocks to cash in one of my 401k rollovers, as part of my walking back risk endeavors. I wasn't exactly thinking of leaving this particular money in cash, but realized I've now got about 2 years worth of cash available. Well - need to wait until 59.6 to avoid the penalty. Just a few days over 4 months until that milestone is reached. I only have 1 months cash in current employer 401k, which I could draw from penalty free if retired so that would leave 3 month to cover.

I suppose I could buy an ETF in this account and then transfer the stocks in the current 401k to cash.....seems better as the stock funds available aren't the least expensive, but not sure how to arrange everything - selling the individual stocks was a first step in an as-yet-to-be-finalized plan. So will think on that. With this rollover, I was aiming for medium risk with some growth and income, so not sure if I will just split the diffence - half stocks half MM/treasuries? More to think about...

It's hard! lol!!

I've said that before.  The accumulation phase is easy, just set it and forget it...shovel as much in as you can. It's the draw down part that is the PIA.

Are you thinking of quitting now?  Just wondering why it matters that you only have one month of cash in the workplace 401K? 

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Nov 28, 2023 16:16:13 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Nov 28, 2023 10:17:24 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Been converting some stocks to cash in one of my 401k rollovers, as part of my walking back risk endeavors. I wasn't exactly thinking of leaving this particular money in cash, but realized I've now got about 2 years worth of cash available. Well - need to wait until 59.6 to avoid the penalty. Just a few days over 4 months until that milestone is reached. I only have 1 months cash in current employer 401k, which I could draw from penalty free if retired so that would leave 3 month to cover.

I suppose I could buy an ETF in this account and then transfer the stocks in the current 401k to cash.....seems better as the stock funds available aren't the least expensive, but not sure how to arrange everything - selling the individual stocks was a first step in an as-yet-to-be-finalized plan. So will think on that. With this rollover, I was aiming for medium risk with some growth and income, so not sure if I will just split the diffence - half stocks half MM/treasuries? More to think about...

It's hard! lol!!

I've said that before.  The accumulation phase is easy, just set it and forget it...shovel as much in as you can. It's the draw down part that is the PIA.

Are you thinking of quitting now?  Just wondering why it matters that you only have one month of cash in the workplace 401K? 

I did have a work scare recently. It was all fine in the end but someone high up was very unhappy me. I was doing my job, btw, not an error or anything. But it was sobering, so I started lining up my ducks as it were. And then when things blew over, I just continued lining them up. I guess it really doesn't matter now as I am so close to 59.5

Of course - I could up and quit at any moment these days! I never know where my head is at there, lol. I have 2 weeks off EOY, so just trying to hang on and get to that time off, drift into 2024 and then try to get refreshed on the work scene, or at least make it to 59.5 when retirement funds become a free for all!

But - it was just worst-case-scenario planning (why I am looking at cash balance before/after 59.5). And when the market dipped marketly near the end of October, and with an unexpected worry about being let go, I decided I need to think about AA where I would retire even if I didn't  have 'enough' money - or the amount I've been looking for to pull the plug the past few years. Just thinking I need a retire on less plan in case the market doesn't recover from here....or takes a dive immediately after I quit.