One cannot purchase a meaningful life. Save More, Spend Less

About Me

PatientSaver

Words to Live By

"Hope is not a strategy."

"Anytime is a good time for playtime." Luther the cat

Over the years, I've worked as a journalist, personal finance writer and marketing copywriter. I was fortunate to hold many interesting and unique positions over the years and I learned a lot from every job.

Still, my 36-year career has been marked by continuous change, upheaval and job loss triggered by a series of layoffs, a corporate relocation, a start-up that went belly up and even the 9/11 tragedy, which led to a work slowdown at the financial services consulting firm that employed me.

For a long time, my retirement savings goal has been $1 million (with another $131,000 for healthcare expenses).

Now in my late 50s, I recently transitioned from working full-time (as a contractor with no benefits) to part-time work with the same employer, achieving my goal of semi-retirement two years earlier than I'd planned, to make more time in my life to help out my dad and become more involved in my local community.

This wouldn't be possible if I hadn't paid off my mortgage (!) in July 2012, or if I had any other significant debt, but being completely debt-free, I know that my part-time income can pay 70% to 98% of my ongoing living expenses.

Feb 28, 2019
Investments, At a Glance:
Cash & CDs: $53,898
Traditional IRAs: $615,545
Roth IRA: $197,859
Taxable investments: $117,752
Sub-Total: $985,054
Zillow estimated home value: $317,000
2013 Honda Civic: $10,000
Grand total of investments + house: $1,302,054

My Income in Retirement Goal:
Total portfolio: $985,054 x 3.5% withdrawal rate = $34,476 divided by 12 mths = $2,873 in investment income generated monthly. This means I am 86% of the way toward reaching my goal of having my investments generate $3333 in income each month ($40,000 a year).

If my assets generate $40k a year, then I know through years of tracking my expenses that I can live on that. So I should be able to delay collecting Social Security until full retirement age (age 66 + 10 mths) and enjoy a big boost in my monthly benefit.

Alternatively, I could take my Social Security benefits at age 62, considerably boosting my monthly income. However, this would permanently lock in my income and it seems foolish to me not to take advantage of a higher monthly benefit by deferring for a few more years.

Taking a long-term perspective, a collapse of Obamacare, health problems, a possible move by Congress to keep Social Security solvent by reducing benefits and rising living costs in general could make life more costly, so my strong preference would still be to defer taking SS until at least full retirement age.

My current best guess for monthly SS benefits at full retirement age: $2,336.

My financial goals for the next 7 years are to:
1. Retire from full-time work. Challenge: How to ensure continued affordable health insurance coverage without an employer? Strategy: Transition from full-time work to part-time work so as to qualify for ACA subsidies.
March 2018 Update: Now working 20 hrs weekly and enrolled in healthcare exchange.

2. Continue working part-time to cover majority of current expenses for at least a few years, to inject some structure in my life, a sense of purpose and a social outlet.

3. Defer collecting Social Security until full retirement age of 66 and 10 months.

Target Asset Allocation:

Total Stock: 45%
Domestic stock: 30%
International Stock: 15%

Total Bonds: 45%
Domestic bonds: 32%
International bonds: 13%

Cash & CDs: 10%

Credit Score
TransUnion: 832
Equifax: 836
FICO: 811
Experian: 824
Vantage Score: 824

"Countdown to Retirement" Savings Plan, 2014 - 2019

Annual Savings Goals:
End of year 1, Nov 2015: $723,469
Actual Savings: $686,593

End of year 2, Nov 2016: $805,974
Actual Savings: $842,462

End of year 3, Nov. 2017: $893,842
Actual Savings: $949,018

End of year 4, Nov. 2018: $987,421
Actual Savings: $957,946

End of year 5, Nov. 2019: $1,087,083

Home Improvement Wish List:
1. Increase attic insulation. Est $1200
2. Mouseproof basement and possibly redo insulation. $2,000
3. Replace wood garage door with metal. $700
4. Replace upstairs bath vanity. $1700
5. Stone facing on garage concrete walls. $5,000
6. New drywall walls in living room, possibly dining room. $2,000
7. Redo back patio. DONE June 2018
8. Rebuild back stone stairs. $2,500.
9. Pergola on back patio.

Save More, Spend Less

One cannot purchase a meaningful life.

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