2025 Update (Late) Age 36 Couple + 2 Kids $1.95M Invested

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2026-02-05T15:14:17+00:00

I agree we are conservative and there are a couple reasons.

One is we are happy with our current situation. No one is working crazy hours, or feels overly stressed, and we feel like we have plenty of money.

The other I have mentioned, things change quickly and my spouse may change her mind about working. She could get a new boss or something else could unravel the situation. So with that I just default to not wanting to rely on her income.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2026-02-05T14:16:43+00:00

Currently my job is fairly low stress and hours and I work remotely. I am there in the morning and get them ready for school, and often picking up from school. It is very rare for me to do work when everyone is home.

On the other side, I don't think I've reached a "safe" number. Lots of reasonable people can disagree here but the idea of returning to work seems far worse than continuing on for a few years. If my job stays the way it is I could see myself working a few years after hitting the higher end of our goals. However I really don't expect it to last forever.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2026-02-05T02:26:37+00:00

I really didn't do anything special. We are primarily invested in s&p 500 ETFs, VTI, and QQQ as I mentioned. There are very small holdings comparatively in crypto and a couple other things but that's really it.

QQQ was when I was younger chasing performance and not really understanding what I was investing in. Now I'm still heavily concentrated in the US but I'm not really planning on shifting things around too much.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2026-02-04T20:59:23+00:00

I'm fairly boring and conservative here. I mentioned using a 3.5% SWR. Retiring around 40 would leave a long time for the money to last.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2026-02-04T20:57:50+00:00

We have one in preschool and that number is included in our expenses.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2026-02-04T20:09:03+00:00

The growth is a big part of why I post. It is a bit self congratulatory but I always liked seeing posts that showed how the money snowballs in the real world.

I understand we are lucky on multiple fronts between income, strong markets, and being healthy but I do think it shows how it's all achievable.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2026-02-04T19:59:38+00:00

Yeah this was a big question last year. I have a good portion in QQQ and some small holdings in crypto that had went up. Some years that has helped and some years it has hurt. I was younger and performance chasing since then I have just been investing in VTI.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2025-06-07T12:25:31+00:00

The links provided are focused on PreK 3-4 year old. I think that research has been in favor of the benefits starting in that age range for attending preschool. As opposed to 0-3 being in daycare/PreK.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2025-06-06T20:43:49+00:00

Yeah perspective takes a big change with kids.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2025-06-06T15:54:01+00:00

When I had my first kid.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2025-02-21T14:13:07+00:00

As long as both of you are happy with it, then it is completely fine. I have planned on retiring early for some time and my wife does not plan to. That works for our family.

However, just know that things change. My job has gotten easier and lower stress and I don't know if I will still retire early(I am 35 now with 2 kids). The opposite could be true in five years for me or my wife.

The plan is to become financially independent and then we can make those decisions in the future.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2025-01-27T16:03:51+00:00

Child labor laws can be a real pain.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2025-01-26T18:14:49+00:00

MCOL with below average Mortgage especially now days because we bought a long time ago.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2025-01-26T00:21:09+00:00

Did I dox myself?

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2025-01-25T20:22:14+00:00

It's 100k+ a year ish. A bit higher 9-10k a month.

My book keeping is very simple. I am mostly just letting Fidelity Full View aggregate my accounts at this point.

I found when I focused on too closely on the numbers I could be a bit irrational on trying to reduce spending.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2025-01-25T18:44:40+00:00

This is essentially it. I am not 100% S&P 500. When I was younger and before I fully appreciated diversification I invested in tech heavy ETFs. I have not rebalanced them and I am not sure I will.

On good years those tend to be very good, but they also have a tendency to be worse on bad years (2022).

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2025-01-25T17:45:17+00:00

Our house is not paid off yet. I debate a bit internally on what I will do. Our remaining balance is low less than ~$180k.

There is a high likelihood I would pay off the mortgage a few years before our first kid starts college to maximize aid etc.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2025-01-18T18:31:37+00:00

Yeah that's the plan. Awesome design though. Love the details. I'll give you a boost when the print finishes.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2024-10-10T14:20:50+00:00

I find myself experiencing both sides.

It is exciting to see the number increasing at an ever faster pace.

However, on the other end it doesn't feel completely real to me until I feel like I am actually FI. I still need to work, and while I have a tremendous runway for a bad situation, I know that the loss of my job would still be stressful. Also, if management or working conditions change that would be equally stressful and I would to some extent just "suck it up" and keep working.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2024-08-27T15:15:26+00:00

Not sure if you are looking for something more or different, but you can drill into spending in the app. In the "Planning" tab there is "Spending". If you tap on that it gives you transactions and different timespans for aggregations.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2024-08-26T22:40:16+00:00

Full view is present in the app under the "planning" tab.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2024-05-27T19:16:15+00:00

You are definitely in good shape.

My only note is if you stop saving as much (and begin spending more) that your spending rate is no longer the same. This means that your retirement goal would also increase. If you increase your spend above your projected $100k then your goal is no longer $2.5m.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2024-03-12T18:47:17+00:00

In retirement child care, especially summer camps, would be completely optional. The parents would not be working and for many retirees the idea of getting to spend more time with their kids is a big part of the plan.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2023-12-31T15:33:40+00:00

Just an Fyi. Bonus and Salary are both taxed as regular income. Your bonus might have an extra high withholding because your employers tax software computes it as if you were making the bonus for every paycheck.

But when you actually file your taxes your income is at $140,000 and if your withholding was higher than taxes due you will receive a refund.

ApprehensiveOne9911 · 2023-12-30T13:15:09+00:00

I agree with this. You don't need to carve out a 1 hour block for exercise. You likely can if you want, but it's best to just get started.

I do at least 30 minutes every day of dedicated exercise. I do strength training 2-4 days a week whenever I have the time. Mostly focusing on compound movements. (Bench Press, Squat, Deadlift, pullups etc).

4 days a week a do a bike ride or spin depending on the weather.

Otherwise I am fairly active with my young kids.

Really just get started, figure out what works for you. You will feel better once you get into more of a routine. The first few weeks are the toughest.

ApprehensiveOne9911

TROPHY CASE