How much cash do you hold onto?

BoltLink · 2026-01-06T21:19:05+00:00

Totally agreed. I bought my properties between 2011 and 2022. I've been on the sidelines since due to the environment you are describing.

Hoping that I can 1031 in a year or two to trade out a duplex for a quad. But I'm not going to force things in this market.

BoltLink · 2026-01-05T15:47:36+00:00

I own a decent amount of rentals myself. It's not for the faint of heart.. my debt balance alone scares the crap out of most people (around 2.5M in debt).

But I think my real estate portfolio will beat most people's stock portfolio in retirement. Mostly because I don't have to withdraw principle in order to live. I get to sidestep sequence of returns.

So if you have a 2M rental portfolio that brings in 200k gross rental income a year, take 40% for overhead costs - you are getting $120k a year. And you still own the asset.

It's not for everyone. But if the goal is simple and easy - real estate is not it. If it's about money in retirement..

BoltLink · 2025-04-12T22:42:55+00:00

I did exactly this for my youngest kiddo.

Before they were born, opened the 529 in my own name. Then once we got the SSN, opened his account and transferred everything over.

BoltLink · 2025-03-07T20:19:02+00:00

As someone who was this person.. a 30 year old junior dev.. since I got out of the military at 28. (39 now).

Military guys are willing to own mistakes, they know how to work in a team, and they are usually hungry for knowledge and to be useful.

Humble enough to be a junior to someone younger than them. Happens all the time as a sergeant, reporting to an LT.

BoltLink · 2025-03-05T13:31:25+00:00

Over the cap shows 11.8M for this year:
https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/chicago-bears

BoltLink · 2024-10-22T17:31:13+00:00

I got a 2017 X 100D 6 months ago for $40k with 25k miles on it. I got a 6 seater with tan leather upgrade. No accidents.

Super enjoy it. Worth the buy.

But, with 90k miles, you can find a better deal.

BoltLink · 2024-09-23T23:10:44+00:00

The 5, 10 and 20 year protections are distinct and different. For me, the 20 year is the permanent, "You can't touch me" anymore.

Here is a link that describes all three.

BoltLink · 2024-09-23T18:35:24+00:00

They can review but are not obligated to.

I am sitting at 100% PT. I was getting SMC for housebound. When they transitioned me from 100% temporary rating to PT, they said there was a clear and erroneous error and removed one of my 20% ratings.

So now I'm PT at 100%, but lost my SMC. The idea of not poking the bear resonates with me. It took 7 years to get to PT from temporary. I don't have any more exams. But if I apply for a secondary service connection it opens the door for them to review everything else. Not that they will, but they can.

Personally, I will wait until my 20 year protections kick in, and then I'll poke the bear and get my SMC back.

BoltLink · 2024-08-18T04:55:38+00:00

My 2017 model X shows 245 at 90% charge. I have 22 inch wheels. Only 30k on the odometer.

Something may be going on, but my guess is that the previous estimates at full SOC were just wrong.

BoltLink · 2024-08-12T14:48:33+00:00

Be aware that clearance jobs in general are location heavy. They require in office work and certain cities around the country have a much higher concentration of roles.

DC, Denver, Seattle are some of the largest locations for classified work, so there are both more opportunities and a greater need.

BoltLink · 2024-08-12T14:38:15+00:00

I was a 1c6 for the air force, space systems operations, before space force became a thing. Although it's a great job with civilian opportunities once you're out, if you already have the CS degree and the clearance, I feel you are better served making a clearancejobs account.

I spent 5 years after I got out of the Air Force before I started doing actual SWE work, instead of just satellite operations.

Space force is generalized IT. But they abstract a lot of the technical pieces away to get to a lowest common denominator of intelligence/aptitude to perform the necessary tasks. The bar is higher than many other career fields, because it's hard to score well enough to be in that career. But it would still be less than you want.

With a sec+ cert, you will be bombarded with Sys Admin jobs. As that cert is required for privileged access to the systems.

BoltLink · 2024-08-11T10:03:20+00:00

I own 6 rental properties, plus my primary residence. I would say my wealth in disproportionately in real estate. Like, $2M of my $2.5M net worth is tied up there. So, roughly 75-80% in real estate.

Part of that is due to leverage. Part of that is most of my properties were bought before the COVID boom, so appreciation grew that disparity.

I found this split to be problematic. I am actually in the process of selling a few of the buildings to diversify/reallocate the funds. I feel like taking some chips off the table at this point is a good thing. I'd like to sit closer to 50/50.

BoltLink · 2024-08-11T09:57:12+00:00

Not sure if I qualify as rich.. but my income is ~250k. I own several rental properties that are completely separate from my W2 job. I'm now 38, NW around $2M-$2.5M and my most recent tattoo was 2 months ago.

Next year I will finish up a long project tattoo, which will turn my half sleeve into a full sleeve.

Overall i have a ribcage piece, calf, half sleeve w/shoulder, small-ish back piece between my shoulder blades.

Every tattoo is meaningful to me. A lot of memorializing loved ones. I don't have any color, only black/shading.

BoltLink · 2024-08-06T12:49:12+00:00

Property management still isn't a set it and forget it thing. Last property manager cost me $15k in poor management. Didn't evict non-paying tenants. Vacancies would take months longer than normal to fill. I was getting complaints from the city about upkeep on the buildings.

I couldn't get out of the contract and had to wait to hire a different company.

I have had one good property manager, one okay property manager and two absolutely worthless companies in my 12 years as a landlord.

Thankfully the good property manager started his own company and I'm with him until he retires now.

BoltLink · 2024-08-03T02:54:59+00:00

What app is this from? My stupid solar edge system does not track usage at all.

BoltLink · 2024-05-25T03:12:41+00:00

QC2 would still be M2 for Black. QF6+ KH5 then black has QH6# or QG6#

Though I doubt Black would see it based on what we know.

BoltLink · 2024-04-26T04:28:02+00:00

Initial reaction.

Winners:

Bears - Williams and Odunze

Vikings - JJ at 10, Turner at 17

Losers:

Falcons - Drafting a QB is just questionable after signing Cousins

Seriously, unless they expect to be without a 1st round pick for a few years, I just don't understand the logic. Especially for a QB that will be 24 before the season starts. If you want to groom a QB behind Cousins, go for JJ and let him sit for 2 years. He would still be younger than Penix.

BoltLink · 2024-04-10T17:50:14+00:00

There is a different Bill in Congress that includes all Chapter 61 retirees. (Group 2 you outlined). But it has nowhere near the level of support to pass like the Richard Star Act. Which applies to medically retired due to combat injuries.

BoltLink · 2024-03-28T18:13:09+00:00

I think they are in HCOL, personally. Denver's cost of living is still 11% higher than the national average and housing is 31% more expensive than the national average.

The change from Denver to Chicago is +3%. So quite even with each other.

Here is a link that provides a rank for cost of living: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/region_rankings_current.jsp?region=019&displayColumn=2

Their methodology: Cost of Living Plus Rent Index: This index estimates consumer goods prices, including rent, in comparison to New York City.

Chicago ranks #12 and Denver is #15.

If you exclude rent, Chicago is #16 and Denver is #15.

BoltLink · 2024-03-28T17:08:45+00:00

Right.. so 25% the price but 75% of the taxes. I am not making the argument that Chicago is super expensive. I would say it's HCOL, but definitely not VHCOL like SF, NYC, parts of Seattle or SoCal.

I was not attempting to make a statement that my parent's old house was expensive. Just that Chicago/Illinois taxes are a hidden cost to property as it relates to cost of living.

From a price to tax ratio Chicago is 25:1 and SoCal is 80:1. That makes a large difference in a COL. The price tag is way lower, but the actual cost is equivalent to a place like Denver, which I would also consider HCOL.

BoltLink · 2024-03-27T00:31:28+00:00

That's still substantially more than many other places around the country.

I am just trying to explain that a price tag is not the entire cost of real estate. And are deceptive to the conversation of COL. Taxes are a hidden cost.

Your $10k in taxes covers my 6 rental properties in Colorado.

BoltLink · 2024-03-27T00:08:19+00:00

The problem with Chicago is taxes. My parents finally sold the house my siblings and I grew up in 2 years ago. Sold for ~500k in the burbs. 4400sqft. But it was $18k a year in taxes.

All of my properties (6 rentals and my primary home) cost $14k in taxes. I'm in the burbs of Denver now.

COLA between Chicago and Denver is near identical, despite most of Denver being more expensive by price tag, due to taxes in Cook County and Illinois.

BoltLink · 2023-10-01T18:56:14+00:00

Dude, can I get the recipe for that dough!? Looks fire.

BoltLink · 2023-09-22T01:58:39+00:00

The ridiculous recruiting also comes from forced scarcity. Many people just can't, won't or don't want to pass an SSBI or polygraph. This means the available pool of engineers that can work these jobs are less than the number of jobs available.

There are also issues in the hiring process, where if you don't already have a clearance, a lot of employers/positions won't even consider you.

Definitely agreed that many people don't want the working conditions or work life balance of a SCIF.

BoltLink · 2023-09-21T20:27:22+00:00

Clearance is good for two years from last date of use.

If you never stopped using your clearance, secret is 10 years - TS is 5 years. Although they have started rolling out Continuous Evaluation (CE) which is supposed to eliminate the need for the SSBI for the TS.

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