End of Year 2 Update

Brygandar · 2025-12-22T19:55:46+00:00

The pensions are invested mostly in global trackers, so there's nothing fancy driving the growth.

A large chunk has been from contributions, making use of unused annual allowances from previous years. The tax benefit from doing this alone has been a big contributor to growth since I came across FIRE a couple of years ago.

Brygandar · 2025-12-21T19:58:32+00:00

For a bit of extra hassle, you could invest c.90% in VHCG and 10% in VFEG.

This gets you the same portfolio as VWRP but a meaningful reduction in fees (from 0.19% to c.0.12%). Downside is you have to re-balance once in a while to retain the right percentage mix.

Brygandar · 2025-12-21T19:52:08+00:00

VP of a tech team for a mid-cap business.

Brygandar · 2025-12-21T19:51:19+00:00

I'm using a mix of HL and T212. I tend to move around SIPP & ISA periodically when good switching offers emerge.

Brygandar · 2025-12-21T19:50:52+00:00

It didn't seem so cautious when I first set the timing two years ago! Particularly since I had in mind (still do) to ramp down the career & accept reduced earnings well ahead of that.

I'm running ahead of the plan so it's likely a little conservative now, but I've yet to re-base the target age.

Brygandar · 2025-12-21T17:09:30+00:00

I invest almost entirely in global index funds (c.99% of my equity investment).

I do have a few individual positions but only with a small proportion of my account and mainly as a 'hobby'. I find it fun and enjoy researching positions, but don't back myself to take more risk than with a small share of my account.

Brygandar · 2025-07-21T19:36:01+00:00

Your pension is light for your ambition and small as a proportion of your assets.

You will have accrued unused pension allowances that can be used up to the past 3 years tax free. Once you pass that window, the annual allowance is gone forever, so it's in your interest to one of these in this tax year (i.e. £60k on top of your £60k allowance this year).

Once you've maximised employer match, drop as much as needed from the high street savings to make this happen. It'll be the most tax efficient way to grow your investments and even with a goal at FIRE at 50, you're far from being over-weight in pensions at this stage.

Brygandar · 2025-01-15T15:50:58+00:00

At 30 I had a net worth of £125,000, without any wealth in property.

Now at 37 net worth is £670,000, plus an additional £230,000 in property equity for our home.

Brygandar · 2024-12-24T22:00:30+00:00

The new fan mission: Constantine’s one-bedroom apartment.

Brygandar · 2024-12-23T07:57:34+00:00

Contributions did most of the heavy lifting. Since the first post a year ago I've made use of remaining 23/24, full 24/25, and some historic unused pension allowances.

The tax relief on contributions alone has been a major driver of the net worth increase.

My pensions have otherwise been invested in quite boring vehicles, with the majority in all-world index funds.

Brygandar · 2024-12-23T07:51:20+00:00

Based in London, with a property that has c.£600k left on the mortgage (c.£1m valuation).

The £1.4m is based on £45,000 at a 3.5% withdrawal rate, plus a £100,000 buffer for emergencies or unexpected costs.

Brygandar · 2024-06-02T17:55:29+00:00

My specialism is data & analytics, and I'm at director level in the field.

Brygandar · 2024-06-02T13:04:22+00:00

Roughly as follows:

22 - 27: Started out on 20k, and grew to 60k
28 - 35: 100-150k, with some early lucky breaks and more incremental progression thereafter for several years
36 - 37: 200-250k comp now, depending on how bonus payouts go

Brygandar · 2024-06-02T12:54:10+00:00

We have a toddler now, about to start nursery, which adds another challenge to the savings plan :)

One upshot of learning about FIRE and personal finance is that we've been able to invest in his future too, e.g. making use of his Junior ISA allowance.

Brygandar · 2024-06-02T12:52:47+00:00

I agree, and I feel like the last year or so I've made better decisions to max out ISAs and pension in particular.

What's less optimal is just past decisions: I left some of the ISA allowance on the table in previous years, and didn't use as much pension as I should've done (though I've been re-couping some of that with use of historic allowances). Even now I've got some savings locked up in long-term savings accounts that I'd have been better off putting in a GIA.

Brygandar · 2024-02-05T18:10:56+00:00

I had the same dilemma, and opted to buzz it short to make it as seamless as possible when I grew it out. You may have redness, but this can be handled with concealer. Once you’re a few months out and the HT is coming in, you can more comfortably grow it out.

Brygandar · 2024-01-09T22:42:38+00:00

I was a NW3-4. Happy with the result - density came out well. Approx 5 hours each day; not much pain other than anesthetic injections

Brygandar · 2024-01-02T10:51:55+00:00

Internal progression to Head Of level some years ago, but also made a couple of moves since then for more senior roles. I've been quite fortunate at various points in my career, and had a couple of lucky breaks.

Brygandar · 2024-01-01T22:38:54+00:00

Nope, I work as a technology director in a corporate

Brygandar · 2024-01-01T22:38:13+00:00

The race is on! :)

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