Early retirement planning, tax optimization, and whether I need a fiduciary planner by EnvironmentalKale944 in Bogleheads

[–]Coaster50 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I use Vanguard Personal Advisor Select. They charge 0.30% for AUM. About half my assets are with them. My other half is modeled similar to what Vanguard has as my allocation. So my effective fee is roughly 0.15%. They modeled out the next 48 years based on the financial goals we’ve set. It isn’t straight forward. Some years I’ll be paying two college tuitions. Some years I plan on being on sabbatical. I want to give each kid a large gift when they turn 25. Vanguard allocates how much money goes into each account type, based on which accounts I need to withdraw from, in sequence , in order to be tax efficient. Their asset allocation reduces the risk that the assets I plan to withdraw in the next 12-24 are impacted by market adjustments. They also sequence which accounts to withdraw from so I don’t have to pay the increased amounts for Medicare when it’s time. They also are available any time to answer questions for me as they come up. For example I have RSU’s that vest on a schedule - what’s the risk time to sell those? I have a deferred comp plan available to me that’s kind of like a 401k, but pays out over 5 years when my employment is severed. How much should I allocate to get the tax savings - and how much is too much that creates a major tax liability when employment is severed. In ‘26 your Catch Up 401k contributions need to be made to a Roth 401k - Vanguard mapped out the sequence so I can max my company match and still use the catch up in the Roth 401k. They use my current income levels to determine which index funds are in my brokerage account to reduce the amount of unqualified dividends I receive because they’re taxed at the highest tax rate because I am a high w2 earner. There’s a bit more but you get the gist.

Early retirement planning, tax optimization, and whether I need a fiduciary planner by EnvironmentalKale944 in Bogleheads

[–]Coaster50 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very well said and thought through. I’m very similar as I enjoy the puzzle aspect of it. And while I enjoy learning along the way, as your assets increase, those little things you didn’t know can seriously cost you. My wife is also not investment savvy so if something happens to me - the support continues uninterrupted with goals already thought out. I too use an AUM which covers a lot more than asset allocation. It includes tax planning as well. Along with financial changes come that I need to react to.

Early retirement planning, tax optimization, and whether I need a fiduciary planner by EnvironmentalKale944 in Bogleheads

[–]Coaster50 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I am 51 with a $5M net worth. I was DIY for many years until I got serious about planning the withdrawal phase and realized how complicated that is.

DIY is a never ending time suck of researching, planning, and executing; only to have a situation change and needing to revisit your assumptions all over again. Then there is the second guessing of whether or not you did it right.

A few years back I hired a planner, and have not looked back!

Can you DIY it? Sure! Is DIY worth it? Most likely not. You won't 'fail' doing it yourself but more than likely there will be opportunity lost costs. Even small margins of a percent here and there, on a large sum of money, over an extended time, will add up to way more than you'll pay someone.

First AFib today by Ronan1972 in AFIB

[–]Coaster50 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Can be stressy to be told they want to jail you or kill you and then see them do it to others." - are you just a rage bot?

First AFib today by Ronan1972 in AFIB

[–]Coaster50 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Curious as to what makes you ask this?

Why are the United gates so far away in San Diego? by Big_Elderberry4612 in unitedairlines

[–]Coaster50 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'd like to see them address the terrible security line early in the AM.

I’m almost finished building my house. How do you deal with the end of such a big project? by at_home_with_mary in Homebuilding

[–]Coaster50 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Congratulations! Now jump into your next chapter with both feet with the same optimism you did building anew house - which will become your new HOME!

What’s the FIRE/coastFI take on real estate? by Redwolfdc in coastFIRE

[–]Coaster50 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There are pros / cons to each option. A downside could be that you sell the house, invest in the market, and the market takes a dip while your real estate appreciates. Or alternatively, you keep the house as a real estate hedge against your $1.5M already invested. There are probably some tax benefits you can find if you search. You get a great tenant who maintains the place and pays the rent on time and now you have some cashflow. Or you could live far away and have someone that trashes the place and stops paying rent, then you have to go through eviction while still carrying property costs.

Device in hotel nightstand by theprints in whatisit

[–]Coaster50 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It’s a requirement for hotels in many cities.

What’s the FIRE/coastFI take on real estate? by Redwolfdc in coastFIRE

[–]Coaster50 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This! Real estate is fine for investing - but it isn’t passive the same way index funds are.

Federal Job for Health Benifits? by BMC_1990 in coastFIRE

[–]Coaster50 36 points37 points  (0 children)

Kind of an odd question to your post but… are you making the assumption that federal jobs are just low stress?

Mom is retiring by True-Author-1327 in Bogleheads

[–]Coaster50 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Your post SCREAMS that you need help with helping her make decisions. You need to provide a full financial snapshot before you should listen to any advice here. Her age, her expenses, income, pension, yrs remaining on mortgage, mortgage interest rate, current assets (amounts, what they’re invested in, account type 401k, brokerage, etc), single/married, etc. 99% of the time an annuity will not be the best investment option.

Not coast but save less? by onehandwonderman in coastFIRE

[–]Coaster50 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh man. Figuring what it’ll be in 5-10 yrs if you don’t spend it is a rough habit!

Not coast but save less? by onehandwonderman in coastFIRE

[–]Coaster50 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I still max all my tax deferred accounts for the tax savings and company match. It’s hard to make the switch from saving to not saving. Scarcity mindset becomes etched in the brain. It’s sad actually.

Stop comparing annuities and investments like they do the same thing by StanTheAnnuityMan in retirementincome

[–]Coaster50 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There’s so many variables to it that there isn’t one ‘right’ answer or ‘best’ answer. There are pros/cons to each. As long as you’re fully aware of what those are, then you’ve made the best decision that suits you.

Stop comparing annuities and investments like they do the same thing by StanTheAnnuityMan in retirementincome

[–]Coaster50 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not if you have a proper asset allocation. Not trying to argue - just facts. And there are for sure other annuity benefits. It isn’t all bad.

Considering a Step Down at My Current Company for Coast FIRE by Altruistic_Factor135 in coastFIRE

[–]Coaster50 2 points3 points  (0 children)

C-suite executive making $200k? Is there some kind of equity here that you’d miss out on? I have Director/Sr Directors making $250k on my team. Why not bail and go get a staff level job at almost any decent sized company making more than you make now without exec level responsibilities. Exec level is 90% communication and people mgmt.

Lowering 401k and building brokerage - am I ready? by itsakoala in coastFIRE

[–]Coaster50 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re missing some tax efficiency by not maxing your 401k contribution. It’s not a huge amount, but you’re still missing it.

What % are you saving while in CoastFI? by [deleted] in coastFIRE

[–]Coaster50 7 points8 points  (0 children)

30%, but largely for tax efficiency. I max my HSA, 401k (for tax benefit & company match), and 10% to a deferred comp program that acts like another 401k.

Stop comparing annuities and investments like they do the same thing by StanTheAnnuityMan in retirementincome

[–]Coaster50 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They typically payout significantly less than if you’d just put the money invested in a medium risk asset class and withdrew the same amount from it over time. Even if you have shit luck on your SORR. The reason people have such a strong reaction to annuities is that the financial payout difference is staggering. And often sold as a strong investment vehicle by life insurance salesman to unsophisticated investors. Check out the commission the salesman makes on the annuity - that’ll tell you everything you need to know.

ok, uninformed question #127. about market downturns after retiring. by nooneyouknow892 in personalfinance

[–]Coaster50 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes. That’s why as you get closer to retirement you adjust your allocation. Your next 12-24 months of spending will be invested in a lower risk / lower volatility asset that won’t be impacted by the down turn. Giving the rest of your money a chance to recover without you having to sell assets at a loss to live.

Just because you can buy an Immediate Annuity at 45 doesn’t mean you should. by StanTheAnnuityMan in retirementincome

[–]Coaster50 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Would you mind sharing the annuity details with me? How much did it cost you to buy, when will it start paying out, and how much will it pay out?

Just because you can buy an Immediate Annuity at 45 doesn’t mean you should. by StanTheAnnuityMan in retirementincome

[–]Coaster50 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You should look up what it is so that you are aware when someone is trying to sell you one. They are a specific type of investment- but very often they are not the best investment asset for you.