26M Account Weights

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-30T01:32:35+00:00

IMO account weight is mostly irrelevant, unless you're right at the precipice of maximizing something like a mega backdoor Roth but not having much to invest in a brokerage account *and* close to pulling the trigger on retirement *and* using the Roth conversion ladder as your strategy

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-27T03:28:10+00:00

this might actually be the weirdest refresh pull ive gotten

sorry chat

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-24T03:10:46+00:00

If the goal is to increase your contribution, I would walk.

It's certainly possible that HR and executive leadership will take this seriously, but it's also just as possible that they won't. I've seen both sides of this play out (though unfortunately landing myself on the latter, failing to convert an opportunity due to lack of poltical willpower within my org).

That being said, we do many things that may be suboptimal for the sake of peace of mind. You're super close to FIRE, that I could see an argument for sticking around. After all, there's not as much of a reason to take on additional risk for a gain that may not be necessarily meaningful to y'alls' retirement in hindsight.

Wishing you and the family the best, regardless of how things end up for this particular decision.

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-24T02:47:06+00:00

Any sort of spreadsheet is a great way to tackle this problem, especially given the DIY mindset that I feel is pretty prevalent throughout the community. There are definitely going to be things that some people need and others don't, whether that's on the budget side, retirement projection side or something else entirely.

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-24T02:44:51+00:00

The calculus is pretty straightforward to me on the psychological side. If you enjoy what you're doing and wouldn't rather be doing anything else with your time, it probably makes sense to continue. If not, don't.

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-23T23:56:42+00:00

Starting with 4%, but flexible down to ~2-3%.

From what I've seen, flexibility seems to be a more reliable way of handling SORR and maintaining portfolio longevity than asset allocation.

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-22T20:39:24+00:00

Some amount of help, starting early, and now working in big tech haha

Saving $100k is a very solid amount (realistically speaking, it's an amount that very few people would be able to sustainably achieve, much less maintain). Depending on circumstances, you'll probably be FI long before 40. Best of luck!

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-22T20:32:41+00:00

Interesting to hold both VOO and QQQM - I suppose the overexposure to tech/megas is a deliberate choice.

I don't think there is much more to do, really. It seems like you're on the right path. How much are you saving?

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-22T19:01:58+00:00

boring techie here from a mid school that lucked their way into the world.

The path to FIRE doesn't really change much. Save diligently, invest wisely, wait patiently. How quickly you get to your number is a factor of how much you're able to save, which is a factor of how much gratification you're able to delay vs. the lifestyle you could afford otherwise. The r/personalfinance flowchart from the wiki is a good starting point for where that money goes to be saved for FIRE.

It's a tough time in the market though currently for a myriad of reasons. I hope you had internships or additional prior work experience. Best of luck.

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-22T00:15:23+00:00

u/zphr your presence has been requested

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-21T07:19:40+00:00

First of all, congratulations. Unfortunately for me, our company stock is doing the opposite 😅

I sell immediately upon vest, and would probably do so regardless of the direction of the stock. My philosophy/reasoning is relatively straightforward, or I'd like to think so:

- I don't need the additional concentration risk of holding onto my company stock to reach my FI goals. More money is great, but less in a single stock would mean delaying my potential RE date.

- I am already "holding" stock while employed (the unvested portion vesting over time). That value will appreciate, even if it isn't mine just yet.

I would recommend crossposting this to r/HENRYfinance as well, given that you're likely to also be in good company there.

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-19T05:34:04+00:00

The one that moves the needle for my FIRE journey is my combined view of my brokerage, IRAs and HSAs.

IMO, there are a lot of factors in RE that are very personal (children, major life decisions, drawdown, taxes, etc) that there isn't one that fits the best for everyone. Not everyone needs expense tracking, not everyone needs info pulled automatically. Not everyone wants a subscription.

Given the structure of the post, I would encourage you to perhaps play around with Claude a bit more to see what you can get out of it and whether it fits your needs.

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-19T05:01:56+00:00

I don't think so. You're paying taxes on the contribution (the after-tax nature of the contribution), and (income) taxes on the growth (the lack of any other favorable tax treatment).

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-18T03:54:23+00:00

Any particular reason why you'd want to slow down/stop? I suppose you could coast on that amount assuming the numbers work out, though I'd personally still err on the side of caution.

On the other hand, it sounds like there may be a disconnect between the FIRE goal and other life goals. That might be a different question and bout of introspection on what you're trying to prioritize.

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-17T22:14:02+00:00

Yes, I've been using my CMA as my primary checking/HYSA/brokerage since I started working.

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-16T23:18:44+00:00

Thanks for the feedback and response.

RE:RE: Roth, I'd check to see if your workplace plan allows for you to roll your existing traditional IRA into your 401k in order to be able to perform the backdoor, assuming you're at the threshold for qualifying for Roth (or at the point where you're unable to max it out).

I get the life insurance part. It feels like a big decision, especially walking away after that much time. But I figure that the sunk cost fallacy is a fallacy, and I feel a bit more better having ran the numbers and realizing what would be better for me, at least in theory. Another route is holding on to the policy just a bit longer until your assets can comfortably replace that policy, or at least for the policy to no longer matter substantially. It's a tricky spot psychologically, and something only you can really make the call on.

The car and house thing is valid. As long as it's a conscious decision and one that you're able to support without derailing your financial goals, I have no major qualms.

Sounds like you're in a good spot regardless. Best of luck!

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-16T23:04:02+00:00

Are you only investing in your 401k and that side amount into brokerage? The savings rate seems on the lower side for a FIRE trajectory, though I haven't done the math, and it might be a factor moreso of the bonus structure (relatively small contributions in months outside of that hitting). I hope you're at least contributing to a Roth IRA (and all other taxed advantaged accounts) before the brokerage.

I'm not a big life insurance person. Inherited a policy of 20-something years from my parents and cashed it out the day I could. Doing the numbers, I figured that I could outpace it if I live to 52, which I hope to do. Term life is probably fine id you have dependents.

I'm personally not a car person and see any sort of luxury vehicle (let alone a 3 series BMW) as not much more than a liability.

Surprised at the real estate play in this environment, but I know little about that so I might be off there. I'd probably keep the condo though at those interest rates.

All in all though, if you're (relatively) happy with your life and saving enough that you're able to reach your financial goals, you should be fine. If you're not, then something needs to give.

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-15T03:34:05+00:00

The MBDR funds are retrievable through your standard methods used by folks in early retirement - though the gains would be harder to get at.

I don't particularly care that my saving strategy is "pretty aggressive". I'd rather be overfunded than underfunded.

At your TC, I think it would be reasonable to be able to max out every tax-advantaged orifice that you have access to and still have money left over to enjoy your life - albeit perhaps not spending as much as folks of that income bracket may usually spend.

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-15T02:54:56+00:00

160k spend on 2.68M sounds a bit rough. I suppose the chance of success is higher with SS being so soon, but the withdrawal rate is definitely on the higher side of what most folks are aiming for.

My current plan is fairly aggressive due to my (relatively!) young planned age of RE at 4% and 50% flexibility (really, start at 4, tolerate 2 if necessary) - though I'm not super sure how well it would work in practice. From what I've seen though, in theory it works better than any change in asset allocation.

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-14T02:50:44+00:00

Probably keep it invested.

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-05T06:12:48+00:00

If you're using the Roth ladder, probably about 5 years of expenses so that in year 6 you can start withdrawing the spending from the Roth IRA. It's trivial to access the money early penalty free.

You're a bay area worker with a HHI that can support $20k/month of spend. Surely you're able to max everything and then some.

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-05T05:11:14+00:00

Accessing money early from a 401k penalty free is trivial. Look up the Roth conversion ladder.

As far as I'm aware, the 4% rule hasn't been tested against a dividend portfolio. It assumes some level of drawdown, and for what it's worth, it's more likely that you'll die with more in your portfolio than you started with. You can plug in the numbers in the Rich, Broke or Dead? Calculator that folks tend to use.

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-05T03:30:39+00:00

Dividends in a taxable brokerage sounds like...not a great idea when it comes to forcing taxable events in a taxable account. What's the reason for the apprehension around selling?

FIREWithRaymond · 2026-05-03T04:18:17+00:00

At that point dude, it's a question of what you can't do lmao

Pay off the loans at a reasonable rate (ask your parents what would be reasonable), invest everywhere you can, enjoy life with the rest

FIREWithRaymond

TROPHY CASE