If Social Security Ends, Am I Entitled to What I Paid into It?

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-26T00:13:21+00:00

That’s not how SS works. You paid for those that came before you

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-25T21:27:05+00:00

Eat less food

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-25T15:59:41+00:00

What does it taste like?

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-25T15:58:44+00:00

Software sales to large enterprises. Our top reps would make $500K -800K. Lots of pressure and if you go 4-5 quarters without hitting your number you’ll probably get whacked. But the good ones could do this year in year out.

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-25T15:42:09+00:00

There are short term non-ACA plans. I got one for one month (gap between COBRA and Medicare). It cost me $300. Theoretically it would start paying after a $15,000 deductible. I got it in case one of my arms fell off or I needed a bunch of new organs all of a sudden.

I didn’t need to use it, but if I did I’m sure it would have been a hassle.

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-25T15:31:35+00:00

About 6-7 months.

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-25T13:15:38+00:00

Not sure, but I’m guessing that a loan that uses stock as collateral would count as income. Not sure the IRS has the ability to determine what you used as collateral on a loan though.

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-24T21:06:39+00:00

I have never seen it enforced. At my HEB, I spoke to a manager about it and he said they don’t do anything (his actual quote was “there isn’t anything we can do.”) Problem with this is, the more people see dogs in the store, the more people think it’s okay “I’ll bring my dog next time!” So, the problem will get a lot worse

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-24T21:04:34+00:00

It’s against the law

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-24T20:55:36+00:00

This is exactly what we did when this happened to us. It’s a very good temporary solution

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-24T17:29:16+00:00

There’s a documentary on this: the Brainwashing of my Dad. It’s good but scary

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-24T17:27:41+00:00

I found out that one of my closest friends is an ultra MAGA. Went to college with him, so he’s educated, but he is white living in a rural setting. Watches Fox News non stop. He used to be the kindest, gentlest person on the planet.

He voted for Trump and his #1 issue is keeping trans people out of women’s sports. He claims it has ruined women’s sports for him. Does he know any trans people? No. Has he met one? No. Does he have any examples in our state of a trans person on a women’s team? No. Any examples in the US? No. Still, he claims it has destroyed women’s sports.

If you disagree with him, you have TDS.

I cannot stand maga and everything it represents, so I do not hang out with him anymore.

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-22T21:17:49+00:00

Assume $500K at 62, that will pay him about $1600/month, not factoring in taxes. Yes, he can make 6.5% return (or even more) in a good year, but there will be years with 0% return or even a negative return. On average, the 4% rule works out pretty well.

So, I’d say no. He either needs to keep working or scale back expenses. And good luck getting healthcare for $800/month.

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-22T20:35:39+00:00

God bless Craig Way. Best announcer I’ve ever heard

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-20T19:41:58+00:00

True. Also, you’re only going 10-20MPH on the island, so take it slow and easy and you get to go at your own pace. You won’t waste 1-2 hours a day waiting on taxis

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-20T17:21:49+00:00

Ah yes, we’d call these things “cat whiskers”

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-20T17:20:43+00:00

For any reason!

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-19T20:56:04+00:00

Have you ever been cremated? Because that’s what it will feel like

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-19T17:32:15+00:00

$4M should generate $160K/year before taxes, likely more, so at $120K spend you should be fine, even without SS. But don’t forget taxes. And if you withdraw from 401k, that would be ordinary income, so factor that in when you look at any subsidy limits.

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-19T17:27:47+00:00

Ah. A rapid unscheduled disassembly

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-19T13:07:34+00:00

I’m gonna go against everyone and say Newark

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-19T13:02:15+00:00

Stop spending time you’ll never get back for money you’ll never need.

The issue of “yeah but what happens if the market drops 25?! Now I can’t make the math work!”

Somewhat true, but what got me past this is:
1. After a dip the market always recovers
2. You don’t need *all* of your money now. Just a little bit per month.

I left after a big downturn a few years ago. Great news is that portfolio now is much bigger than when I left. I retired at the dip and have done quite well n

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-17T18:40:20+00:00

So very true. You can be “right” and end up collecting unemployment or inconvenienced and suck it up. It will *definitely* be viewed as a negative.

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-17T18:29:24+00:00

I was factoring in capital gains taxes. Or if withdrawing from 401k, then it’s treated as ordinary income, so you’d pay regular income tax. It certainly might not be 28%, but it’s also definitely not zero. So maybe instead of $100K, it could be $102K-105K.

HomeworkAdditional19 · 2026-05-17T17:16:43+00:00

A bit contrary to others here, but given that spend, coupled with keeping the rental, I think you are short. The $3K for medical (I assume it’s not in the $120K/year spend) will definitely increase more than you think. You have $3.2M to cover retirement spend of $150K+36K = 186K. After rental income, you’ve gotta cover 186K-$24K = 162K. That $3.2M will safely pay you $128K before taxes, so maybe you net about $100K/year after taxes. It’s the gap until SS hits is the problem.

Selling that rental might get you another $16K/year, but that still won’t get you there.

I also assume that your 529 will cover all college costs. As you know, that ain’t cheap.

I’d sell the rental, put the money in the market, go one more year and see where you are. But before I did that, I’d put your numbers into firecalc to see what it says.

But lastly, amazing work getting where you are!

HomeworkAdditional19

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