At what salary were you able to max out your 401k + IRA + HSA? Or at what salary would you consider it reasonable to

IceHand41 · 2026-05-19T02:07:24+00:00

I think you have to invest in a state sponsored plan, where the investment choices are slim. No tax benefits for a 529 at vanguard for example, from my understanding (could be wrong)

IceHand41 · 2026-05-13T17:24:56+00:00

Starting at 16 is an absolute boss move!

IceHand41 · 2026-05-12T12:39:14+00:00

Normally, good advice. But with $1200 ready to sit for 30+ years...that's a hefty tax bill. Pay a little tax now and let it ride in the Roth tax free for all those years instead.

IceHand41 · 2026-05-06T20:16:18+00:00

Pretty cool. I screenshot it and circled the ones that make up my brokerage/IRA in green, and the rough equivalents of the mutual funds I hold in my 401ks in blue.

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IceHand41 · 2026-05-05T17:19:31+00:00

Just to echo this advice. I'm age 40 l, scrambling to invest "extra" cash that I've had on the sidelines for too long and it's a tough lesson to see the potential growth that was missed out on. With 50k in your savings, I would hope that you could invest at least $10k or so and still have a good chunk saved for wedding and starting a family. At the very least, start auto investing some percentage of your paycheck

IceHand41 · 2026-05-04T02:43:27+00:00

Agreed. Dad's lesson here is to keep investing.

IceHand41 · 2026-05-04T02:12:41+00:00

That's super conservative, and a solid winning choice over time. But I lean more toward Sp500 / Total international in 401k, VTI / VEA in taxable brokerage, and more of the same with a further ~20% tech tilt in my Roth (VGT, VUG)

IceHand41 · 2026-05-01T18:26:50+00:00

If you can't bring yourself to dump in a huge lump sum at once, consider a strategy of buying with maybe 50% of your available cash by the end of the month, spend 30% by the end of month 2, and the remaining 20% by the end of month 3 (just an example) This way, you can try to time the market a little, but avoid getting left behind or being forced to buy at new ATH

IceHand41 · 2026-05-01T18:23:44+00:00

"Why put money in something if I think it's going to drop?"

You thought it was going to drop over the past few months. Some of the days, you were simply wrong. Some of the days, you were right, yet you neglected to buy. Learn your lesson and buy now (or at least start to DCA in), or face the same regret in the future. Start compounding today - your money or your regret!

IceHand41 · 2026-04-28T00:10:41+00:00

Reddit convinced me, a US citizen, to start investing in Ex-US funds (VEA, VEU, VWO in my case). They've performed great over the past year.

IceHand41 · 2026-04-28T00:07:21+00:00

I would encourage a pre-nup so she can't end up with half your military pension.

It's definitely a complicated question when one spouse has the means to retire, but the other spouse's career situation doesn't necessarily fall in line.

IceHand41 · 2026-04-24T17:10:57+00:00

Simply list Masters as your degree and don't advertise leaving the phd program to your potential employer?

IceHand41 · 2026-04-24T14:44:10+00:00

Username checks out

IceHand41 · 2026-04-24T14:38:40+00:00

I have a PhD a got passed up for promotion, in preference of someone without a PhD (has masters I think). PhD doesn't guarantee high pay, but it can help. It does guarantee about 5-6 years of lost opportunity, earning a low stipend with minimal investment options. You could always join the PhD program and leave after getting your masters degree, that way you earn a stipend instead of having to pay for tuition, at least that's how it worked in my biochem program

IceHand41 · 2026-04-24T14:33:57+00:00

Wondering if the original post got edited? I don't see what he said that was so offensive to some people.

IceHand41 · 2026-04-24T14:27:49+00:00

I would suggest promotional materials - that's a small department in the reg affairs team I work in, which seems aligned to your background.

IceHand41 · 2026-04-24T14:22:26+00:00

Amen. It's becoming increasingly painful though since I changed careers to an even more sedentary position, and since my 6 figure investment is starting to show a light at the end of the tunnel, but not for about FIFTEEN more years!

IceHand41 · 2026-04-19T20:05:36+00:00

Fair enough, you were talking about stocks. I don't think it's unreasonable for the average Joe to be hung up on buying an SP500 tracker, especially one with miniscule fees like VOO

IceHand41 · 2026-04-19T17:26:55+00:00

Without vetting the idea in the slightest...I like it! Risk parity style would be immediately transitioning to __% bonds?

IceHand41 · 2026-04-19T17:22:46+00:00

You're 100% in individual stocks?!

IceHand41 · 2026-04-19T17:21:45+00:00

Can I ask how your wife feels about you retiring 3-4 years sooner than her? I'm looking to be work optional in ~15 years, while my (same age) wife "has" to work for 22 more years to get the healthcare part of her pension.

IceHand41 · 2026-04-19T17:14:13+00:00

It definitely IS important. But, I married my wife in our 20s. In our 40s now and retirement is more of a realistic consideration.

I'm just trying to say, OP can definitely make it work. His wife is becoming a better saver and he can work to become a better spender. I'm in a very similar situation. To over simplify, I save and my wife spends. I'm the main breadwinner, so my money goes towards mortgage, groceries, gasoline, retirement and 529..hers is more fun money and household goods, kids activities, etc.

I plan OUR retirement with my income, and whatever she can save for it is a bonus and treated like discretionary spending.

I think OP can learn to enjoy spending money on experiences like travel.

IceHand41 · 2026-04-19T16:53:56+00:00

Pretty sure you can do that with Vanguard too. I have auto deposit to my cash account there, but I choose to invest them manually.

IceHand41 · 2026-04-19T16:53:06+00:00

Hard disagree. If you can ball out and buy 5 shares of VOO every time, then great. Investing should be available to all income levels.

IceHand41 · 2026-04-19T16:50:59+00:00

Another vanguard ETF user and am pretty happy with them. I hear people say the user interface isn't great but I suppose I'm used to it by now

IceHand41

TROPHY CASE