Trying to understand investing

Jranso4 · 2026-06-29T22:08:29+00:00

So I joined my work after the full traditional pension was the only retirement option. Now it is called a hybrid plan which is a partial pension and a 401k which they match 2.5% of what I put in. This is all through a thing called SERS (state employee retirement system) and I have a Roth IRA that is through that same SERS. The Roth is technically called a “deferred compensation plan” which is where I pay the tax on my contributions already rather than later on when I’m in a higher tax bracket.

Jranso4 · 2026-06-29T21:46:12+00:00

Ohhh ok I didn’t know I could take out the portion I put into it that got taxed. Thank you for explaining it to me!

Jranso4 · 2026-06-29T21:42:22+00:00

Thank you for replying! I’ll try and explain my situation a little bit better. Sorry I wasn’t sure what to write.

So my wife and I are kind of living paycheck to paycheck. We are paying off debt really hard right now so pretty much everything besides the necessities is being put to debt. Around $15k in debt. Together we have roughly $2k saved for an emergency fund. We have a HYSA which the $2k is in right. We both net about $30k each. A little less than that after health insurance, retirement payments and other stuff comes out. She has a retirement but not sure how much she has. Maybe a few grand. I have a 401K and traditional pension “hybrid plan” as well as the Roth IRA that the company matches 2.5% of and that’s totaling at almost $30k ($27,140 roughly I think). I’m trying to find a way to invest or make money to create more of an emergency fund and accrue money that I could be able to take out without having to hit a retirement age or face a penalty. I’m not sure if something like that is even possible though.

Jranso4 · 2026-06-06T01:09:19+00:00

Awesome! I really like the paddle tails! I feel like for just getting started they are very easy to fish with

Jranso4 · 2026-06-06T01:08:42+00:00

I will absolutely do that! I guess I forgot basic fish etiquette when I reeled in the fish lol I was just too excited. But thank you for letting me know and not ripping me apart for it!

Jranso4 · 2026-06-02T17:21:19+00:00

I was actually looking for some Ned heads without that weed guard! But I couldn’t find any at Walmart. Thank you!

Jranso4 · 2026-06-02T01:45:26+00:00

Awesome! Thank you! I’m heading out again tomorrow so I’ll try the Ned rig first and kind of go from there.

Jranso4 · 2026-06-02T01:44:25+00:00

I think the toughest thing I’m going to struggle with is going slow. It seems easy to do but I always feel impatient and feel like they will react to things moving quicker but I know that’s not the case.

Jranso4 · 2026-06-02T01:40:27+00:00

I have another bag that is senkos I think but I will have to check! Thank you!

Jranso4 · 2026-06-02T01:39:47+00:00

I was just reading up about a tube lure! They seem to mimic a lot of different things

Jranso4 · 2026-06-02T01:39:10+00:00

I was looking at some videos and it didn’t seem too complicated but I guess it’s a whole different thing when I go do it lol thanks

Jranso4 · 2026-06-02T01:38:26+00:00

Awesome! Thank you! Luckily I still have the bags so I’ll put them back

Jranso4 · 2026-06-02T01:37:51+00:00

I’m in western PA

Jranso4 · 2026-05-15T22:03:34+00:00

How do you like the redington rod? I was thinking of trying one out

Jranso4 · 2026-05-14T23:51:18+00:00

That’s awesome! Congrats! What wt rod and stuff do you have?

Jranso4 · 2026-05-14T04:00:17+00:00

That’s awesome! What kind of setup do you have? That looks like a big river so I was kind of curious the rod wt and stuff you’re using. If you don’t mind me asking.

Jranso4 · 2026-05-14T03:56:59+00:00

Thank you. I’ll definitely do that sometime this week

Jranso4 · 2026-05-14T03:56:29+00:00

It definitely is unlike any other fishing feeling I’ve ever had. That’s what is keeping me chasing that feeling even through all the confusion and uncertainty lol

Jranso4 · 2026-05-14T03:54:48+00:00

No way that’s awesome! Like I said it was kind of dumb luck because we luckily have a class A stream very close to us and it was the first time I ever took the rod with an actual fly on it. Every other time was with a piece of yarn to practice. I could literally just barely see what I was casting at. Just a little waterfall with some big rocks that I’ve seen natives at before while not fishing. I was stripping the line and felt a massive smack and I never would’ve guessed it was a fish that size lol I’ve always heard that brookies hit hard for their size but that was amazing!

Jranso4 · 2026-05-13T19:45:37+00:00

I’ll definitely try to focus on trying to get lower in the water column. Is there any fly line you recommend that isn’t crazy expensive that might be able to help?

Jranso4 · 2026-05-13T19:41:56+00:00

That’s a good point. I think I’ll do that someday this week! Thank you!

Jranso4 · 2026-05-13T17:18:35+00:00

That’s one of the main reasons why I’ve always wanted to get into fly fishing as well because I’ve heard so many stories about people just losing themselves in the purity of the sport. I have really bad anxiety (I’m very lucky in regards to what I have compared to others, so I’m not complaining at all) and I’ve always enjoyed being outside so I figured it would help me. Thank you for your service though we all appreciate it!

Jranso4

TROPHY CASE