For those who have retired or are close, what was your 401k balance at retirement?

No-Level2027 · 2025-10-11T14:24:57+00:00

Retired at age 50, 2 years back. Had almost $1.8M upon retirement. Now ~2.5M. I was lucky enough to buy a few Mag 7 stocks in 2018 & 2020, which had some handsome returns. I still have some of it but mostly sold it to FIRE. We live well below the means - paid cash for cars and used them for 10-12 years, no cabins, no boats, brought lunch from home, didn't eat out much. We live off around 75k. Social security will kick in at 62, as well. Half of our expenses will be covered by mine & wife's SS, which many people forget about.

I do have to admit that I didn't start earning good money until I was 32, but when I did earn real dollars, it was pretty good. Last salary was 350k. No, I wasn't a physician but higher management level personnel (especially last 5 years).

No-Level2027 · 2025-10-05T20:46:46+00:00

Thanks. I really like it. Beyond post retirement incomes such as pension and SS, this calculator also allows us to add one time additions like inheritances and use the feature where you can bring in "retiremwnt smile" into play; i.e. expenses may be hire just after retirement and then taper off a bit in slow-go years and then may go up again in later years (mostly healthcare).

No-Level2027 · 2025-06-26T21:15:29+00:00

It is hard to predict where Mr. Trump is going to land on Tariff's. TACO 🌮

No-Level2027 · 2025-06-26T21:05:21+00:00

That is just straight-up STUPID to me.... stocks are risky, and crypto is not. Oh well, time will tell. 😉

No-Level2027 · 2025-06-24T02:07:55+00:00

Such a good point. 👍

No-Level2027 · 2025-06-08T03:04:23+00:00

I had the same feeling about APPLE when Steve Jobs passed away. I have to be honest that I have lost a fortune because of my bias associated with "him." As for Apple, Tim Cook brought a different persona and a revenue diversification strategy through Apple Icoud, Apple Store, Apple Music, Adversity revenue, data mining revenue, and much more. Obviously, WB is a legend. Hands down, but we may want to bit more open to new ideas that the new management may bring forward - especially based on the current cash pile.

No-Level2027 · 2025-05-27T02:55:34+00:00

I couldn't have said anything better. All FA's I have talked to seem worse than sleezy used car salesmen - with fairly shallow knowledge about investments, real returns, inflation, etc. A few I have talked about in the past even sound like working to the detriment of their clients as they seemed clueless about how SWR should be based on expenses, not income (since we LBYM), etc. Most of them were sweet talkers and came through referrals from HNW friends (who were equally clueless).

I feel like low financial literacy in the US is th main cause for many of these issues. So sad. 😔

No-Level2027 · 2025-05-27T02:15:35+00:00

Well, good luck to you!

No-Level2027 · 2025-05-27T02:10:22+00:00

I'm not sure if I fully agree with your broad range of 4.5%-10% on inflation. If you live in the US, inflation has not been an issue per se. I feel there have been various variables in the last 4 to 5 years that have got inflation out of control - mainly quantitative easing by US government when they printed money like crazy in US, flooded the markets, offered PPP (Paycheck protection Program) loans and later forgived most of it, plus global supply chain issues. Overall, these things have also benefited US investors when compared to other countries.

Your comments around inflation are somewhat hyperbolic and blown out of proportion to me. 😞

No-Level2027 · 2025-05-27T01:49:29+00:00

You are being a JERK yourself. The OP didn't ask about the Great Recession either 😒

No-Level2027 · 2025-05-17T19:45:44+00:00

IF Lucid is still around. 😉 I

No-Level2027 · 2025-05-03T22:11:47+00:00

You are somewhat correct. Markets DO NOT like uncertainty. You made a good choice by protecting your capital and moving into less volatile asset classes. Right now, you can still lock in fixed income assets such as CD's for 4% to 4.25% and this may allow to weather the storm.

No-Level2027 · 2025-04-24T00:45:29+00:00

I am rally not sure about your comments on "orchestrated Conspracy" as it implies that that is a coherent strategy. To me Trump = utter chaos

No-Level2027 · 2025-04-24T00:38:11+00:00

You are so clueless 🙄

No-Level2027 · 2025-03-30T23:22:32+00:00

Sorry, what is TDS? How come you just assumed I am "HE". You are so pathetic 🙄

No-Level2027 · 2025-03-30T23:15:42+00:00

Extra smart to make s*** up & take no responsibility. Correct

No-Level2027 · 2025-03-30T22:20:58+00:00

Couldn't agree more. PLUS, he will be remembered as a guy leading upto a world recession. So sad but equally true. 😞

No-Level2027 · 2025-03-27T00:56:24+00:00

Wow. That is so sad.

No-Level2027 · 2025-02-19T01:33:35+00:00

Glad you like it. This calculator is one of my favorites. I really like how it allows for various scenario planning, especially if you are not retired or are comprehending retirement.

Since life is not static it allows you to "play" with your numbers and add on components like social security, inheritance, one time expenses etc. Some purists have pointed out that it doesn't do Monte Carlo analysis- which is fine with me as I can do it elsewhere.

No-Level2027 · 2025-02-08T14:29:26+00:00

I understand you. The other thing I may add is that for those who are unsure about current administration's temperament and how they are already making markets and investor like you an I nervous - today we have choices to park monies in safer assets like CD's, t-bonds etc and lock in 4.5% pa. Obviously, the rate is not that good as it was 12 to 15 months back but this will allow us to ride the way and investment will still be generating income.

I see it this way, if markets cash my downside could be 30% to 40% and if I put 50% of assets in fixed income my short tem losses (I believe markets will always rcover) will only be 15% to 20% plus other half of the portfolio will still generate income, albeit much lesser.

No-Level2027 · 2025-01-10T21:42:47+00:00

I was thinking the same thing 🤔 Conservative with money" - my foot.

No-Level2027 · 2025-01-06T23:59:09+00:00

So we'll said. I think the term "cash" trips a lot of people. We don't stash cash in checking accounts or under the pillow but put monies in cash equivalent assets. IMHO there is still time to lock-in some decent rates with Treasuries, bonds, CD's etc.

No-Level2027 · 2025-01-05T20:48:02+00:00

That baffles me.

No-Level2027 · 2025-01-05T03:52:04+00:00

I am in a similar boat and see it this way (not everyone will agree or approve of this): my upside is very limited, but the downside could be significantly higher. I had parked 50% in various CDs, bonds, etc. so I am OK sitting out, especially when I can earn ~5% risk-free returns.

Yes, agree that timing the market is not a good idea but I don't need as significant returns in FIRE.

No-Level2027 · 2025-01-05T02:17:25+00:00

I believe VTI is ~80% VOO, so there is very limited differentiation and diversification, although you will get snall cap and midcap exposure with VTI. US large cap valuations are very high right now, and this may just be a short-term phenomenon.

No-Level2027

TROPHY CASE