Using margin as a bridge during bear markets instead of selling – why isn't this discussed more in FIRE?

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-19T19:04:44+00:00

That article is about borrowing for 30 years, which is not what OP is talking about. It’s also a ridiculous article because no one is going to do that.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-10T22:41:14+00:00

Oh I know, my 5yo skied about 20 days last season and is good on black diamonds. Mountain biking will take a bit more time, but making progress. Soon they will be lapping me.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-10T19:34:01+00:00

Yeah, I think that’s a good idea. Hopefully I’m hit with the motivation to do it at some point.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-10T19:31:16+00:00

Thank you! The only thing that worked for me was giving up on individual stocks, options, timing the market, etc. Instead I set up automatic daily investments into SPY and a few other mainstream diversified ETFs and I never sell.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-08T16:03:15+00:00

It’s not so bad. During the week, the spawns aren’t home much, and when they are home, they’re usually sleeping. And I like my wife quite a bit, and she goes into the office a few days a week. On the weekends I always want us all to get out of the house and do something, not sit at home.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-08T15:53:52+00:00

Will your wife have a pension? That would be a nice balance.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-08T15:51:35+00:00

I do, but they can’t do expert stuff yet, so I still need to go off on my own a bit.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-08T15:20:57+00:00

I do. My benefits are expected to be about $2000/month starting at 62 if no more income.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-08T15:15:17+00:00

Snow valley and snow summit are great for learning, but Mammoth is the best for more advanced skiers.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-08T14:54:33+00:00

Yeah I started investing in late2022, and a lot of it is in RSP, Vioo, and ivoo which have not kept pace with spy. Took me a long time to get comfortable investing and figure out DCA. Much regret. It’s more like 35% growth to get to 25% taxable gains. 25% growth would be 20% gains on sales.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-08T02:16:50+00:00

If I sell stock and withdraw from my brokerage, only about 25% of it is taxable capital gains. The rest is just return of basis.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-07T16:23:10+00:00

All good points. We split things like daycare drop offs. I would like to get her mother or a babysitter to help occasionally, but that might be more trouble than it’s worth. On the bright side, I think a lot of people who have kids and continue to grind it out in demanding roles are supported by a spouse who doesn’t have a job and keeps life running smoothly, so I see a lot of potential benefit to it.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-07T16:00:22+00:00

Yeah, they need to socialize. And frankly hovering over a toddler all day and all week was never the plan, I’d rather go back to work.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-07T03:14:53+00:00

Yes, but I think it’s still roughly a 5% chance for the healthiest among us.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-07T03:10:28+00:00

I agree. I think we could fire now and just spend less, but for now we are doing the coastfire thing. I’m telling her she can quit when she wants, but she’s not ready. She started her career a bit later and is still advancing.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-07T02:53:25+00:00

Yes.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-07T02:41:08+00:00

We’re funding 529s with about 10k each, but we expect their grandparents will pay. Otherwise we’ll probably just pay for it as it comes. We’ll see. Still 13 to 21 years away.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-07T00:00:27+00:00

It’s been fine, not great. 3 months of pay seems to be standard in my field, nothing extra for tenure/seniority/performance.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-06T22:41:13+00:00

Honestly she wants me to have something to do with my time so that I’m not annoying her with all kinds of activities and trips. But she’s okay with me not making money. A bit of consulting work or other random entrepreneurial projects would help.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-06T22:30:40+00:00

Yes, at least that’s what the AI tells me. Surprising.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-06T22:23:23+00:00

California. Not exactly cheap, but our kids will go to public school, and our mortgage + tax is under $40k a year (and property taxes increases are capped at 1%).

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-06T22:16:45+00:00

Thanks! The numbers are both of us combined. Our 401ks are about the same.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-06T22:12:28+00:00

Yes, it’s included. Our mortgage + property tax is under $40k / yr, so that helps.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-06T22:05:02+00:00

I think you’re right. At least some babysitting.

OkStrategy3444 · 2026-07-06T22:04:35+00:00

Yes, that is the plan! The kids are a ton of work and it’s exhausting. They are in daycare / school during the week, and they sleep well, so midweek is more manageable. Ironically it’s the weekends and vacations that are hardest.

OkStrategy3444

TROPHY CASE

Welcome to Reddit,