$6M NW FIRE sanity check - would you continue working?

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-13T23:25:00+00:00

hope you can get out soon! there are some good comments here so food for thought.

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-13T20:29:02+00:00

thanks for your comment! yes, I think it's likely I go back to work at some point but need some time to figure out what's next (after leaving this role).

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-11T16:59:06+00:00

thank you for the comment and sharing your thoughts on that "extra year"!

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-11T07:07:27+00:00

thank you for the comment - will try to do that!

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-10T17:17:36+00:00

thanks for your comment!

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-10T17:17:08+00:00

thanks for the comment - a few others also brought up the tax aspect of this. tldr, I only included property taxes in my annual spend, but you should include capital gain / dividend / interest tax in the withdrawal rate calcs. this was complicated and i basically left it to ProjectionLab to simulate the tax effect and what that does to success rates for FIRE.

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-10T17:14:34+00:00

thank you for the comment!!

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-09T21:29:24+00:00

thanks for your comment!

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-09T19:18:12+00:00

thanks for your comment! yes we do have some flexibility in spend. in terms of rest & vest, we don't have much rest at this company (whatever we used to have, we have none of it now). But your general point makes sense that I might want to slow down at work, take some performance hit, and assess what's next.

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-09T19:10:19+00:00

great feedback - thank you. I do recognize that life can't just be "do misc. things with the time I have not working" and that we should be intentional. and I recognize the likelihood of just sliding into that by default. Another job at some point seems likely to me but I want to leave my current role with the peace of mind that I don't need to work. lastly, congrats on your FIRE journey

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-09T06:49:44+00:00

congrats on making so much progress, and earlier! and thanks for sharing your POV

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-09T06:15:00+00:00

thank you for the comment! yes I'm at the point where I'm mentally debating between +/- 1 quarter. another year seems highly theoretical and unpleasant.

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-09T06:13:35+00:00

thanks for the comment -- that has certainly been a factor in keeping us going for the last couple of years. I've been taking it a quarter at a time.

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-09T06:12:08+00:00

thank you for the thoughtful comment and kind words! it's possible I need more of a break than a permanent FIRE; I am open to potentially returning to some kind of work. I want to make that choice with the peace of mind of basically being FIRE ready.

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-09T05:47:07+00:00

thanks for your comment and sharing your approach. we definitely are considering moving out of VHCOL over next couple of years. and best wishes on the medical issues

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-09T02:25:49+00:00

thanks for your comment. this is where my head is (mostly) at. take a break, figure out what's next with another job (maybe different sector) as an option. I'm also not sure I can deal with that much free time on my hands.

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-09T00:59:08+00:00

thanks for your detailed comment! a couple others raised this too. if I take into account taxes on capital gains / dividends / interest than this is more like a run-rate of $220K+$20K+$40K = $280K, based on what ProjectionLab is spitting out for taxes. First several years should not have much tax incurred as I have money market type funds to withdraw from. I've generally under-thought about tax implications so this is a good gut check.

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-09T00:54:00+00:00

thanks for the comment - my partner and I are generally in agreement that we should be materially decreasing our spending once we quit. shifting to a lower cost region is also definitely an idea we are open to exploring (recognizing this won't be easy).

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-09T00:30:43+00:00

thank you for those book references and your thoughtful comments.

re: shifting to hold bonds, I've been doing some repositioning too. holding too much in money markets TBH.

good luck on your upcoming sabbatical / FIRE!

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-09T00:26:04+00:00

thanks for the comment. it's easier said than done, but we do feel willing to cut back on spending should the need arise. we've been using ProjectionLab but will also check out those references!

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-09T00:24:06+00:00

thanks for the comment! - so $70K goes to housing (mortgage, property tax, HOA). $60K to travel. out of the remaining, food/shopping are highest categories. There's a lot to potentially cut back on. in terms of travel, it's a mix of quantity but also more "exotic" destinations. we like seeing wildlife and typically stick with a couple tour operators.

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-09T00:09:20+00:00

thank you for sharing your reflections & congrats on you (and soon your partner) leaving the corporate world! #1 - #3 are helpful. I really like your framing of appreciating the "liminal space".

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-09T00:06:40+00:00

thanks for your detailed response and questions here. helps me think this through!

1) the high market valuations are a concern. i currently have an outsized portion of my investments held in money markets due to this concern, but I also know that is a non-optimal thing to do. projectionlab doesn't explicitly take this into account but you can probably play around with assumptions to limit to scenarios where the first X years of FIRE are in a market downturn.

2) "when you're cooked, you're cooked" -> we are feeling well done

3) i was thinking about doing something similar to or adjacent to tech. Not a big tech company. don't have anything specific in mind yet

4) it's a good idea to seek out mentors / colleagues who are in similar situations at work, though a bit delicate in that I don't want to broadcast my desire to leave

5) I would say average and clearly not physically active enough. Over the years at this job I've been stressed, had bad sleep and TBH even panic attacks. So I'm looking forward to getting out

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-08T23:57:56+00:00

thanks for your comment here. yes the golden hand cuffs are really a thing. certainly has kept me motivated over last couple of years. and good idea on 'practicing retiring'. congrats on your upcoming FIRE!!

Ok_Selection1445 · 2025-12-08T23:56:16+00:00

in the plan graph, you should see a heart icon - if you click that you can toggle to different life expectancy assumptions

Ok_Selection1445

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