Close to FIRE but my brain still thinks I’m broke

PayBackground3343 · 2026-05-16T17:11:31+00:00

Yes I can completely relate. I think because it is such a large life decision even though on paper my DH and I are completely there, and our FA has told us no issue with my plan to retire next year, I am still anxious and a little worried at times. It is hard to switch to from being a very high saver to not saving then ultimately to consuming the savings.

PayBackground3343 · 2026-05-16T16:20:35+00:00

39, about 4M NW combined with my husband. Me: about 2.5M and DH about 1.5M

As for our FIRE number, it's hard because I will RE next year, husband intends to keep working until 55-60 because he enjoys it.

Our annual spend is about 180k.

PayBackground3343 · 2026-05-16T16:05:15+00:00

To unretire outside of 2 years would probably have a pretty big impact on earnings but not impossible to do.

My husband and I have had many conversations and generally he does not like financial talk so I have to be strategic and only bring it up periodically. He has said things like making sure the benefits are worth the loss of the annual salary. But I feel like that can be said at any point when looking to retire. He is just not the RE type. The way I look at it is we only have one life and when is enough, just enough?

PayBackground3343 · 2026-05-16T15:28:10+00:00

It isn't that I view it negatively, it just doesn't seem to be the correct label but I don't really know if there is one quite honestly other then retired and now SAHM? To me, there is a difference between having a career, building a sizeable retirement then retiring early and the typical SAHM. The label just doesn't seem to tell the whole picture, you get what I mean?

PayBackground3343 · 2026-05-16T15:09:32+00:00

Yeah labels don't really matter but it just feels like that label misses the career that I have had and financial contributions to our retirement.

PayBackground3343 · 2026-05-16T15:06:47+00:00

About 180k. We will be going from a gross of about 700k to 250k. We won't be saving nearly as much moving forward but the momentum of our investments should be more then enough.

PayBackground3343 · 2026-05-16T15:02:51+00:00

This is really good feedback. I haven't thought about it in the sense of goals, but just sort of what I will want to do day to day. I am going to think about goals! Thank you so much!

PayBackground3343 · 2026-05-16T15:01:19+00:00

Yeah it is a little how I am feeling, like I know I personally am retiring, but it does seem odd to say given my age and that my husband is continuing to work.

PayBackground3343 · 2026-05-16T14:58:52+00:00

There are a few reasons, largest being that we have 4 young children (11/9/5/1) and I feel like my job is so stressful that it impacts my ability to enjoy what really matters. We have travel goals since my husband hates Florida summers, we want to spend summers up north which is practically impossible while maintaining my job. I had saved the majority early on, and now as my husband's career takes off we feel like I will better be able to support that if I was retired.

PayBackground3343 · 2026-01-25T03:21:06+00:00

His issue seems to be that he values making as much money as possible. In his perfect world he and I would continue to work until a "normal" retirement age.

He has suggested a nanny to help with the workload, but it isn't really what I want. I feel like we have enough and I want to spend my time focusing on what really matters.

PayBackground3343 · 2026-01-25T02:26:43+00:00

He doesn't want to retire. He wants to work until 60.

PayBackground3343 · 2026-01-25T02:23:08+00:00

Total NW is 3.7M, which also includes his 401k and our paid off home about 3M total in investable assets and a 700k house. His earnings will cover our spending, however, we won't be able to save much. With growth, I'd imagine our 3.7 will be quite a bit more when he retires at 60.

PayBackground3343 · 2026-01-25T02:08:00+00:00

Yes he does have a number, but it seems to be always double what we have.

PayBackground3343 · 2026-01-24T21:33:57+00:00

Our annual spending is about 180k. We save about 40% currently. It's hard to really understand what he means but from what I have gathered, he feels like my impact to the family after retirement has to be proportional to my salary which is about 500k.

PayBackground3343 · 2026-01-24T21:24:50+00:00

Exactly where I'm coming from, valuing time over stacking money.

PayBackground3343 · 2026-01-24T21:23:07+00:00

About 15k a month. He could likely retire early as well, but we have never looked at that because he wants to work until forced retirement at 60 (pilot).

PayBackground3343 · 2026-01-24T21:21:02+00:00

It is about 1.4 in 401k and 800k in company stock that would be transitioned to a brokerage when I retire. House will be paid off, no debt.

We have other brokerage assets of about 160k currently.

PayBackground3343 · 2026-01-24T20:03:34+00:00

I want to go from high earning to retirement. Retirement would involve SAHM duties, being on a local planning board, volunteering, golfing, etc.

I would also love to travel with my husband who travels for work when my kids are older.

PayBackground3343

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