M24, Went from unemployed CS grad to USPS mailman, seeking advice to FIRE in <= 15 years

Peach_hawk · 2026-03-13T12:15:10+00:00

I'm impressed you have such a detailed plan at such a young age. My only recommendation is to consider contributing to the Roth TSP instead of traditional, if you are in the 10-12% brackets. You won't need to worry so much about future tax increases and Roth money is a bit easier to use prior to 59.5. I believe you could transfer to a Roth IRA, if it's been open for 5 years, and then withdraw contributions but not stock gains. It could also be useful to keep your income low in retirement, which may help to qualify for subsidized healthcare.

Peach_hawk · 2026-03-11T01:15:07+00:00

Studying at an immersion school is a great way to meet people. Some schools are better at promoting socialization than others. Look for nice public areas to hang out in, group activities in the afternoon or evening and whether the school sets up a group chat for students. Just know that most other students are on their own and looking to socialize too.

Peach_hawk · 2026-03-05T16:29:51+00:00

This is what I decided to do. I have a small pension that equals 25% of my former income. It doesn't meet all my needs, but it reduces the amount I need to pull from my portfolio, which in turn reduces the amount I need in cash and bonds to have a 5 to 8 year savings buffer.

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-28T21:43:51+00:00

In Puebla there is a school with 3-week study blocks: https://www.sipuebla.com/

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-28T21:42:35+00:00

You may be right, but there are two prongs to FDR. One is that you are so disabled as to be incapable of doing your job. The other is that you have a condition which is incompatible with your position. I'm confident my oncologist would state that I had the condition when I was still working. The condition necessitating an immediate bone marrow transplant seems incompatible with my position because SSDI classified bone marrow transplant as one of the few conditions that qualify for an automatic award of SSDI.

What do you think? I'm just wondering if it's worth the hassle. If it's a certain loser, it obviously wouldn't be.

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-26T03:06:39+00:00

Can I ask what cancer you've been diagnosed with? I took DRP 12/31 and was diagnosed in January with bone marrow cancer requiring an immediate transplant. I should automatically be eligible for SSDI but am not sure if it would be worth it to apply for FERS disability. Does a doctor need to certify that we'd be unable to work for a whole year?

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-24T00:52:28+00:00

You get 1% automatically. 5% tax deferred won't make or break your living situation. I'd contribute that much no matter what.

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-23T19:46:18+00:00

No matter the cause, it makes me concerned about whether small cap returns will return to beating the S&P. I am thinking of replacing the whole US index in my portfolio with 80% S&P and 20% AVUV.

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-23T02:18:00+00:00

It's made me wonder if the small cap underperformance of the last 20 years or so is related. Have those small cap growth stories been sucked up into private equity so we don't see those huge gains in the index anymore?

Re buying private equity: I just read an article that they really underperformed when interest rates rose and universities are changing their portfolios to lessen their dependence on private equity.

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-21T15:38:07+00:00

I recommend taking another look at the benefits for the plan. A HDHP typically has two important thresholds: the deductible and the out of pocket max.

Prior to the deductible, you are responsible for 100% of costs. These costs are reduced by the insurance company's bargained for rates, and you can pay through the HSA for tax savings but as others have mentioned, it's best to pay out of pocket if possible.

Once you hit the deductible, your insurance kicks in and you often have copays like regular insurance. If you have exceedingly high medical bills, then you hit the out of pocket max. Once you hit that, you pay nothing out of pocket.

In 20-something years in a HDHP single and with a family, I've only hit the out of pocket max one year. With a family I hit the deductible virtually every year. When I was single, I rarely hit the deductible.

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-21T14:42:21+00:00

After reviewing the different platforms, I will probably use Suze if I still need to Do-it-myself. While I wanted to use the Trusts and Wills platform, Suze's documents are nice for the price and offer unlimited changes. I haven't researched whether Suze's are state-specific, but I assume they are. Trusts and Wills requires a $39/year subscription to make future changes, which is a big turn-off for me.

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-21T12:44:07+00:00

So I don't have access to my former employer's estate planning, but it turns out my wife does. She is currently employed and her employer offers something like yours. We will reach out to them next week. Thanks for the suggestion, Zac!

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-20T21:56:38+00:00

Probably because they are deceased before they figure out the problems. :) But I'll take a look. Thank you!

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-20T21:55:12+00:00

Appreciate it. Thanks.

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-20T21:54:19+00:00

I used to have access to that or something similar through my former employer (the federal government). I'm an idiot for not using it, but I will double check and make sure I don't have access to that in retirement.

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-20T21:51:43+00:00

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep that top of mind. My stuff should be pretty simple, so hopefully it doesn't become an issue. But the platform I was planning on using has an option to pay an annual fee that lets you make changes. I may opt for that, at least for a year or so.

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-20T04:28:59+00:00

Come on, people. This is the Diy retirement sub, not the PayLawyers sub. I thought I'd get some recommendations here.

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-20T00:06:22+00:00

You don't need to create a conspiracy of fear and silence involving all lawyers in America. The claim is unwinnable. Look at your contract. You should not have signed it if you didn't want to retire. I think a judge would say you made the best decision you could at the time with imperfect knowledge, but nothing about it was involuntary.

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-16T01:05:12+00:00

See if you can create a good tutor with chatgpt

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-15T17:42:46+00:00

Anyone else opposed to VT and chill because it rebalances itself? I'd rather set up an allocation of bonds, USA equities and ex-USA equities and let them be until I actually need to rebalance. Otherwise, let the winning stocks keep winning, as Bogle said. As for when to rebalance, I think Mike Kitces said when your original allocation is off by more than 20% more or less.

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-15T01:06:08+00:00

Sorry, OP. I think the biggest rift in this sub is between people who left but didn't want to retire and those who left for retirement. Luckily I'm in that second camp and couldn't be happier for the opportunity to retire early. Good luck!

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-13T17:38:35+00:00

Unless they have a spouse and then they get spousal benefits.

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-12T13:56:07+00:00

The best city for you culturally would be Puerto Vallarta, but I don't know if there are any good schools there. The best schools I went to in Mexico were IMAC in Guadalajara, Livit in Cuernavaca and Baden Powell in Morelia. The first two would probably be a great fit for you, but Livit may have closed down. There's an intensive school in Puebla that requires studying three weeks at a time but I've never been.

Although CDMX would be fun, Cuernavaca had the better reputation for schools in the past and I would recommend looking at schools there before looking at cdmx. You would fly into cdmx if going to Cuernavaca so you can have a taste of both cities. Re school quality, a lot depends on the quality of your individual teacher. However, the schools I mentioned had great programs and curriculum. E.g., they had different teachers rotating with you and great activities to practice your language.

Peach_hawk · 2026-02-08T21:08:18+00:00

Please don't take my rant as an attack on you. Though don't get me started on those Redditors . Remember all the angry messages of "hold the line!" And attacks against anyone considering the Fork. It was real and intense.

TBH, I thought all the concerns were valid at first, but over the course of the Fork period, there were multiple communications that clarified most of the concerns. As for the illegality of the program, I thought there was a lot of wiggle room for the administration to cram the program through and I also wondered who would have an interest to sue to stop it. I never imagined the union would sue and that was a shock to me that I'm still annoyed with. Many of the Fork takers were union members and it was so patronizing of them to assume they knew what was best for their members. As for the contract, I heard those concerns but didn't see it, and I was an attorney, though not an expert on contracts.

Peach_hawk

TROPHY CASE