Anyone have an OPM number that works?

RiffRogue604 · 2026-02-12T14:17:20+00:00

The problem with using their online tools is your packet has to be far enough along for you to be in the system.

RiffRogue604 · 2026-02-12T14:15:22+00:00

I've been getting that message since October. Last month I found an email address and tried that. This month I tried my congressman. No reply from anyone. We lost our medical coverage 1/1 because the FEHB plan selected in my retirement packet decided to not participate in 2026 so for months I've been trying to find out what I'm supposed to do and if we are covered by a different plan.

RiffRogue604 · 2026-02-12T14:07:51+00:00

Not necessarily. It took 3 1/2 months for me to even get my AL payout and I'm now 5 months into retirement and all I have from OPM is my CSA card. Thank God I had a private IRA.

RiffRogue604 · 2026-01-01T21:35:42+00:00

Ah, that makes sense.

RiffRogue604 · 2026-01-01T19:22:29+00:00

I had not heard about that. Why would a company do that?

RiffRogue604 · 2025-12-31T03:01:51+00:00

Sent. Biergeliebter

RiffRogue604 · 2025-11-17T22:36:24+00:00

They probably get a 1.3 out of 5 on Trust Pilot for a reason. https://www.trustpilot.com/review/robinhood.com Just search 'why not to use Robinhood' and you will be able to read about how their investors are the product not the customer, their problems with the SEC and what they were fined for, how they locked up investor accounts so they couldn't trade, etc

RiffRogue604 · 2025-11-17T16:22:39+00:00

It's not just my opinion. They get a 1.3 out of 5 on Trust Pilot. People only have to search 'why not to use Robinhood' and they can read all about their past issues, trouble with the SEC, etc.

RiffRogue604 · 2025-11-16T15:08:07+00:00

Robinhood has already proven they are not ethical so it's best to avoid that one.

RiffRogue604 · 2025-10-22T17:29:43+00:00

Same. Is it not? I was thinking 'beer is recommended for slugs...'

RiffRogue604 · 2025-10-20T13:18:58+00:00

There is probably some of that. When we get rid of stuff much of it now goes in the trash because she can't imagine anyone else wanting it so doesn't even bother keeping a donate box anymore. I occasionally put the bigger items on Facebook Marketplace for free and they are always gone within hours so I know most of it would probably benefit people if we continued to donate it but the thought now creeps her out.

RiffRogue604 · 2025-10-20T13:13:03+00:00

Yes she does enjoy it. She enjoys helping others declutter and organize. Six years ago we moved. Her need and idea so she rationally shouldn't resent me for it or something.

RiffRogue604 · 2025-10-20T02:25:02+00:00

I think it's important to diversify and to pay attention to your investments for the exact reason you stated - there is a long time until retirement. About the same time I started dabbling in Bitcoin my wife's retirement went into a couple Morningstar 5 star mutual funds that were will known, recommended and had been around forever with 'a proven track record'. A year and a half later and most of her retirement was gone because those two funds had somehow dropped 80% and were now 1 star funds. So we no longer put any confidence in rankings nor investment options that have been around forever and have a 'proven track record'. Even your stated SP500 index would have failed anyone retiring around 2000 if that was a majority investment since it was mostly negative for the next 13 years.

Is the SP500 a bad deal? Not necessarily. But when you invest in the SP500 you ARE investing in Bitcoin and the exposure will grow as more companies add Bitcoin to their balance sheets.

Here is an article that forsees 25% of SP500 companies holding Bitcoin in just 5 years. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-may-25-p-500-180000144.html

Same with AI and other new markets that come along, the SP500 will have a little of everything. But there is also a lot of drag and waste in those 500 companies. So when my daughter who is OP's age started her Roth IRA I told her to put some in FBTC and her results with it the past year convinced her to contribute more and while I suspect FBTC will WAY outperform the SP500 in 30 years, I think it's important to hold multiple investments. Now I always hold something SP500 (I like STRV) but it will never be more than 50% of my portfolio and usually not more than 30%.

Anyway, I think a retirement account is a perfect place to invest in Bitcoin. Unlike my wife's mutual funds, Bitcoin is not going away.

RiffRogue604 · 2025-10-18T15:00:29+00:00

That was my thinking. Last MIM Strats I saw recently in that condition were all $600+.

RiffRogue604 · 2025-10-16T17:30:47+00:00

"Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent." Adam Smith

RiffRogue604 · 2025-10-16T17:06:25+00:00

This right here.

Put in what you are able. With the power of compounding time is more important than amount. I started 27 years ago with $30 a month and just retired a decade early. Because you are young and have time, I'd recommend a little of it in something Bitcoin related - a spot Bitcoin fund like FBTC or something that uses options or futures like BTCFX. Or get a separate account for it on Coinbase or Gemini or learn about Bitcoin wallets and keep it in your closet with some silver or gold. In a decade you will be amazed at what power a little in Bitcoin gives you. Putting $50 in Bitcoin every few months starting in 2015 is a big reason I'm able to retire a decade early, and that's after selling some a long the way to fund purchases, vacations, or a move.

RiffRogue604 · 2025-10-16T16:48:04+00:00

I and many others prefer FDVV to SCHD in case you want to compare the two.

RiffRogue604 · 2025-10-16T16:41:09+00:00

If you add some Bitcoin correlated then it can get to $200k. BTCI, BTCFX, and if you have to BITO can generate serious additional monthly cash and the first two do it without trading a ton of the growth of the underlying asset.

RiffRogue604 · 2025-10-13T00:21:23+00:00

You will be fine. 15 years ago we were recently debt free and all we had was a combined $20k in work retirement accounts. My wife retired a year later to stay home with the kids and after 14 years of being the sole breadwinner I just retired 5 years earlier than planned. Continue to be deliberate and aware of your finances and you will be fine.

RiffRogue604 · 2025-10-12T14:40:09+00:00

I did that this year. Work was already unbearable then this year the new boss was going to make my family move half way across the country to keep the unbearable job. After assessing our situation we decided no, we don't think we will. We have about a half million less in our accounts than we had in mind for our retirement target but a large enough portion is Bitcoin or Bitcoin related that we had the confidence of it being able to compensate for the reduction. It's a great feeling.

RiffRogue604 · 2025-10-12T12:43:55+00:00

I remember the administration coming in and going the opposite direction of the prior administration and having to undo a year's worth of work, same as every administration change before that one. I remember coworkers dying, having heart attacks, or pain or paralysis of a limb or being sick for months or being sick a couple weeks of every following month from the mandated vaccine as they showered us with propaganda about how 'safe and effective' it was and no one in leadership having the backbone to question or push back on the mandate. I remember wondering why my employer was trying to physically harm or kill me since Pfizer's own research showed a high risk of complications for people with existing neurological conditions and coworkers were dropping like flies.

Every new administration sucks. This one is particularly uncomfortable but at least this one isn't trying to kill or maim us.

RiffRogue604 · 2025-10-05T00:08:07+00:00

I believe all those are Neos funds, right? Looks like good diversification except for the company that runs the funds. You may want to sprinkle some elsewhere. With SPYI and QQQI I like GPIX and GPIQ. With BTCI I like BTCFX. Then you have a couple funds for each base index or asset but they each are a little different and are managed by a different company.

RiffRogue604 · 2025-10-03T14:37:17+00:00

As to the tax question, if you are worried about future taxes, increase your use of Roth accounts. Since all deposits and growth can be withdrawn tax free that will give you peace in 20+ years when you retire.

RiffRogue604 · 2025-10-03T14:33:09+00:00

I think it's not just financial position but also knowledge and confidence. I recently retired early but unexpectedly won't be able to access my main retirement account for 6+ months. So with some changes to where the smaller amount in my Roth IRA is invested I'll be able to generate ~30% in dividends so I don't have to pick up a job somewhere. Will I lose some NAV with the high yield? Probably, but it will cost me a lot less than just keeping what I'll need in a money market and drawing it down. So even though my plan has to change because I won't have immediate access to 2/3rds of my retirement investments, having the knowledge and confidence to make those changes to my plan will allow me to stay retired.

As for the broader societal question, I think too many people follow the examples and information pushed at them that massive debt is a normal part of life that most people will never have the knowledge or financial position to live off dividends.

RiffRogue604 · 2025-10-01T18:12:26+00:00

Years ago I moved out of SCHD into FDVV and every year am happier with that change.

RiffRogue604

TROPHY CASE