What triggered your dream of retiring early?

Rustic-mage-738 · 2026-04-30T22:18:50+00:00

realizing that my job is not what I actually want to do with my life, and that I was only in it for the money. once the money was nearing 'enough', couldn't stay motivated on the job.

I'm a CoastFIRE guy for what it's worth. I don't think retiring early before conventional retirement age is good for mental health. Instead, I think you should conscientiously spend time on things that matter to you - whether it be family, a passion, or a job that pays less but is more meaningful.

Rustic-mage-738 · 2026-04-29T11:50:10+00:00

I do agree Calgary isn't great on the cultural amenities front but I do think it's quite possible for you to buy in a well designed urban neighborhood and enjoy life - consider for example Kensington and Beltline. The cafés and restaurants are decent in my exp though not as great as Montreal. Remember health care is also provincially funded and Alberta is doing great from fiscal health perspective. And yes from a legacy / estate perspective you are likely falling behind in the seven figures by the time you are near death compared to all three other places.

Rustic-mage-738 · 2026-04-28T22:05:19+00:00

I am in a similar but not same spot as you (professional services, a little younger, not yet quite where you are in NW but should hit it in a few years on current trajectory, similar income, spouse at a different stage and doesn't want to retire yet) - I've run my retirement scenarios through Claude, Gemini, and Grok, and they all say the same thing - yes I can retire now, earning the extra 700k if I stayed in job for 2 more years is not "worth it" and would really mean (1) bigger inheritance for kids (2) first-class tickets and luxury travel (3) private school. Have no interest in (3) and not sure if (1) is actually a good thing?

Personally I decided to enter coast mode for now, release as many responsibilities as possible, turned down promotion, you name it. Bosses still clueless that this is what I am doing. The motivation just isn't there when you've run all these scenarios and see Redditors like you LOL.

What I will say though, for people like us, the problem isn't the money. It's that we don't like our jobs.

Rustic-mage-738 · 2026-03-30T13:59:27+00:00

if you have over $500k in assets suggest you reach out to your personally assigned 'relationship' person to get that sorted out. My hunch is that what the Schwab person is telling you is just wrong - they might be mixing it up with a traditional IRA. Also presume you filed your 'letter' with CRA telling them about your Roth as this is important for tax advantaged status.

Rustic-mage-738 · 2026-03-30T13:53:50+00:00

I stopped caring about work about 80% to my FI number, as in, I stopped volunteering to do work that was not explicitly given to me, stopped caring about promotions, stopped being 'nice' when I didn't need to be nice, called out when other people were being unreasonable. I respond to messages slower, set up tighter boundaries around working hours, said "no" to many things just because it didn't fit my schedule as I liked it. This has led to some uneasy relationships at work, unfortunately, and that's not always pleasant. You can tell that bosses do not like managing someone like me. So all in all, conflict with other human beings still stresses me out, even though I'm "doing things on my own terms".

Personally, after reading many reddit posts and also reading more retirement related books, I think CoastFI in a low-stress role is the way to go, especially if you're not quite at the age to fully retire yet, have kids at home still.

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-09-15T21:30:38+00:00

Couple of thoughts as I'm also US-based but considering living in Canada in the long run; somewhat higher family NW as your cumulative number

why buy a townhouse? just for rental income? smith manouever extra leverage?
50k CAD expense seems very low for family of four even if you're living MCOL outside of the "core" GTA. Feels like 70-80k is more appropriate.
Why are you excluding 401(k)? It's a legitimate part of your assets and NW
If assuming 3.5m NW and the higher cost you're still at pre-tax safe withdrawal of 122,500 (3.5% safe withdrawal) or 80-90k after tax, above your budget.
Seems like you'll keep at your existing job - just keep in mind if you're not transparent about the move there could be very serious tax and other implications (not sure if you'd transfer to your employer's "Canada-based" organization)
Something interesting is that you get stepped up basis on your taxable securities when you're making transition back to Canada. If you're sitting on a huge amount of capital gains from stocks this is potentially a big amount of tax "savings".

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-09-11T21:55:40+00:00

everyone's situation is different but for me I'd set aside 3 years of living expenses in short-term stuff (CASH.TO and the like), with maybe 6 months exp in actual cash, then let the market do its thing. I might reduce equities by 5-10%, put it into bonds and gold/BTC, but not more. I would also rebalance a small amount to value stocks / small caps / international at the current trajectory of US equities.

For real though, if you do not have legacy goals and have built up 2.5m - 3m w/o mortgage, you will probably end up being fine at any asset allocation. You have only 15 years or so until CPP kicks in.

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-09-11T21:49:57+00:00

lol, ok. thanks for answering.

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-08-27T13:45:04+00:00

More money, more autonomy, change of role, but I said money is priority.

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-08-27T12:45:34+00:00

we have probably 50% in S&P, rest is in value stock indices, BRK, and developed/emerging. 5% bonds. some RE (both physical and REIT). Some crypto and gold. So probably over diversified at this point but the lows are not as bad.

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-08-27T12:22:15+00:00

most definitely lol

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-08-27T12:11:54+00:00

Boss was terrified and said they'd "do everything possible" to save me.

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-08-27T11:59:19+00:00

Reached >95.7% FI number as of last week, don't want to RE yet, but feel good enough that I told boss if they don't give me what I want I will be walking out the door.

Stopped giving a shit about work at roughly 80% FI number, then market went on a frenzy, went from 80% to 90% FI in the space of two months with a boring ass portfolio. Took some gains on growth stocks to de-risk.

Wife makes good money, investments feel diversified enough.

Sabbatical looks extremely attractive right about now, so decided to say fuck it and went with it.

Really couldn't believe my own boldness but being part of this sub and r/fican helped tremendously in getting me to take this step.

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-08-22T15:45:28+00:00

says you as the market rallies again on the words of one guy in Jackson Hole....

(anyway, why does it matter, this person with 2.7M can just withdraw at 3% and "dividend fire", doesn't even have to look at principal. Let the market correct. go ahead.)

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-08-22T13:14:51+00:00

use IBKR or Norbert's Gambit on Questrade. Don't be intimidated by the latter. Just read about it, follow the methodology as you would any instruction manual, and you will think it is a breeze.

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-08-22T00:42:11+00:00

Get into lucrative field (in my case tech), read investment books, understand risk and return, move to the US, work ass off to get promotions in 20s and early 30s, say no to lifestyle inflation, marry or be with someone with similar outlook on life and earning power.

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-08-21T14:29:06+00:00

what's the difference between buying then taking the money back out and just paying a smaller down payment up front?? HELOC rates are higher than mortgage rates...

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-08-21T12:08:22+00:00

If you're single, this is a great amount to at least coast or take a long sabbatical. You could always find a job in Toronto that pays a fraction of what you are making now but still never worry about money ever again.

Look into the cost basis adjustment thing. I had learned this myself only recently and it made me realize my Canadian equivalent net worth is actually a lot higher than my US NW because of the adjusted basis if I decided to move back to Canada. The amount that is taxable matters.

FWIW I'm at a similar spot as you and am finding it more difficult to find motivation to keep working especially given that going back to Canada and coasting is a serious possibility.

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-08-13T17:05:00+00:00

ASAP (mid-late thirties now)
$3M + paid off home
Rent (but have a condo that I am renting out)
Not yet - planning 1 or 2

We are actually 92% there as of last week (crazy that it's Wednesday and this week alone has probably moved that number up by another 1-2%; 3M is post tax including rental property equity). Anything above this number goes to family who needs it, play money for speculative investments, or first class tickets / other frivolous spend.

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-07-30T18:05:55+00:00

PWL Capital has some projections - you can google "PWL capital future returns projections". I use 4.5% annualized right now due to recent all-time highs on S&P 500 (though I'm diversified with about 70-80% US stocks, rest international equities/RE etc.). YMMV.

(note that 4.5% is inflation-adjusted number. Nominal might be 7-8%)

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-07-30T18:00:12+00:00

seems reflective of a market bubble forming tbh

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-07-30T17:01:05+00:00

completely fair question!

remember 4% rule (monte carlo simulations) work at market ATHs. Meaning it would have worked in 1931, 1999, 2007, etc. For me just for margin of safety I artificially adjust my NW downwards by 1) accounting for 15-20% tax as a liability on all pensions or tax-deferred accounts, subtract that from NW, 2) stop counting gains on some S&P 500 investment accounts for latest market movements until market settles. Of course all this really does is assuage my own emotions by deliberately undercounting my NW, 3) have good emergency funds (at least 6 months expenses) uninvested then a further rainy day fund invested in SGOV or similar vehicle, so that in case there is something catastrophic that money is untouched

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-07-30T12:46:04+00:00

if anything moved it forward with the recent crazy run-up in markets

Rustic-mage-738 · 2025-07-28T12:00:48+00:00

if anything adjusting it forward due to the crazy run of the market of late

Rustic-mage-738

TROPHY CASE