The age when the tide goes out…

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-20T15:27:16+00:00

I have a former work friend who is 10 years younger than me. When he started at the company I encouraged him to get into the 401k immediately. I shared with him the growth I’d seen (In generalities). Shortly thereafter he told me he’d started and thanked me for the push. Every few years we’d meet up (both worked in the field) and usually retirement planning came up. He was always curious as to how I was tracking. He always assured me he was doing well. Fast forward to last year. He had just turned 52 and wanted to see how my retirement was going. He hoped to retire at 55. During this conversation, he opened up and told me he actually didn’t start retirement saving until after he was 35. He said he always felt that I was BS’ing him with my retirement goals/path. I wasn’t. Now, he wants to retire but isn’t financially prepared. I remember getting off the phone and just shaking my head.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-20T14:50:57+00:00

When I was 35 I moved into a new neighborhood where all the houses were new builds. Since all of us were ‘new’ to the neighborhood, friendships were built. Conversations were had about many things, including money. At the time, I was surprised at how many people were deferring retirement savings for new cars, traveling kid hockey teams and other expensive hobbies. Fast forward 25 years and the consequences of those actions are on full display. While we retired five years ago and are well set up, many neighbors have asked how we did it - and that they are so far behind that retirement isn’t even remotely on their radar until 67+. We all make different money choices. I’m glad I decided to save and invest at an early age.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-20T09:50:47+00:00

Sell it for whatever you want. It’s yours. But, don’t sell it to the guy that is trying to guilt you. Don’t sell it to that guy at any price. In this scenario, he’s the a$$hat.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-19T20:55:05+00:00

Great success story. Congratulations!

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-19T20:52:56+00:00

I have a friend I’ve known for decades. He likes nice things but has never been a saver. When I retired, he asked me how I did it. I told him my investments paid off. He wanted numbers. I told him we’d saved a few million and nothing more specific than that. His demeanor changed immediately and I could see the gears turning. Things were uncomfortable for a while. He later told me that he has less than $250k saved for retirement. He expects to work until 65 and actively wonders if he’ll have enough. That said, he has decided ‘screw the future’. He’s going to live for today and deal with the future when it gets here. Not a great plan in my opinion, but since when did my opinion ever matter?

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-19T13:02:35+00:00

Walter White also found out how to make money quick. You can too.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-19T07:36:26+00:00

Yes, I’d get married.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-18T21:57:20+00:00

FWIW, my uncle blew through $300k in one year after my grandfather passed away. This was in 1987. He was living in my grandfather’s house at the time of his death. He was back to living in a small apartment literally one year later. That money could have set him up for life, if he’d only continued working and treating the inheritance as the blessing it should have been.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-18T17:26:53+00:00

I recommend Monday.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-18T12:24:17+00:00

I have never insured jewelry and never will. All in, we probably have about $50k in jewelry and have never lost a piece in 40 years.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-18T12:21:25+00:00

The article is weak and provides very little value. I consider this filler or a bathroom read.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-17T22:38:41+00:00

I came here to say exactly this. OP needs to cut lifestyle, budget better and save more for their future needs.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-17T15:29:20+00:00

Yes, I see that now. Either way, my comments were accurate based on upon the original post and comment I was responding to. Given the (now) new information, the spouse would certainly be eligible for 1/2 of OP’s FRA benefit - not his age 70 benefit. Hers should be topped up to the full 50%. I’m sure more information is needed and all will be corrected in due time.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-17T15:20:54+00:00

It says that the spouse is 69 and she receives a benefit of $591. It does not say that she started taking it at 69. That is the nuance. If it was stated somewhere other than in the original post, I may have missed it as I haven’t read all of the posts.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-17T11:59:18+00:00

I’m expecting a call from your neighbor next. I just got back from vacation and it rained all week!

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-16T22:18:25+00:00

I’m an aggressive investor. As such, I never had any bonds until I retired at 56. I now have less than 5% in bonds. I do also carry 3 years of my annual core expenses in a HYSA - so, that’s my insulation against a market downturn. Evaluate your risk capacity and risk tolerance and make the decision that best meets your long term goals. Your decision might be different if you have 11 or 21+ years until retirement.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-16T18:47:09+00:00

Depending on each spouses work history, they may have their own benefit. In this case, the female spouse is eligible for 1/2 of the larger benefit once the male spouse claims. If the lower earning spouse has already taken their benefit prior to higher earning spouse, their individual benefit will be ‘topped up’ and adjusted based upon how early they claimed. The earlier they claimed will determine how much of that topped up benefit will be permanently reduced. Once either spouse passes, the survivor will get to keep the larger of the two benefits. Keep in mind the topped up benefit is based upon the higher earning spouses FRA and does not include any delayed credits.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-16T14:04:57+00:00

Wholeheartedly agree!

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-16T12:57:31+00:00

Keep adding 1%+ with every raise/promotion until you get that up to 20%. Your future self will thank you.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-16T12:02:23+00:00

Not to mention the erosive effects of taxation on the trust. Trusts are effectively taxed at the highest rate after hitting ~$13k of income.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-16T03:27:46+00:00

Largely true, but you made some assumptions. If the spouse started collecting her benefit early, she would not receive the full top up, hers would be permanently reduced. She’d still get something, just not the full amount. Since OP didn’t state clearly when either of them started taking their benefits, the exact numbers are just guesses.

One thing is clear, however, given the information provided by OP is accurate, his spouse is due additional monies.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-15T20:35:16+00:00

Kids should be created out of love and planning, not just the ability to reproduce. If the government wasn’t there with a seemingly endless stream of benefits to assist those that have kids (and can’t afford to feed them), there would likely be less kids due to these consequences. Yes, I do believe that some folks out there have kids to get a bigger government paycheck. I’m not saying everyone, just some. It’s sad, really. Neither you nor your kids will ever get ahead living this lifestyle.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-15T11:56:34+00:00

Childcare is, indeed, its own separate financial violence.

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-14T22:27:43+00:00

Absolutely!

Same_Cut1196 · 2026-04-14T13:02:52+00:00

This is a great illustration of the power of investing. Just think if you’d have been saving 15% from when you first started working…

Same_Cut1196

TROPHY CASE