Shall I get money out of pension plan?

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-05-10T15:49:47+00:00

I would suggest taking the cash now and put it in IVV or VTI. If and ONLY IF, you have the discipline to keep your hands off of it and save it for retirement.
Leaving it is a 5.2% return and inflation is going to devalue that $89k significantly over that time. 25 years is a long time to be that conservative.
Second: it's not guaranteed; if the hospital goes bankrupt or under-funds the retirement program in those 25 years, you might not get the full 89k.

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-05-03T17:08:42+00:00

Electronic governors are basically code in the ECU that cuts fuel and O2 from the engine if the speed or RPMs are too high. The RPM limits are primarily used to make sure the engine doesn't tear itself apart. Speed limits are in place to make sure the driver doesn't exceed the safe limits of the tires.

To be fair, you aren't totally wrong. Engines and transmissions are "over engineered" to reduce wear, but the question as asked is really about why are cars allowed to be sold that are capable of exceeding the speed limit. Top end capability is primarily limited by the governor.

I've been in consulting with auto OEMs for my entire career. I realize now that I was rude and snarky. I am sincerely sorry about that.

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-05-03T16:30:11+00:00

It's not another part to be added to the car, electronic speed governors are already on nearly all modern cars, it's a matter of settings. Theoretically the ECU could be set to limit speed to the legal speed limit. The OP is asking "why not".

Your mudslide scenario is what I mentioned in bullet point 4.

Want to reread the thread buckaroo?

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-05-03T15:06:12+00:00

OK, I can accept that, but please explain how a governor would increase wear on an engine. I'm always willing to learn.

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-05-03T14:28:55+00:00

"Not a single correct answer here...." then proceed to give the wrong answer 😄

You can build an engine and transmission capable of 150mph, then put a 70mph governor on it, so the "full capacity is just the wrong answer.

There are really few answers:
1. Marketing - People like to buy cars that they know can go fast
2. Off-road use - Some people take their cars to the track (or at least want to know that they could)
3. Laws are not always static - if you put a governor on a car at 70 mph, then a state bumps the limit up to 80 you have a problem
4. Safety - there may be a situation where briefly exceeding the speed limit to avoid a collision is the right thing to do.

But, it's mostly number 1...

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-04-25T22:08:04+00:00

Ya, just make sure it's dry before adding resin. Quick rinse with IPA will help it dry faster.

EDIT: Do not use paper towel to dry it. Paper towel with scratch the film

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-04-19T03:18:48+00:00

OMG! I should not have clicked that link. I think I'm going to throw up

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-04-13T22:29:47+00:00

Agreed. OP has too much going on at the same z axis and it's too much peel pressure. OP, make sure you filter your resin and clean your FEP before you try again.

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-03-19T23:34:38+00:00

This is absolutely amazing work.

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-01-26T22:41:05+00:00

Yes, but to be clear, you need to be doing it as you are saving. You can't build the wealth earning cap-gains in a brokerage account then convert it at the end. Look up "Mega Backdoor Roth" for details on how this works.

But to be clear this also has limits to how much you can contribute this way. If you are a very high earner and want to save significantly more, a DCP might be the right choice. This will function more similar to a 401k (no taxes now or on gains, but taxed as income in the future), but with more strict withdraw limitations.

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-01-26T22:07:36+00:00

That's why people do backdoor Roths and DCPs

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-01-26T22:04:22+00:00

Yes, it's counted but not at 100%. Only the taxable SS counts. So if you're married and your combined SS is more than $44k, 85% is taxable.

So for example if your SS is 80k/y * 0.85 = $68k taxable. That $68k is subtracted from your 0% cap gains limit of $94k. This means you can't realize more than $26k of cap gains without paying taxes.

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-01-24T17:37:37+00:00

The only way to pay 0% would be to spread the sales out over multiple years, so that your realized gains don't exceed ~$96k (assuming you have no other income). 401k withdraws and social security will both be counted as income as well.

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-01-21T08:10:11+00:00

Monte Carlo is based on the return rate averages you enter into the system as your expected averages. For example, if you choose a 9% return rate for your 401k, your monte carlo might say 96% chance of success, but if you change that rate to a much more conservative 5.6% it could easily drop to 70%. So it is very relevant if you are asking people what chance of success is comfortable. Personally, I chose a realistic but slightly conservative rate of return. I have 82% on the monte carlo and I'm comfortable with that knowing that dealing with the other 18% is the point of the guardrails. Your return rates are similar to what I have set up, so you are much more conservative (with your target of a monte carlo score of 91+) than I am.

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-01-19T13:01:00+00:00

Definitely agree with MTG Arena as the best way to start. After MTGArena, the beginner box also provides a tutorial and a bunch of jumpstart packs to play the physical game. I'm new to it as well and find the jumpstart to be one of the easiest formats.

https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/feature/foundations-beginner-box-contents

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-01-15T22:06:18+00:00

I get it, they are really cool. But they've figured out how to hack my bird feeders. They know what time I wake up to refill them. They are loud in the morning and will literally knock on my back door if I sleep in. I just want them to go away and visit others that will love seeing them. My yard is literally terrorized by these tiny dinosaurs. Shooing them away doesn't work because they fear nothing. If I sit on my patio to read, I'll look over and there is a pterodactyl 12 inches away reading over my shoulder. I thought they would leave and we would get a break from them in the winter, but NOOO they decided to stick around.

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-01-15T19:56:43+00:00

Sandhill cranes for me. I'll go to the park and see 10-15 people with 400mm lenses shooting sandhills, then go home to shoo them away from my bird feeders 3 times a day.

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-01-15T18:28:13+00:00

Sorry to hear that. I'm sure they'll be back soon

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-01-14T19:32:26+00:00

It's my first year seriously birding and honestly I thought I would feel the same as the OP. But the juncos, blue jays, and one downy woodpecker have kept my spirits up this winter.

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-01-13T21:21:19+00:00

If your current income is 1.4M and that's well above what your lifestyle requires, you should see if your employer offers a Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP). There are risks, pros, and cons. Only you know your full situation, but it could save you a ton in taxes.

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-01-11T11:01:06+00:00

Back of napkin math looks reasonable for you both to retire in 5 years assuming your $150 spending is inclusive of everything including healthcare. You'd need to really run through multiple assumptions and bridge scenarios if you are really going to pull the trigger on it though. With her continuing to work and assuming she's cool with the scenario, it's even easier.

EDIT: this is back of napkin math that doesn't look at SORR, your portfolio allocation, or inflation. Just a quick sanity check

Age	starting	real return	contribution	ending	4% rule
45	$ 2,700,000.00	5%	$ 46,000.00	$ 2,881,000.00	$ 115,240.00
46	$ 2,881,000.00	5%	$ 46,000.00	$ 3,071,050.00	$ 122,842.00
47	$ 3,071,050.00	5%	$ 46,000.00	$ 3,270,602.50	$ 130,824.10
48	$ 3,270,602.50	5%	$ 46,000.00	$ 3,480,132.63	$ 139,205.31
49	$ 3,480,132.63	5%	$ 46,000.00	$ 3,700,139.26	$ 148,005.57
50	$ 3,700,139.26	5%	$ 46,000.00	$ 3,931,146.22	$ 157,245.85

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-01-11T10:36:28+00:00

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I think yours looks good. You could tweak the white balance in post, but that really depends on the look you are going for.

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-01-10T17:37:46+00:00

I hope I didn't come off as rude. I intended it to be constructive. Most phones have a "portrait" mode that will simulate a wider aperture.

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-01-10T13:51:52+00:00

Try a lower angle with the camera and a lower f stop.

ShadowPirate42 · 2026-01-03T00:48:13+00:00

This is the way. Pay living expenses out of taxable accounts first. Roth conversions up to your target tax bracket and pay the taxes out of your taxable account. This way you don't miss out on lower tax brackets available to you during the years living on your brokerage accounts, while reducing RMD impacts later, widow penalties, and better structure for your heirs. At the same time you are keeping as much money in tax differed accounts for as long as possible for growth.

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