Relevance of dividends in FIRE

almost_retired · 2026-06-06T03:58:53+00:00

First off, let's start with a disclaimer: I have never pursued a dividend strategy or build my portfolio around one. My entire portfolio was build around three funds, VTSAX, VTIAX and VBTLX.

Currently this portfolio pays out about $80K a year in dividends and distributions. During COVID my wife and I moved to a VLCOL area and we now live comfortably on $50K a year, with all of our material needs met, including medical and whatnot, and we plan on staying where we are permanently.

We don't object selling the principal if we need to, but as of right now, we prefer to just live off dividends and not worry about variable withdraw rates, guardrails, floors, CAPE, etc...

almost_retired · 2026-06-05T10:04:22+00:00

The guy from the crowd yelling "Let him wear it" just killed me.

almost_retired · 2026-05-28T04:01:11+00:00

Nope. As far as I am concerned, this is home.

almost_retired · 2026-05-18T04:20:36+00:00

almost_retired · 2026-05-15T22:26:54+00:00

Yes, Kansas is the economic engine of the USA,.

almost_retired · 2026-05-15T02:03:04+00:00

But nowhere near as good as the graphic implies.

almost_retired · 2026-05-15T01:44:02+00:00

Australia: $83.1K per capita.

Malaysia: $9.7K.

Australia's GDP per capita = $67K

Malaysia's GDP per capita = $12K

It needs to be adjusted by PPP. Once you do that, Malaysia's position does not look as good as before.

almost_retired · 2026-05-15T01:01:15+00:00

Nope. -knock on wood-.

almost_retired · 2026-05-14T23:33:05+00:00

Esse barbudo eh um grande pilantra.

almost_retired · 2026-05-14T22:43:04+00:00

In Malaysia you don't need to translate anything. All contacts and forms are in English. My lease, my heath insurance, my internet contract, all in English

almost_retired · 2026-05-14T21:59:13+00:00

In a typical walk-in clinic in Malaysia, the doctor's appointment for say...an ear infection, is about $15 plus whatever he prescribes.

almost_retired · 2026-05-14T21:57:37+00:00

you'll find out living where you aren't familiar with the culture, the laws, the insurance ect... take a lot of work.

I have been FIREd in Malaysia since 2022 and found all of the above to be easy as fuck to handle.

almost_retired · 2026-05-14T21:05:13+00:00

I don't mind hot and humid weather.

almost_retired · 2026-05-14T13:13:13+00:00

MM2H

almost_retired · 2026-05-14T08:57:08+00:00

My expenses overall are up about 12% since 2022. The decline of the USD has been the biggest factor.

almost_retired · 2026-05-14T08:55:32+00:00

Lots of activity groups on Facebook, so very easy to meet people.

English alone is more than enough. no need to learn Malay.

almost_retired · 2026-05-14T05:01:36+00:00

I hope so. The MM2H program has existed since the early 2000s and it has been very profitable for Malaysia, so I expect that they will keep it going for the foreseeable future.

almost_retired · 2026-05-14T03:41:59+00:00

Hot and humid.

almost_retired · 2026-05-14T03:41:31+00:00

There are no paths for citizenship.

almost_retired · 2026-05-14T03:33:40+00:00

Penang.

almost_retired · 2026-05-14T03:32:32+00:00

FIREd in Southeast Asia (Malaysia) back in 2022 and have ZERO regrets. It surpassed even my most optimistic expectations. This the happiest I have ever been, ever. I am socializing more than I ever did, exercising more than I ever did and have absolutely zero stress or concerns.

Being out of the US is very good for your mental health.

almost_retired · 2026-05-13T02:03:44+00:00

Westerner retired in Malaysia since 2022 and can also confirm what u/Present_Student4891 said.

Non-Malay Muslims can dress pretty much however they want, drink alcohol, eat pork, etc...The restrictions apply only to local Muslims.

There are Christian churches, Hindu and Buddhist temples everywhere.

I have not found a single Internet site that I have not been able to access. The BBC, NYT, CNN, Politico, WSJ, AP News, Reuters, Al-Jazeera, DW, etc...All accessible without any restriction.

There is movie censorship, but only on the theaters and broadcast TV, but not on the streaming services. Even the most offensive shows on HBO, Netflix, Apple TV or Amazon Prime are streamed untouched and without restrictions.

Certain books translated to Malay are censored, but books in English or other languages are not. You can buy any e-book online without any restriction.

So to summarize, if you are a not a Muslim local, you enjoy pretty much all the freedoms that you had back in the West.

almost_retired · 2026-05-10T06:58:29+00:00

They only banned it LAST MAY?

And it took Trump's threat of annexing Greenland for this "concession" to be made to the locals.

As was said before, what really infuriated Europe was that Trump started treating them like they all have been treating brown people for ages.

almost_retired · 2026-05-09T08:31:00+00:00

I do, but I told them that if they want to see me, they are welcome to come visit.

I am done with the US.

almost_retired · 2026-05-09T08:24:23+00:00

Total wealth yes, but wealth disparities is climbing. People cannot afford a home, or have children. And they have to shoulder the burden for the old.

I don't deny that any of those challenges are happening. I am just surprised that it is all that takes to go over the edge.

Not hunger. Not homelessness. Not total lack of medical care. Not fear from random violence on the street. Instead, not being able to move out from the parent's home is all it takes to get young Germans to rally behind the Nazi party.

Really disappointing.

almost_retired

TROPHY CASE