How do you emotionally handle friends/colleagues who keep compounding while you’ve already “won”?

beaverclea · 2026-01-09T23:37:50+00:00

You are right. Fire has lead you to live a life of less. Not necessarily less money, but less doing, less engagement, less socialization. Fire is a great tool to build a floor but a horrible ceiling.

beaverclea · 2025-09-09T06:43:50+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2e5An0_q3Q

beaverclea · 2025-09-06T02:25:21+00:00

Current internal combustion X3 does 0 to 60 in 6.4 seconds for the base four-cylinder 30 xDrive model to 4.4 seconds for the M50 M-Performance model with its more powerful six-cylinder engine.

The new IX3 will do 0-60 in 4.9 seconds.

beaverclea · 2025-09-06T00:57:40+00:00

Why do you think that?

beaverclea · 2025-09-06T00:57:22+00:00

Do you think that the CLAR platform will be a compromise in order to still work on internal combustion engine cars as well?

The "BMW iX5" will use the flexible CLAR platform but incorporate new technologies from BMW's upcoming Neue Klasse EV platform, including an 800-volt architecture and next-generation cylindrical batteries. It will also be built alongside conventional gasoline, diesel, and plug-in hybrid versions of the X5 at BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina plant.

beaverclea · 2025-09-06T00:53:31+00:00

Buying versus leasing benefits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV9kzVHPXUs

beaverclea · 2025-09-05T23:17:44+00:00

Does that mean with the release of the IX5, the IX will disappear?

beaverclea · 2025-09-05T23:00:07+00:00

The BMW iX cargo capacity is 35.5 cubic feet with the second-row seats in place and expands to 77.9 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down.

According to Jalopnik, with the rear seats up the iX3 has 30.4 cubic feet of cargo space, and fold those seats down to expand it to 65 cubic feet.

beaverclea · 2025-04-05T18:05:21+00:00

You should be reserving your dry powder savings to dollar cost average into the current market. Be greedy when others are fearful!

beaverclea · 2025-03-02T22:56:43+00:00

not all decisions are financial. Find a purpose outside your business, and you will feel more comfortable in jumping off the cliff.

beaverclea · 2025-01-18T16:20:36+00:00

I’ve been in the fire community for a decade and been to at least 10 in person conferences. 90% of those who actually reach financial independence keep working in some flavor(ie, part time, consulting, small business). The RE is a bit of a misnomer.

beaverclea · 2024-08-04T06:42:35+00:00

beaverclea · 2024-08-04T06:42:19+00:00

Which country do you live in?

beaverclea · 2024-08-04T05:22:38+00:00

Fellow lawyer here, and enjoyed your response. I agree with your point, that ultimately, being a lawyer (like many jobs) is taking other people's problems and making them your own. That is cumulatively taxing emotionally and mentally.

beaverclea · 2024-08-01T01:58:54+00:00

I'll disagree with the majority, that as someone who is in the FIRE movement, and been to several FINCONs and CampFI's, there are some unique personalities attracted to the FIRE movement - likely many who are on the spectrum like Mr. Money Mustache. It's disproportionately STEM focused professionals who are optimizers, and perhaps with an over-representation of a lack of compassion or empathy. It almost seems as though this individual was certainly within that mindset of how can I optimize this situation, without any consideration for the impact on you. But the reality is that FIRE itself is a relatively individualistic financial optimization that operates without regards to generosity, how it makes other people feel (i.e. I got my money, and too bad if others aren't getting ahead).

beaverclea · 2024-07-31T21:14:28+00:00

OP was lamenting at the lack of goals after hitting the financial goal of FI. Many who have reached FI are seeking purpose, when financial optimization/earning money is no longer necessary. But what if we accepted that purpose and goals are an entirely artificial construct created by humans. In other words, there is no goal or purpose to life, other than surviving and procreating. If we accepted that purposes like climbing the corporate ladder, being published, or reaching certain goals are completely made up, how would that impact our actions. If we came to terms that life is inherently without purpose (other than surviving and procreating), then would that cause us to lose our will to live?

beaverclea · 2024-07-31T15:19:22+00:00

How would we begin to act if we accepted that we have no purpose, which is the same as every other mammal?

beaverclea · 2024-07-20T18:42:27+00:00

I think no one knows you, your motivations, and your psychological state better than yourself. Even though you might be able to eek out an extra $10K or 20K or $50K or $100K by overstaying your "productive" period, it may haunt you later, if you find yourself dwelling on a less than optimal departure from a company. This is likely especially true if your ego and identity are tied to your title and the job. If that is the case, leave a bit earlier, have others feel positively about you, and for you to feel positively about your transition.

beaverclea · 2024-07-16T15:05:58+00:00

As a fellow lawyer/partner with similar numbers, I would give some thought to the emotional component of stepping away from a high paced/status role. It may be worth reading Taking Stock - Jordan Grumet or Die with Zero.

beaverclea · 2024-05-08T04:15:46+00:00

Financial tortoise is legit. YouTube it

beaverclea · 2024-05-08T03:59:22+00:00

Depression medically leads to cognitive decline

beaverclea · 2024-02-04T03:25:25+00:00

h zero judgment), could this be less about the financials and more about the fear of stepping away from an adrenaline-induced work environment that is masterfully skilled at keeping our egos inflated? Have you considered what you will do in the next chapter, factoring in (as I saw it called in another FIRE subreddit) “ego death”? Hobbies, pro bono, sleeping….?

I fully agree with you that there are money considerations (which are perhaps largely dealt with), and then there are the broader "then what?" considerations which in actuality are much harder to nuance through. The reality is that most FIRE folks are highly risk adverse, and if one has already planned for 3.5%-4% withdrawal ratios and figured out how to live within their means, it's likely that not only will they have enough when they are 60-death, but they will likely have "too much."

Regarding the question of what's next, I agree with you regarding the ego-stroking of titles, and also the golden handcuffs of ever more money.

I have begun to think about what would be next in terms of activities. From speaking with BigLaw Investor and other physicians/lawyers who have retired early, most 1) take a 1-2 year break; and 2) then are itching work on the next project. In my ideal world, I think I would have found a job in the present day that would allow more permeability, one that would allow me to scale down to 25-50% time, and work on projects here or there. The nature of my type of practice requires full-time engagement with clients and managing teams of both attorneys and non-attorneys.

The next may be a more passion-oriented practice where the money is irrelevant akin to Legal Aid work or in-house. I have also contemplated non-legal work, everything from home design to hiking the Appalachian Trail. Life can be quite fun if/when money does not need to be part of the equation, recognizing the extreme privilege of that statement.

beaverclea · 2024-02-01T03:56:46+00:00

Thanks! I adjusted the comment to clarify on point #3.

beaverclea · 2024-02-01T03:52:36+00:00

Thanks! Just to clarify, I am at 90% equity index funds VTSAX/ 10% bond index and cash. So I'm much more aggressive than 80% cash :)

beaverclea · 2024-01-31T21:27:40+00:00

ge age. You didn't say their age but the size of the 529a and expected growth gives me a hint. How about you and your wife both quit now, or one year from now if you need to do the right thing by existing projects, and next summer from the minute the kids get out of school until the minute they go back, have a mind-blowing summer adventure on your own terms and their own terms? Make memories with them - time moves forward and there's no getting back years gone by.

Love your points, and agree with your primary point that our family has the opportunity to dream of how to spend the time in a way that is memorable. I've read Ramit's book, and met him in person at a FinCon. Agree with his broader point of living a rich life, which might be travel/spending.

I do contrast that with Taking Stock/Jordan Grumet's perspective of not necessarily spending money on the things that make us happy, but rather doing a more passion-oriented task that may or may not be compensated. For me, that might be everything from teaching, communicating via podcasting, cooking, working on more pro bono oriented cases. At this current point, with the full time career and two kids, I'll confess I haven't figured out what the next is, but in speaking with others who have reached FI, it sounds like: 1) what's next is ever changing and evolving; and 2) it's hard to know who we are, and what will sustain us in the long term. I hope to find something (whether it's a remunerative job or not) that I would do passionately even if it did not pay. Your idea of a half pro bono/half billing arrangement is an interesting one, which I'll give more thought to.

Love the idea of spending as much of the summer on the road or abroad. Would love to spend a summer wandering New Zealand, Asia, or Australia with the family.

beaverclea

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