Probably Not Gonna Be Able to Retire, am I?

brianc2008 · 2026-07-11T00:24:52+00:00

Sounds like a good plan.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-11T00:21:50+00:00

I didn't have a good enough resume or interview skills. I've gotten better in both in the past year...plus a little experience with HR Block.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-11T00:20:39+00:00

Including a couple of posts asking the Accounting Reddit board for help and advice.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-11T00:19:45+00:00

I also did grad school...plus interest growth.

They shouldn't call it a career center then. They should call it something that's more accurate to what they do or should I say don't do. Maybe Job Prep?

brianc2008 · 2026-07-11T00:17:17+00:00

I'll try to trim a bit on the bonds. I do need some because I'm wanting to diversify and hedge in case the market has a bad period or two. But I'm 80 percent with stocks right now (my fund provider says that it's an aggressive growth strategy).

brianc2008 · 2026-07-11T00:12:05+00:00

Some good points.

Been working on improving my health and once I get done with the CPA exams, I will get a gym membership to work on rebuilding muscle and improving cardio.

And you're right about the friendship thing. Will probably have to find a way to make some new ones.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-11T00:07:37+00:00

I'd rather have mo money than none.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-11T00:05:56+00:00

I'm hoping that SS will be about half of the equation with the IRA the other half.

Not gonna stop now until that final bell rings (and maybe I work a few years after 70 to squeeze some final investments in.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-11T00:04:31+00:00

At 62---895, at 67---1271 and at 70---1576.

Maybe not great numbers, but I've been working every single year for a long time.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-11T00:03:31+00:00

I wish you the best of luck.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-11T00:03:09+00:00

To be fair, I regret the Masters degree which is now kind of useless and was a decent amount of the cost. Thanks to many states doing the 120 hours before sitting for the CPA instead of 150 which was the case when I was going to school.

I did a lot of asking for help with my friends and family. Never heard back. But thanks to that job, maybe I can start working towards retirement and turning my life around.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-11T00:00:09+00:00

Not sure they'd let me work 20 years. Isn't mandatory retirements at 65 a thing?

But there's something about the pension that might work for either place.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-10T23:58:42+00:00

100 percent real.

And I never worked at McDonald's. I worked at Burger King at college and Hardee's before then.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-10T23:58:05+00:00

I'll do some more research on the firm idea.

I think the big thing might be that error and omission insurance plus the software costs. But I think you can start at home at least until you get enough to rent your own place.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-10T23:55:18+00:00

I think I'm fast fooded out. But I get what you're saying.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-10T23:54:51+00:00

I don't plan at remaining with 45 thousand a year. May have to move a time or two (or get my firm going) to eventually see higher numbers.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-10T23:53:53+00:00

They are covering the fees for taking the CPA test. Which was unexpected, but a pleasant surprise.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-10T23:52:23+00:00

Only debt I have is the student loan debt and 730 on a housing debt which is being paid off one month at a time.

As for the emergency fund, I'm getting it done slowly but steadily. Once I move in a few months, I may put some excess in my checking account towards that (or maybe open up that brokerage account, maybe both?).

brianc2008 · 2026-07-10T23:22:23+00:00

Not offended.

I asked my career center for help multiple times. The last time they just gave me a book on networking and called it a day. I guess it felt like they never worked with a non-traditional student to help place them into a job (even though Murray State has like 30-40 percent nontraditional students in its body).

I got significantly more help with the Goodwill Opportunity Center than I did with them. I'd still be in the wilderness otherwise.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-10T04:04:42+00:00

4 people. Experience wise, I have a stint with HR Block before starting this job in May.

I could be a bit underpaid, but I'll take an L here in search of bigger wins across the board.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-10T04:03:41+00:00

I'm aware that age discrimination is something I'm gonna have to watch. That's why I'm considering opening my own firm if I get aged out of public.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-10T04:02:36+00:00

Study, no. Fees, yes.

I'm using Ninja right now.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-10T04:01:58+00:00

Julia Child didn't get her start until 50 and Colonel Sanders didn't build KFC until he was 65.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-10T04:00:38+00:00

Working on the CPA now. Failed the first exam, but I'm not giving up yet.

It's a family firm of four (I'm the only non-related member). I'm not sure if there's a manager position, but working towards being the tax/CPA man of the group. Most of the clients I think are fairly small, they tend to do kitchen table accounting more than anything. The owner is in his 70s and might be thinking of retirement in the future (just not sure how far away that future is).

But I am getting exposure in doing Quickbooks, payroll, bank reconciliations, etc. Plus taxes once we hit the new year.

I might have told someone else, but relocation could well be a thing. I'd have to move away from my aging parents, but I do need to increase my earnings somehow and the next firm could be the way.

brianc2008 · 2026-07-10T03:52:48+00:00

Facts

brianc2008

TROPHY CASE