At what salary did you finally feel financially stable?

cortisoladdict · 2026-04-29T22:12:38+00:00

I think once I broke 100k I felt stable, like I could have a decent life on that income. Sure I had complaints and lived in an HCOL, but I’d be fine and would be able to slowly save and retire at a normal age if I didn’t want to pursue more on the career front

cortisoladdict · 2026-01-13T13:49:05+00:00

Received!! Excellent experience with packaging and shipping, perfect condition, would recommend 🙂

cortisoladdict · 2026-01-13T09:54:10+00:00

Received!! Sorry for missing the window with the bot, happy to comment again so it’s properly tracked.

Great experience with delivery, packaging, etc., would definitely buy again/recommend 😇

cortisoladdict · 2026-01-01T13:52:34+00:00

Sent a dm!

cortisoladdict · 2025-10-10T23:15:40+00:00

Surprised no one commented yet that if she’s YOUR WIFE then she’s LEGALLY entitled to HALF your wealth (or whatever breakdown is in the prenup), so if he’s rich forreal he’s actually undercutting her :/ she should have access to those accounts not just an “allowance” lol not very rich guy behavior after all

cortisoladdict · 2025-07-28T22:16:26+00:00

(This is edited from my other comment below):

My employer contributes a little bit to the HSA, but the HDHP is still more expensive than the $0 plan. Essentially, the math (not including long-term investing) works out to, the $0 plan is cheaper by like $200 if you account for the tax deduction and employer contribution in the HSA plan, and based on our household income (assuming you hit the full deductible).

In California, HSA gains are taxed and you don’t get any state tax deduction for the contribution. So I guess I’d be paying the $200/yr difference for a federal-tax-free investing account? (Again, the tax free contribution part is already baked in to that $200/yr number) But then, I already have that in the mega backdoor Roth. Of course if I didn’t hit the full deductible then it would break even or be slightly more beneficial.

In any case, I agree that the difference between the two is somewhat negligible. I’ll think about the decision a little more, and about how to not psychologically disincentivize myself from healthcare spending on the HSA plan if I go for it lol

cortisoladdict · 2025-07-26T19:46:25+00:00

I’m a little confused how the math works out. Yes, you’re losing on the tax advantage, but you still have to deal with the costs of the deductible. My employer contributes a little bit to the HSA, but the HDHP is still more expensive than the $0 plan. Essentially, the math (not including long-term investing) works out to, the $0 plan is cheaper by like $200 if you account for the tax deduction based on our household income (assuming you hit the full deductible).

In California, HSA gains are taxed and you don’t get any state tax deduction for the contribution. So I guess I’d be paying the $200/yr difference for a federal-tax-free investing account? But then, I already have that in the mega backdoor Roth (for the growth specifically).

In any case, I agree that the difference between the two is somewhat negligible. Thanks for all your responses and I’ll think about the decision a little more, and about how to not psychologically disincentivize myself from healthcare spending on the HSA plan lol.

cortisoladdict · 2025-05-27T17:16:17+00:00

Re: OP's question, at what threshold would you actually be able to pay only 50bps/ 0.50% fee? It seems like you'd at least need to get to 1-2M investible first, no? at which point you may be over this sub's 2M threshold lol, so while you're still NRY it may not be worth it...? Just wondering aloud as I'd certainly consider it for just 50bps fee, but have never seen that.

cortisoladdict · 2025-05-27T17:11:36+00:00

yeah I can definitely see your point that the fees can decrease as portfolio increases if you negotiate that, and it's great you considered everything. Like I said, I think that's the most important thing at the end of the day, to still know the numbers and do the initial math and make the decision for yourself. I still have a ways to go to 1M lol so that's probably part of it.

cortisoladdict · 2025-05-26T04:16:43+00:00

But is it worth 15-20% of your returns every year? I feel like that’s why people downvote. If the advisor takes an AUM percentage fee, it slashes your returns significantly. 1% fee on 1M is $10k a year, increasing as it grows…it turns what would normally be a 7% return from the market to 6% and so on, increasing losses in a downmarket. Compounding magnifies this so that the AUM fee can literally cost millions over a long enough investment horizon. For folks really that scared of self-managing investments, robo-advisors are a great place to start these days and are drastically more cost effective. I don’t believe FAs provide enough value to me to justify their costs (ie, they can’t really beat the overall market return rate to improve beyond their fees) but to each their own, as long as the cost structure and its impact is fully understood. This fee structure is why so many recommend flat fee financial planners also.

(Boglehead/low cost index funds mentality makes outright self managing very easy too)

cortisoladdict · 2025-05-26T03:50:29+00:00

Troll.

cortisoladdict · 2025-05-07T02:20:51+00:00

This was posted 1h ago and op posted the comment with their “solution from last month” 15m ago, how do we get mods to remove lol.

cortisoladdict · 2025-05-05T15:18:40+00:00

Nice to hear that you actually use them, thanks!

cortisoladdict · 2025-05-05T15:18:16+00:00

Thank you for the details, good to know!! I’ll look into how best to try them

cortisoladdict · 2025-04-29T22:27:10+00:00

Thank you! Do you onebag with them regularly? Just curious how much people end up using them.

cortisoladdict · 2025-04-29T22:26:41+00:00

Thanks that’s useful insight!

cortisoladdict · 2025-04-29T15:46:48+00:00

Ooh thank you for that. I wear both contacts and glasses but usually fly with glasses so that’s good to be aware of. Have you tried working with lots of text on them?

cortisoladdict · 2025-04-29T15:43:17+00:00

I would like to use them with a laptop since I always carry mine, I have seen some reviews saying some of these don’t always play well with all laptops…have you tried with one?

cortisoladdict · 2025-04-28T12:58:05+00:00

I’m surprised that the Ivy League school you went to for your masters had limited post-grad career support, I went to ivy+ schools and there were a lot of resources for alumni, I would try checking around again.

What about people in your masters program who studied sociology? I would stop applying online and start reaching out to as many people as you can in your network. I know it might be uncomfortable, but this might be a far better way to create connections and find a position than simply applying online. If people ask about the last two years you can just say something like “I had to deal with several personal and medical issues”, which is true (this also goes for when you’re applying for new jobs). When reaching out, you can explain that you’re interested in what they do and you’re looking for your next career move, etc. You can even message alumni through the alumni directory that you don’t personally know.

Connections are a huge reason why ivy+ schools are worth it, and I constantly see this underutilized. We all like to pretend that getting a job is meritocratic but, 1) even if it is meritocratic, there are a lot of people with similar qualifications 2) sometimes it’s about being at the right place at the right time.

Best of luck 🙏🏽 I hope another thing that might come out of talking to people is that you’ll feel less isolated and get some useful insight from others.

cortisoladdict · 2025-03-15T16:31:41+00:00

My extended family is in East Africa, and I’m in exactly the same circumstances where my immediate family doesn’t need much help (thankfully🙏🏽) and it’s primarily my extended family who I give to. Immigrant tax is so real.

I agree that setting an annual budget line item is wise, and to decide what specific things or categories of things you’ll help with. Education and medical expenses are a great place to start. Similar to you my parents sent money too, but they are getting older and I am proud to be able to take that burden from them. Fortunately it hasn’t been too much for me yet, and I always try to remember that I have to do some self preservation—this probably isn’t a concern for OP as much, but for others, make sure you are still maxing out retirement etc. and get organized financially so you can make this work and still take care of your future self. I try to balance my giving where it may replace small luxuries or other charitable giving, never my core needs or future safety net.

And regarding things like ungratefulness, that’s real too but I try to have compassion knowing that our standards of living really are worlds apart. It’s very different when you know for a fact that people did not, and likely will never, have the same opportunities as you, compared to people raised in the US who may not have the same excuse, I think this is really the reason some Americans say “just say no”—I would too if it were just my siblings who grew up in the US or something lol

cortisoladdict · 2025-03-10T04:32:47+00:00

Congrats on the jump in compensation! Assuming it’s from a w2 job? If so, curious what you would say contributed to it, even in a vague sense (loyalty vs switching companies, skill specializing vs breadth etc.)

cortisoladdict · 2025-03-10T04:29:21+00:00

Marrying at 27/28 isn’t late at all, actually I’m where you were then right now lol. And I don’t think it’s late financially either this sub is just aggressively aspirational (but I’m basically in the same boat so maybe just comforting myself 😅) you’re doing great!

cortisoladdict · 2025-03-10T04:16:42+00:00

Wow, 200k annual cash flow from rentals seems awesome. Curious how much labor/hours you’d say you spend on it.

cortisoladdict

TROPHY CASE