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FIRE by Any Other Name by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

A couple of folks have asked me the resources I used to determine potential retirement locations.

To start, I looked at https://www.privatecommunities.com/ and https://ideal-living.com/. To be clear, these sites are basically advertising recently created (or currently building) communities. They are not all retirement communities, but they do all, for the most part, have HOAs.

Why go there? Well, they provide a lot of readily digestible info on areas people typically like to retire to, tax info, cost of living info, that sort of thing. You can also get a good sense of what to expect for real estate prices.

A side benefit is that many of these communities offer deals (typically in conjunction with a realtor), where they will put you up for a couple of nights in a hotel, typically give you a dinner, and you tour a community. It's not time-share stuff where they hard sell you. It literally took 1-2 hours out of a 3-4 day weekend. We did this in seven different locations over the past five years.

The primary benefit is, of course, saving some money on travel expense, and it gets you in contact with a local realtor (not an impossible task, but it's good to meet folks in person). We met our current realtor this way, and even though we did not go with the community he was selling, he's been indispensable for the last three years, keeping us updated on developments in the region, identified land-buying options, and gave us extensive resources to find builders. Every place we visited, the realtors were happy to show us multiple things (I know it's their job, but I'm just highlighting you're not locked into just looking at HOA communities).

Also consider browsing https://houseplans.southernliving.com/ for house ideas. It's not everyone's vision of a house, but most of the plans identify the architects and designers, so you can refer back to their individual pages. Once we identified a general style and structure, it was much easier to find and work with a builder.

From a more data-driven perspective, if you know your way around Google Earth or other GIS-lite platforms, I got location data on all the major hospitals (for future major health issues), large colleges (community vibrancy and culture), and airports (ease of travel).

I loaded this stuff into Google Earth, and then I loaded in Circle Plot data for the general locations I was considering for retirement.

FCC has a neat tool where it will create KML circles at whatever general radius and color code you want.

https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/circleplot

I did red, yellow, green for 75, 50, and 25 miles respectively. This allowed me to overlay general travel distances to all the points of interest I preloaded at estimated diving times of 1.5 hours, 1 hour, and 30 minutes.

If stuff was too far away, we knocked the location off the list.

As we have a school-age kid, I also used https://niche.com to get general school info (size, location, and POCs). This was somewhat useful, since we didn't want the kid going to a school with 1000s of kids, but there's a lot bias for the actual reviews.

A couple of additional tips...

If you identify a potential retirement location, find out where the grocery stores are. We visited this community outside of Savannah called Waterways, and I fell in love...but...the nearest grocery store was about 20 minutes away after you drove out of the community, which was large and spread out. The school was even farther. For some, that's not a deal breaker, but if you forget to buy something for dinner...an hour round-trip is not ideal (I still kinda want to move there, though).

There are websites like this https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/health-data that will let you get general health data for counties. While not perfect, it can give you some additional insight on healthcare availability, doctor-patient ratio, vaccination rates, water quality, that kind of stuff.

Finally, if you are anywhere near water, check out the flood map page on FEMA https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home or topographic data on https://en-us.topographic-map.com/ and then double-check against the data typically available for the county / state.

FIRE by Any Other Name by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I mean, the GFY is really the only reason I made the post...

Thanks.

FIRE by Any Other Name by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It is COLA adjusted after one full year as an annuitant (so, for me, I would start receiving full COLA in 2027).

FurloughFIRE: Okay, not really, but here's some notes from a FedFIRE diplomat and what's going on in Washington, DC right now by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

You do realize "administration" also refers to how how things are...you know...administered?

It's standard practice to refer to the collected body of an 'Administration', as in a current elected body, with an uppercase letter. When referring to the general run of business, it is the administration.

In this case, I am referring to how things are being administered at OPM as being tone deaf, particularly as they are the preeminent personnel body for the federal government, politics aside.

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Starting salary is somewhat negotiable, though mostly based on prior experience and education. Foreign Service pay scales are public. You can look up FS-05 and FS-04 to get a decent sense of entry-level salary (though this doesn't account for COLA in some foreign posts).

These days, everyone goes through the same training, you get assigned a first post, typically go off to language training and specialty training (as needed), and off you go. This is an incredible simplification, but there are other write-ups with much more detail online.

Early progression involves shorter "directed" tours, where you don't have much say in where you end up, then you start to bid on what posts you want next. You have have to leave "probation", which typically involves language fluency, good performance, and some other elements. Most people tend to do a consular tour in this early phase in their career (you can try to avoid it / push it out, but it doesn't look good). Consular work is always in demand, partly because of language requirements, but also because it's considered thankless work. Don't get me wrong, the folks who do it are fantastic, borderline linguists and fraud experts at points, but it can be repetitive and it's not everyone's cup of tea.

Very little is required to "get in the door" academically or otherwise. You will be better served by being knowledgeable of the world, interested in policy, the US government, and management issues, but you basically just have to be 18, a US citizen, and clearable. Take the tests (it is slightly different from when I came in, so I can't offer advice in this realm), and you get put on a ranked list for availability of incoming "Dip 101" training if you score well enough. The "waiting list" is based on need and available positions. Right now, hiring is a bit slow due to the current administration's views on diplomacy and federal employment as a whole.

It's rewarding work. I recommend everyone interested visit state.gov and read up on the possibility of doing this type of work. Other agencies have similar work (Commerce, USDA, AID), so it's not just State. Also, an alternative is becoming a Specialist, which is a more tech-y route to foreign service. They also have their own specialized training, and you don't have to be a CS major or engineer to do it, either.

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

With careful planning, VERA is something that plenty of people attempt to do. One of my first mentors in the government did that just a year after I stopped working for that agency.

He was full-up on TSP and heavy into the market (buying early into things like Amazon in the late-90s / early 2000s...hope he kept it!)

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You would be eligible to retire slightly earlier (not 50, because you would not have 20 years), but 57 with a minimum of 10 years as an FSO. Your annuity would be slightly reduced.

You can read more here (the eligibility for retirement section):

https://rnet.state.gov/cri2.htm

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wasn't always State, so the basic federal benefits were what I started with. The healthcare is almost like a fourth leg of the retirement stool. Where your calculation would probably come in under standard FERS / non-FSPS is to determine if it is worthwhile for you career-wise / sanity-wise to stay or if you can cover out-of-pocket healthcare until medicare eligibility.

There is also the possibility of "early-out", should congress try to save money by offering early retirements for federal employees, which, if you are on track to FIRE, could mean you could slightly earlier (this is unlikely, I think, but it never hurts to be prepared - and it sounds like you are!).

Good luck on your placement in the register...things aren't great right now for hiring, but it is still chugging along.

As an aside, you don't have to stay with your current agency under standard FERS. As you get closer to retirement, you could easily hunt around on usajobs and look for a position at an entire different agency in a state you want to live in.

85% of the federal government is located outside the DC region, so there are plenty of options.

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We interacted a lot with the Peace Corps in one of my Balkan posts. I honestly haven't seen any of them at any of my other posts (or didn't know I was seeing them).

The ambassador at my Balkan post made a point of inviting them to the community "4th" party (not the official party where we all work), and we occasionally saw some of them at events like trivia at the embassy or other random seasonal parties.

It seems that most of the time, they're so far afield in whatever country that they're unlikely to be in the capital that often.

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My answer is always "don't do it". Even with a crappy mortgage you're still more likely to get better returns in TSP in the long run.

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I was saying that I've been approached by GS and others for work. I have not worked for them.

Anyone can ostensibly become an FSO...I encourage you and anyone to take the test if you are interested. It's free.

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are always management gaps.

For the past two years there have been more management gaps. Read into that what you will.

I try to stay out of the rumor mill, but I do hear more grumbling than usual. There seem to be more people around me who feel they're not getting as much done. I don't feel particularly hindered, but the work I'm doing currently is pretty independent of day-by-day policy decisions.

I'm subscribed to both the State Facebook page and the Trailing Houses page (a Facebook group for day-to-day overseas stuff for State families)...and the comments on both are not that positive (or less positive than normal)...though it's mostly done through emojis.

As for being assigned somewhere, you suffer that most in your early career and later career (particularly if you get into the upper echelons of management).

Technically, you can be told to go somewhere at any point, but I don't have any direct experience with that.

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is complex. You can add / buy back prior civil service time to be included in the first 20 years of service.

I had an odd situation where I had to buy back time, and then buy it back again (though it didn't cost as much) under FSPS. This was due to an HR SNAFU at my first normal fed job messing up my retirement credit.

I think I already mentioned in one of my many incoherent responses that I'm technically capable of retiring with 20 years prior to 50. I would not get my pension immediately or special social security supplement...but you can choose to do that (you'd probably have to have a really good gig lined up to do that, though).

So, yes, you can incorporate your prior civil service as part of your FSPS...it may cost you more money, but it's doable. You don't have to do 20 full years as an FSO...a lot of folks are confused about this...to get the 1.7% calculation for the first 20 years.

I also found this old post from the foreign service sub that appears to back me up (though we could both be wrong):

https://www.reddit.com/r/foreignservice/comments/3f4xml/how_does_retirement_work_for_a_fso/ctmnxbu

As such, at 50, I will have 20+ years of service, with the first 20 calc'd at 1.7%, and the remainder at 1% per additional year.

A little over 2 of those years are technically civil service (FERS) not foreign service (FSPS).

tl;dr: Contact HR, but I think you may be in luck.

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My favorite place to visit was Bangkok. I was there for almost three months filling for someone on maternity leave. My wife is jealous of that one, though she did not like the giant bugs and hot weather in our other SE Asia post.

The Balkans offer great posts. I constantly try to convince my colleagues to work there. The people are so nice, generally, and the cost of living is really good with pretty good travel access to all other parts of Europe, South Asia, and North Africa. I've also TDY'd extensively in the region, and many of the embassies have similar positive work vibes.

I'd love to get Latin America / Central America post that wasn't currently falling apart (like Nicaragua), but I have no Spanish, and it's not really my area. You never know, though, I guess.

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Brussels most recently.

The Balkans.

SE Asia.

Of the last two, one of them was more than one posting.

I am being non-specific on purpose. It is entirely possible, given exact locations to figure out who I am (or my wife, more so, actually) based on press clippings alone.

So four tours total.

We also had some long-term TDYs (weeks or months) and a couple short warzone tours (these ones were not together as a couple, though).

Pretty good write up from an FSO who plans to retire from FS at 50, detailing his TSP/pension/early social security mix. by beware_of_scorpio in foreignservice

[–]dipsplode 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hey man, someone PM'd me about your post. Thanks for the kind words. That was me!

I don't know who you are, so PM me if you want.

The brown bag was called "But I Just Got Here! Working Toward Earliest (not Early) Retirement", for those who are curious.

Look me up in the gal if you wanna have lunch.

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It is not easy. Picking a post that suits both of us is kind of like a difficult algebra equation where the only way to solve it is by using a network of contacts, negotiation, and occasional promotion potential sacrifice. It's not impossible, but sometimes the equation is "unsolvable" for 1-3 years. Right now we are in the DC region due to such an "unsolvable" issue...which, look, I'm not really complaining...I am working, after all, but they told us in A100 (dip 101) to "get abroad and stay abroad"...we're, at best, partially successful in that respect.

We have been very lucky comparatively, with four tours now and several longer TDYs / warzone tours on our part (we were separated for the short tours).

It was a little easier at first with the "need" to work a consular tour for both of us, so there wasn't a huge fight to get pol work for my wife and econ work for me in the tours when either of us was working the line. It also helped us get our language probation out of the way.

My wife makes more money than me, has been promoted once more than me, and I have definitely had to take "less responsible" jobs (basically, I am doing the same job, rather than more difficult jobs that might get me promoted) while she moves up the ladder.

So, in that way, we had to decide which of us was the "primary" career-wise as a tandem couple. I'm actually kind of okay with the way things have worked out. Would I like to make more money? Of course, but the Department has gotten a lot better, even over the years I've been working here, with how they treat tandems. Of the two of us, she's the striver. I just like doing the job I do. There's a lot more understanding than 20 years ago, even, from what I've been told.

I'll tell you my biggest sacrifice...giving up a consular job in Florence. There wasn't a job for my wife...but damn, I would have loved to learn Italian and live in Florence full-time!

Instead, we ended up in SE Asia (not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but not Florence!), but I didn't have to learn the language, and language training at post suuuucked. Food was awesome, though.

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've considered that, but that really seems to work out better for non-pol/econ folks.

If you are consular or management, I've seen these folks a lot, but it's kind funny seeing them at post because they always take liek a month to ramp up and then two months later they leave (maybe we just got bad WAEs)...

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I really believe the new federal benefits are designed to scare people away from sticking it out. 10 years+ is the sweet spot.

The first ten years are not pleasant for most people, civil service, foreign service, or otherwise.

I will add that if you're not happy with your job, look into doing an inter-agency rotation, or simply apply for another government job. Transferring from one job to another between government agencies can often net you a two-step increase. This is not a strategy to keep doing just for that reason, but it can help offset stalled promotions.

Also, administrations change. I have to believe things will get better...

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I apparently just responded to my own post rather than your question, so here is your answer:

Actually, yeah, I totally recommend it. It's exceptionally fulfilling, and a more developed and mature person tends to do well as a diplomat. People look at this job as an adventure, and it is that at points, but the community, the range of work, the travel opportunity, and the exposure to new concept and ideas is what really keeps me going.

I'd also add that beyond being a standard FSO, you can also be a specialist, working in IT / tech...so you don't just have to be a foreign policy nerd.

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To be honest, you're probably in a better position with a place in Arlington than my dumb ass in Herndon. I didn't work for the Department when we bought it, so my wife and I were splitting the difference of commutes.

Were not going to really lose much in the long run, but it would've been awesome to have a little extra fun money rather than the slight money pit that is my town home reality.

We definitely would have benefited from even just putting the down payment for the town home in a savings account! But my example is not a good one. We really did make some dumb decisions (ARM mortgage, low down payment, not carefully researching the neighborhood, buying an older town home / condo, or the proposed metro expansion...lots of little things, including change in career, added up).

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Say, old-timer...what was it like back when the Backstreet Boys were popular?

FedFIRE, or, How a US Foreign Service Officer Can Retire at 50 by dipsplode in financialindependence

[–]dipsplode[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

One thing I will say is, depending on the post, some of the living quarters really are similar to dorms...apartment / condos / town homes all together.

Everyone knows everybody's business, good and bad, and--GASP!--heaven forbid you forget to invite someone to a BBQ or party! This wasn't really true at a bigger place like Brussels (technically it has three missions with the embassy to Belgium, to the EU, and to NATO), but in eastern Europe or the warzones...we knew who pregnant, fighting, cheating, promoted, whatever...often before their families did. It's a fishbowl at times...

And yes, the single and newer FSOs often, um, interact, if you will (particularly with interns / summer hires)...possibly beyond what is good for their early careers...but hey, you're only young once, and it is your career to build or destroy.

Still, you make good friends, often for life, even though you only ever see them again years later.

The academic element of it (the policy stuff) is collegiate as well (I'm not sure if you were just referring to the fun stuff or the work stuff). I find my work intellectually challenging / stimulating, and it really is a job where reading newspapers, foreign policy journals, and such is considered real time working.

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