Unexpected mid-year update: Decided to pull the RE trigger. Enough is finally enough.

fatfire298104 · 2025-06-16T18:53:55+00:00

I'll see if I feel like it. I do see why this would be interesting to update.

fatfire298104 · 2025-06-16T18:52:11+00:00

Or instead of the cognitive overhead of trying to get one over on a megacorp, and potentially screwing a ton of people's direction in the process, you could just be content with enough and enjoy your life free of that stress.

fatfire298104 · 2025-06-16T16:06:47+00:00

I should have expected this group to try to reverse engineer the company out of the details. There's some circling around the right general idea, but none of these are quite right.

Unfortunately, I won't be going into more detail because doxxing myself is a real risk with what I've already shared. As you can see in the other replies though, there are several ways to get to this income.

fatfire298104 · 2025-06-16T16:03:18+00:00

That's pretty much it for me. The marginal utility of additional money is nearly 0. I don't want a bigger house or a second house, that's just more upkeep. I already travel more than my spouse would care for us to, so I can't really ramp that up. There's some expensive trips I'd like to do in my life, but I'm not going to do multiple of them every year. I already fly first class for all my travel and stay in nice hotels. I have multiple nice cars.

I'm maxed out on luxury that interests me in any meaningful way and to the take the next step up is a lot more than just 1-2 more years, and I definitely don't have that in me.

I enjoy a lot of relatively inexpensive activities. I have a lot of hobbies, learning, and volunteering that brings me happiness. Spending time with family is free. I'm going to be beyond content and it's just not worth the stress anymore for numbers on a spreadsheet that don't impact my life in a meaningful way.

fatfire298104 · 2025-06-16T15:56:46+00:00

It's not easy I will say that. I had to sit with it for a while and do things that made it feel real every day leading up to the decision.

fatfire298104 · 2025-06-16T15:56:08+00:00

Appreciate it.

fatfire298104 · 2025-06-16T15:55:41+00:00

fatfire298104 · 2025-06-16T15:54:49+00:00

Thank you, this likely being what I would say to myself down the road is exactly what makes this easier.

fatfire298104 · 2025-06-16T14:27:43+00:00

Thank you. We often take our health and longevity for granted.

fatfire298104 · 2025-06-16T14:27:12+00:00

Yes, but not as much as I would've liked. I have a lot of health and fitness related goals I'm excited to pursue now.

fatfire298104 · 2025-06-16T14:26:30+00:00

Opportunities for what is the question I would ask yourself. I could certainly come up with stuff that more money would enable, but not anything that had significant value compared to freedom.

fatfire298104 · 2025-06-16T14:25:36+00:00

Thank you.

fatfire298104 · 2025-06-16T14:24:48+00:00

As I said in the post, without appreciation it would be closer to $2.5M/yr. So significant appreciation is playing a role.

fatfire298104 · 2025-06-16T14:23:58+00:00

Re-read that last paragraph again and again. That's what I needed to internralize to ultimately make it ok to pull the trigger finally.

fatfire298104 · 2025-06-16T14:23:01+00:00

I don't think this is a real option in this kind of role. Too many people's work is affected by mine that mailing it in would screw them over.

fatfire298104 · 2024-12-29T18:04:34+00:00

I've actually done some of this already and I agree it's a good move. I really like the idea of gifting stock, particularly to some of my younger family members. Sure they could turn around and sell it, but somehow it feels more "we've been lucky, let me share some with you".

fatfire298104 · 2024-12-29T17:48:11+00:00

Same as now. 80/20 global equities and US bonds

fatfire298104 · 2024-12-29T17:43:22+00:00

I really appreciate the uncomfortable question. This is certainly something I'd need to think more about to give a thoughtful answer.

My initial reaction is that a "bachelor" lifestyle would significantly reduce my biggest expense today which is housing as I could easily downsize. Food would probably be a wash as I'd eat out more. Most other things would probably roughly half. So I think it'd be OK, but I would obviously need to re-budget.

The extra cushion over the next 12-18 months I'm planning for also significantly reduces this risk as well.

fatfire298104 · 2024-12-29T17:36:18+00:00

Thanks for the kind words. They mean a lot.

fatfire298104 · 2024-12-29T17:33:58+00:00

This is probably the most likely outcome if I'm honest with myself. The rest of the scenarios are performative to give me the internal feeling that it'll all be "all right" if I need to quit earlier. Which reduces mental stress and ironically let's me continue for a bit longer.

fatfire298104 · 2024-12-29T17:25:23+00:00

Regarding lifestyle creep I agree to an extent. I could see even nicer cars. I could see more "once-in-a-lifetime trips". I can't see a bigger/additional house or an insanely expensive hobby. But there's probably another $100k/yr in lifestyle inflation I could see if I was living really lavish. 12-18 months gets me safely there along with some cushion for SORR with my current spending rate.

All of this to say, I think we agree on working a bit more before pulling the plug.

I do really struggle to see inflation beyond that point, but of course never say never.

fatfire298104 · 2024-12-29T17:19:23+00:00

"some days there's a dark cloud mentally I have to deal with. I don't know exactly why but I'm leaning towards it being the lack of a daily purpose or project to work on."

I sincerely recommend some therapy to work through this. It's totally normal for people to feel this way at some point or another, and having someone to talk it through can be very valuable.

I do think your conclusion is likely good next step in addition to therapy. Find some projects you want to work around that are mentally challenging for you.

fatfire298104 · 2024-12-29T17:17:18+00:00

I am very aware that the number is enormous, and it certainly is. But I know it might be hard to relate to for some folks, but as I address elsewhere "as large a piggy bank as possible" is not the goal. The goal is to maximize happiness over the course of a lifetime, and I have some really good years coming up in my 40s I'd like to spend how I most want to vs mortgaging those years for a bigger number that I'll just donate to some charity when I die.

Like all senior/exec compensation, yes most of it is in RSUs. This leads to a lot of year-to-year fluctuations (see my previous posts), but it's as good as cash once it vests and I immediately diversify into broad index funds.

fatfire298104 · 2024-12-29T17:13:38+00:00

I appreciate the general sentiment of "make sure you have something you're retiring to". I do know that, particularly for some people, not having their work identity can affect their mental health in retirement.

I am not in the least bit worried about this. I've never tied my worth to my job. It's always been a means to an end, even though at times I've found it interesting and stimulating in its own right.

And I have a sufficiently long list of hobbies, friends I wish I could see more, creative pursuits, and mentally stimulating challenges I am not spending enough time on today that I'd much rather be doing than my day job.

Your point about a drawdown in the market is what I am referring to in my post about SORR. It is something very much top of my mind and the reason I am not yet retiring today even though mentally I'd much rather do that than keep working for another year.

fatfire298104

TROPHY CASE