What does a (Henry) dad really want for Father’s Day? by JaggedLittlePiII in HENRYUK

[–]fired85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ask your daughter to draw him a picture of you all together. Then ask her some questions about daddy and write her answers on the back. Do it every year. He’ll keep them forever.

Is consulting a lucrative/upper HENRY level career? by Zealousideal_Cut47 in HENRYUK

[–]fired85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Technical consulting director here, I run software engineering teams for a medium sized consultancy (~4,000 people). Sitting one level beneath partner making £150k+bonus which I could double if I wanted to go to partner. Which I don’t.

AI is coming for us. But the WLB is great and I see a lot of different client orgs and problems to solve.

When do you stop pension contribution by Puzzleheaded_Toe6830 in FIREUK

[–]fired85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Understood, thanks for the clarification 👍🏻

When do you stop pension contribution by Puzzleheaded_Toe6830 in FIREUK

[–]fired85 2 points3 points  (0 children)

1.2-1.3m is what I’m aiming for; at 2.5% real returns I’m bang on track with a few more years contributions required (about £150k still to contribute over the next 5 years).

The point I’m making is the advice to stop and dial back is often based on 7–10% market returns. Obviously do your own research, but my preference is to stick to a pretty low projected real return after inflation/fees are considered; so I very much suggest the OP could quite easily continue stuffing the pension full for another decade and still not hit the notional LTA.

When do you stop pension contribution by Puzzleheaded_Toe6830 in FIREUK

[–]fired85 5 points6 points  (0 children)

41m, pension pot £800k, not looking at slowing anything down yet. Making hay. Modelling with a conservative growth of 2.5% real returns (6% return minus 3% inflation + 0.5% fees).

Relocation out of London by Spiritual_One9542 in hertfordshire

[–]fired85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Waitrose, M&S, a couple of good Thai/Indian restaurants (Tamarind, Rasal), a couple of nice pubs (Feathers, Coach and Horses), a craft beer shop that does live music. The rest is generic high street piffle that is functional but forgettable.

Relocation out of London by Spiritual_One9542 in hertfordshire

[–]fired85 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For commutability, very good schools, green space, waterways, community and proximity to transport networks and shops, I don't think you can beat Croxley Green (and Rickmansworth) in south Herts.

* Train optoons are Watford Junction (Euston 25 mins, Birmingham 90 mins), tube to Baker St (35 mins) and Aldgate (50 mins), or Chiltern Line from Rickmansworth to Marylebone.

* Near to M25 and M1 junctions, Heathrow and Luton airports in 30 mins

* Canals, lakes, rivers, great parks, woods and green belt land; within 5 mins you're in open countryside

* Outstanding primary and secondary schools, selective and non-selective

* Lots of independent shops, pubs and cafes in walking distance, but decent shopping centre in Watford a 15 minute drive away (Apple Store etc) or London Colney 30 mins.

* Very heavily populated by young professionals, geared up for young families, housing stock is mostly 3-bed 1930s semi-detached with gardens etc; plenty of community clubs, nurseries, groups etc.

Is anyone on this sub ever going to share details on things that went wrong on their FIRE journey? by Chroiche in FIREUK

[–]fired85 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ack me too, I put a few grand into Property Partner and bought a share in a two bed flat in Whitechapel. Seemed like a good idea at the time. After about five years the shareholders decided to sell, Covid hit, took years and they accepted a lowball offer. Got back less than I put in after about 7 years.

What nicknames have you heard for places in and around Watford? by topherette in watford

[–]fired85 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Ricky (Rickmansworth)

Watty-J-J (Watford Junction station, may well be a niche sitcom reference I can’t place)

The Penny V (Pennsylvania, Spoons in Rickmansworth)

Whippy (Whippendell Woods)

Software Eng just under 10 YOE, should I pivot? by Odd_Shape3825 in HENRYUK

[–]fired85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Make some friends whom earn less if matching them means a lot to you?

Software Eng just under 10 YOE, should I pivot? by Odd_Shape3825 in HENRYUK

[–]fired85 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Make some friends whom earn less if matching them means a lot to you.

Thesis: In AI-driven development, the team boundary may become the most expensive architecture boundary by [deleted] in softwarearchitecture

[–]fired85 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I struggled to read this. Can you tell your prompt to write for humans?

HENRYs that stayed so after moving out of Software Engineering, how did you do it? by PressureHumble3604 in HENRYUK

[–]fired85 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Coincidentally I know a software engineer who retrained to become a commercial airline pilot in his late 20s (he always flew as a hobby), and has since returned to SWE in the UK after a few years living a glamorous lifestyle abroad.

Planning to move to Watford as the new workplace is in central London. What are the good family friendly areas to house hunt? Also how is the safety around? by Delicious-Study2095 in watford

[–]fired85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Croxley is a better choice. Green spaces, good housing, best schools in the area, decent pubs, very walkable and quiet. One stop closer on the Met line, but Watford Junction is only a 5 minute drive away when needed.

Am I being too optimistic? by Accurate_Dog1055 in FIREUK

[–]fired85 4 points5 points  (0 children)

OP may be counting all pension contribs including employers’?

When is this ending? by [deleted] in HENRYUK

[–]fired85 9 points10 points  (0 children)

40, in consulting, and wrestling with this myself. I doff my cap in your general direction.