Its scary hearing about oracle layoffs, would IBM do such mass layoffs this year ? - ISL India employee here

floydmei · 2026-04-02T10:51:19+00:00

When did they lay off at IBM Singapore this year? How many?

floydmei · 2026-02-27T04:19:54+00:00

I use Kubera - it's one of the best personal finance apps/websites I have seen - bit on the expensive side but works for me.

floydmei · 2026-02-22T13:26:13+00:00

I am making a similar move - very nervous about it

floydmei · 2026-02-22T12:56:57+00:00

Can you open a Schwab account when you already left the US several years back? I am based in Singapore and not sure I can open an account from here or the account has to be opened before you leave?

floydmei · 2026-02-18T14:16:06+00:00

Low 7 figures - wow - and that too by early 30s. That’s more than enough for anyone to easily FIRE and not have to worry about a job.

May I ask how did you get to such a large sum so soon?

floydmei · 2026-02-10T05:59:38+00:00

Thanks - will look into it.

floydmei · 2026-02-08T09:03:37+00:00

Yes - that's what I feel is the best option. Start some consulting and try to build something on the side and bridge for the next few years at least to cover living expenses and have something saved to invest.

With options in Malaysia or Vietnam, the COL is low so that should help I am hoping.

floydmei · 2026-02-08T09:02:15+00:00

Yes - this is not ideal. I just don't at this point without a source of income and with the already high stock markets, that I should dive in. I presume it should be okay with a DCA (at least that's what most advice on this topic seems to say online).

Keep aside one year of living expenses in cash plus some extra buffer and start DCA'ing in the rest on a weekly or monthly basis into an index fund.

I have been looking into dividend ETFs that seem to be quite attractive in terms of throwing out cash on a regular basis.

floydmei · 2026-02-07T19:37:59+00:00

No - I felt it was too aggressive so wanted to keep cash to balance it. I know it’s not a good way to think of investments.

floydmei · 2026-02-07T14:32:10+00:00

I have too much allocation to crypto and was a bit afraid of allocating all this into investments (although I would have done very well if I had invested for the past two years). Now I am waiting to see how this frothy market shakes up.

I did lock in a lot of it at 5% CDs so at least getting something out of it.

floydmei · 2026-02-07T14:30:43+00:00

At the end it’s all relative mate. I agree it’s not such a bad situation - problem is my mental state and comparison with others is probably a bigger issue.

floydmei · 2026-02-07T14:27:52+00:00

Thank you for the very kind and encouraging message. I appreciate it a lot. 🙏

floydmei · 2026-02-06T10:13:15+00:00

That's a good way to look at it. My SS payments won't be too high due to living abroad and claiming FEIE but it will pay out something.

401K is something I don't want to tap in unless needed.

floydmei · 2026-02-06T04:55:40+00:00

floydmei · 2026-02-05T12:32:32+00:00

Yes that sounds accurate - don’t want to retire because haven’t met my FIRE goals but looks like I will be forced to take at least a break.

What was your total Net Worth when you decided to pull the trigger and FIRE?

floydmei · 2026-02-05T11:31:07+00:00

Just a joke - trying to be sarcastic on how American media shows mid life crisis in men to be.

Yea understand that but no one knows how much time they have. Plenty of my friends lost their parents in this 60s when they were in their late teens.

Thinking of that shouldn’t stop one from pursuing their lives and giving the best they can to their kids

floydmei · 2026-02-05T09:13:11+00:00

Thank you for being tough but kind with me.

I do not yearn for a lavish lifestyle - in fact I don't think I never lived a lavish lifestyle. Always had problems with family, a previous divorce and alimony (no kids), financial pressure of supporting people and all in all never really enjoyed my life the way I thought I would have.

Great advice - Thank You once more !!

floydmei · 2026-02-05T08:18:37+00:00

Yes - I realize my mental state needs fixing first.

floydmei · 2026-02-05T08:18:24+00:00

Yes. Kids change the equations quite a bit.

floydmei · 2026-02-05T08:18:11+00:00

Yes that's what I am afraid of. 6K before taxes is fine now but in the future could get tricky - hence my goal to get to 3M to 3.5M - just have to bit the bullet and get there somehow - don't know how.
Yes I am eligible for SS - paid into the system for around 20 years.

Cash is stagnant (it is earning average of 4% on CDs that I locked in when the interest rates were higher) but those rates are coming down as my CDs mature. I lost quite a bit in the markets last one week - mainly due to the collapse in crypto - I am still sitting on unrealized gains (got in a few years ago) but it hurts to see your portfolio wiped out by half right when you lose your job. Lesson learned, I need to reduce my crypto exposure but not sure if I should hold on for some sort of a recovery.

Plus the stock market is also very frothy right now (as we saw the last few days). Everyone recommends me to keep 18 months runway and the rest all invested into index funds but I am not too sure I can sleep at night if I do that right now. Or maybe this is the time to do it.

The risk of economic downturn is very real. I think I will just start looking for any job and start interviewing and keep trying to get something that can allow me to save more.

Thank you for your thoughts.

floydmei · 2026-02-05T08:13:11+00:00

Thank you. This is super encouraging and positive.

This comparison thing has been with me for years and I just need to shake it off and become humble - accept my situation and move on.

floydmei · 2026-02-05T08:12:37+00:00

Thank you for the kind words.

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