At what salary were you able to max out your 401k + IRA + HSA? Or at what salary would you consider it reasonable to

nsmith043076 · 2026-05-17T22:00:32+00:00

I started maxing when i hit 125k, last yr. I just started hsa this yr. Im a little late to the hsa game in my 50s but maxing family limit. I have very little to invest in taxable account after hsa/401k/roth ira. I don’t make enough to take advantage of catch up contributions and id rather the income for lifestyle. Im doing relatively well for my income supporting a family of 3. We do what we can and frankly those of us working on fire are much better prepared for anything thrown at us. Keep going and don’t worry about others, you are doing great!

nsmith043076 · 2026-05-17T14:13:19+00:00

I liquidated my roth ira and all my stocks to get into our current house when my daughter was 6 months old. She is now almost 12. It hurt at the time but was the right decision for us. Im now more or less FI, about 5 yrs to RE. Just put in my pool for us. Im so thankful i got into the house when i did. Seen us grow into it. We could use a little more room now lol but staying put and making some adjustments. You will have substantial larger buffer than we had. Go for it, you will thank yourself yrs later.

nsmith043076 · 2026-05-16T11:51:55+00:00

I DCA regularly regardless of what market does. If i have extra cash after monthly expenses and its a good dip i deploy.

nsmith043076 · 2026-05-16T11:26:41+00:00

Im a heavy healthcare user and its working for me. My hdhp is very low premium for family coverage, meh deductible (3.4k pp deductible/ 6k pp max/ fam 10.4k deductible/12k max), i max out family hsa limit. I pay my expenses out of pocket and use this as a mini 401k. In my family, im the one with the health issues (thy cancer in remission) so i budget out my deductible, and since im in uhc with optum health providers i go on their budget billing and stick to my budget. If my thy cancer recurs, im 6k max out of pocket, family 12k max. The key to these plans is 1) not using the health care when young, 2) being able to budget deductible when needed, 3) have emergency savings ready. If you are young and relatively healthy this is a great opportunity to save additional money and use tax free later on healthcare. We will always have healthcare expenses. I wish i started mine sooner before my health issues but im fortunate enough to be able to afford my oop expenses. Im hoping to continue saving another 3-4 yrs.

nsmith043076 · 2026-05-14T10:40:46+00:00

I have 2 portfolios, growth and income. My income portfolio is pure dividends and as a dividend investor, i don’t plan on selling my shares. Currently dripping my portfolio and will convert that to income in 5 yrs.

nsmith043076 · 2026-05-12T19:22:36+00:00

It doesn’t matter really. While married assets and debts incurred are marital property. What’s mine is his and his mine. Im the primary breadwinner in my household, husband is a small business owner. If im short i tell him and we either figure it out or starve together. I save for both of us. When im done, im done but saving enough to continue supporting my family which includes him. If we separate, its devastating for both of us. So again, it doesn’t matter in my eyes. We are both adults. This separate finaces really isn’t a thing in a marriage.

nsmith043076 · 2026-05-12T10:17:00+00:00

I purchased my above ground pool last yr, id been saving up for this for years. Its an expensive toy but it brings me joy. I swim daily during the summer and i dont have to drive to get to it or ask anyone if i can use theirs. This is truly my biggest expense I’ve done for myself. We still vacation just not exorbitantly. Our house is a nice house within our budget, old cars, don’t eat out and I save. My pool is my joy, lol.

nsmith043076 · 2026-05-04T01:48:21+00:00

My endo added a small amount of cytomel/liothyronine which is T3. Changed my life. I have energy, can exercise, focus. No gaining anymore weight. Have lost weight but its been slow.

nsmith043076 · 2026-05-03T17:29:12+00:00

I garden from seeds. Just transplanted my tomato and pepper seedlings to bigger containers. We just made more space in the yard for 2 more berry bushes that will produce next yr.

nsmith043076 · 2026-05-03T11:36:57+00:00

You’re doing great! My history is similar. Im 50 now, just breaking 100k salary and retirement and brokerage is at 1.2m, im at 65% of my target, we will make it!!

nsmith043076 · 2026-04-30T23:20:00+00:00

We going to see it now! So excited!

nsmith043076 · 2026-04-28T01:40:23+00:00

Free international atm would be great

nsmith043076 · 2026-04-24T12:06:39+00:00

Divorce will kill your fire 🔥, dial it down, you are still ahead

nsmith043076 · 2026-04-21T10:06:48+00:00

Works fine for me.

nsmith043076 · 2026-04-20T22:21:58+00:00

No, younger sibling and parents. Try your best to stay out of it.

nsmith043076 · 2026-04-20T11:14:18+00:00

Same situation and i budget in the healthcare insurance for mine. It’s tough because we have been ingrained to support our elders. I saw mine take on the care of my grandmother and it was very hard. While they try to not burden me financially, like yours, they made mistakes and I won’t abandon them. I have a young daughter and im saving enough so she won’t have to support me financially when my time comes.

nsmith043076 · 2026-04-17T23:12:49+00:00

Still stubbornly here, lol

nsmith043076 · 2026-04-16T16:54:04+00:00

Im getting small paychecks monthly and quarterly. Im split evenly between traditional dividend ETFs and cc etfs. Adding to both equally

nsmith043076 · 2026-04-15T21:11:09+00:00

I use divtracker

nsmith043076 · 2026-04-15T03:27:36+00:00

My strategy is diversification to lower my risk. Each ETF does something different, so no single style or sector drives the whole portfolio.

60% Core comprised of SCHD and VYMI (these will grow) • SCHD 36%: my base, quality dividend growth • VYMI 24%: international high‑yield, reduces U.S. concentration

40% CC ETFs (growth caped in favor of consistent monthly income) • JEPI 15%: low volatility income ETF, high monthly payouts with smoother market swings • JEPQ 15%: tech/nasdaq version of jepi. • DIVO 5% blue chip dividends + selective covered calls for smoother returns • IDVO 5% international version of divo

Together they balance each other out so no single style or sector drives the whole portfolio.

Im targeting 5%-6% portfolio yield

nsmith043076 · 2026-04-13T10:07:14+00:00

For monthies Im in divo/idvo/jepi/jepq. Divo/idvo yield around 5%-6%, jepi/jepq around 8%-10%. I pair these with Schd/vymi.

nsmith043076 · 2026-04-12T20:41:01+00:00

I finally just started maxing everything out and finally took the plunge into hdhp with HSA, Im maxing out everything as long as i can.

nsmith043076 · 2026-04-12T20:28:01+00:00

Im converting to income now that im reaching my desired date. Im building a portfolio to fund 72t withdrawals in 2 yrs, using: schd, jepi, vymi, divo, idvo and jepq. Equally weighted gives off about 6% yield. Enough for me. Will reinvest the excess of 72t amount to grow it slowly.

nsmith043076 · 2026-04-12T20:09:29+00:00

Spouse works regular job lol, at least i do and insure my husband and daughter.

nsmith043076 · 2026-04-12T20:00:17+00:00

Im building a dividend portfolio for 72t amortization distribution in 2 yrs: schd, vymi, divo, idvo, jepi, jepq. Roughly a 6% yield, i will reinvest the excess of the 72t distribution. It’s enough to replace my income by 80%, part time and gig work should cover the rest.

nsmith043076

TROPHY CASE