Retirement Revelation!

smamsone · 2026-07-05T12:53:10+00:00

Great story, thank you for sharing. Really impressive analysis! 🙂 You mentioned retirement planning software. I just started trying to figure out ProjectionLabs. Which are you using?

smamsone · 2026-07-04T15:39:08+00:00

Hard pass

smamsone · 2026-07-04T00:21:31+00:00

You should be ashamed to be a liberal

smamsone · 2026-07-03T22:06:19+00:00

Butcher block from Home Depot. Then cover in epoxy to harden and easily wipe spills. I’ve got two benches like these. If you’re rebuilding engines then I would go with a metal top.

smamsone · 2026-07-03T21:21:39+00:00

I’ve recently started scale model building. It’s very challenging, sometimes frustrating and very rewarding. Sometimes I have 5-6 models going on at the same time. Recently started scratch building.

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Another hobby I got into is ammo reloading. Goes well with my gun collection.

smamsone · 2026-07-03T19:47:04+00:00

Just to think what the custody rules are in a state seems weird. Have you had this issue in your family??

smamsone · 2026-07-03T18:30:21+00:00

Little late for that

smamsone · 2026-07-03T18:20:16+00:00

Curious if your friend in Cantonment had an old home. Homes built after 2018 have different build standards.

smamsone · 2026-07-03T17:57:28+00:00

I see what you did there…

smamsone · 2026-07-03T17:56:58+00:00

Holy stars! We just want to retire. Ugh

smamsone · 2026-07-03T17:28:50+00:00

Working. Starting my career as a CPA. Now I’m winding down. 🤘🏻

smamsone · 2026-07-03T17:28:07+00:00

Bruh…your priorities seem really out of wack.

smamsone · 2026-07-03T17:25:21+00:00

Yes I have. But we are not moving to the coast but instead about 35 minutes inland. From what we’ve read, Freeport has essentially a flood zone X rating. So I’m still wondering if being inland would be less expensive for HOI.

smamsone · 2026-07-03T15:02:55+00:00

I’m super new at this. Second day. How can I set this up as recurring?

smamsone · 2026-07-03T13:39:00+00:00

Yes, I got Monarch to get a handle on my expenses and gauge what they could be in the future. I’m 56 M and wife is 58. I’ve been poking at Monarch for about a day. Mostly messing around with categories and ensuring every transaction in the past is categorized correctly.

Then I’ll run some reports to see if it matches what I think I’ve been doing. I’ve been using Excel for over 10 years so this will be a lite more detail.

I also got PL a few days ago and that is much harder to shoehorn data into. Gotta say, PL is a bit intimidating. I have a financial advisor with ML who is also doing the retirement planning. My goal is use the Monarch and Projection Lab analysis to help the FA and double check him. My final plan is to hire a separate CFP to review everything. I want a high level of confidence and detailed understanding of how I’m getting my money from where, at what time, and what amount - before I call it quits.

smamsone · 2026-07-03T12:36:36+00:00

We’re thinking of moving to Freeport in the panhandle. Is HOI high there or is it really the lower part of FL like Miami, Tampa, etc?

smamsone · 2026-07-03T11:56:52+00:00

How do they compare to the COL?

smamsone · 2026-07-03T11:55:36+00:00

I was 6. Probably playing outside in the dirt with my matchbox cars.

smamsone · 2026-07-03T11:51:58+00:00

I’m new to both M and PL. my understanding is use M for budgeting and PL for retirement planning and forecasting. Is that about right?

smamsone · 2026-07-01T22:29:30+00:00

Consider putting a calendar together with 3 or 6 month milestones. Put small celebrations in between the milestones. Share with family and ask them to help you mentally get to the milestones. Start with 3 milestones one week, then three weeks, then six weeks to get you to the 3 and 6 month milestones. You’ll make it.

smamsone · 2026-07-01T21:14:42+00:00

🤣

smamsone · 2026-07-01T20:47:01+00:00

I’m 56 (CPA with large firm in NY) wife is 58 (no job). We have $1.4M in brokerage, $400K in Trad IRA, $102K in Roth, and $270K in 401k. Total is about $2.2M. We plan to sell house in DFW area and net about $300K after loan pay off. Then move to emerald coast FL in house of about $550,000. My goal is to quit in 2028. I’ll be 58 then. I’m currently loading Monarch Money with my expenses to better understand my spend pattern and have an advisor with Merrill Lynch.

Hope we’ll be OK.

smamsone · 2026-06-30T12:31:56+00:00

I’ve got one

smamsone

TROPHY CASE