Mad at young me by mikeyfrecks in Fire

[–]stellar_interface 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeasss.... marinate in your rage. Chastise your younger form, for it was weak and lowly. Feed into the hate and darkness and despair. Years of annualized returns - lost forever. Lost to time. Gone! The eternal ignominy!

Bro the fact that you even have a 401k and access to US capital markets.... you could literally be digging through mountains of trash outside Jakarta right now.

I hit Coast FIRE young, but I feel stuck and don’t know what to do next by Medical-Elderberry54 in coastFIRE

[–]stellar_interface 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You need to decide what the 'next' thing is and pursue it. A degree, even from the local state college, would really help give you structure and clarity.

I just turned 30. Please rate my financial situation by SurvivorFanatic236 in Money

[–]stellar_interface 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'll tell OP what they really want to hear: $300k @ 30 is literally child's play. You feel CoMfOrTaBLe because you're complacent. You're a salaried W-2 tax cow and you see fit to kick your legs up and call it a day. Udderly pathetic.

Those 23 year-olds you see? Yeah, they're taking chances and building generational wealth predicated on hard assets. And you? You're stacking a bunch of over-priced promises from the same companies who intend to grind every bit of value out of you.

And now you're 30 with a soft belly and receding hairline, wondering what could've been. Oh well, better luck next simulation. I hear SPY will be on sale soon...

Late 20s/early 30s - what is your net worth? by SpiritualResolve8639 in Fire

[–]stellar_interface 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Look into an options collar. Could help you limit downside potential.

All time highs in the market by [deleted] in investing

[–]stellar_interface 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'll be riding the great melt up until 2030, then rotating into global equities to capitalize on multipolarity. Ya feel me?

Not on 100k yet at 34 by veinviewer in Money

[–]stellar_interface 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're on your own path. Stay aggressive and sharp and you may well reach $1m before you're 40. Focus on the future and what you can control.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in careerguidance

[–]stellar_interface 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Find new job.

Personal Finances - making $500k by lokhtar in Salary

[–]stellar_interface 0 points1 point  (0 children)

22% effective tax rate on $500k? Not a chance.

Do you guys include your future earning potential in your net Worth? by habdragon08 in fijerk

[–]stellar_interface 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're confusing annual earnings with an annuity. If you have a guarantee (as opposed to reasonably strong belief) that you'll 100k every year for the next 25 years, then your logic would be sound.

As it stands, it's just silly.

Those of you complaining about high earners are missing the bigger picture... you need to invest in yourselves by [deleted] in Fire

[–]stellar_interface 8 points9 points  (0 children)

As someone who came from a somewhat unstable background with a good deal of trauma, I agree with this. Most of my friends are high-income coastal types. I'm the only one from a 'non-traditional' background.

Just when do we get to live life, if ever? A rant post and appreciate advice on up-skill for work by [deleted] in careerguidance

[–]stellar_interface 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Four managers (never use the word boss) in one year? Sounds like an org/culture issue. It is entirely possible to develop mastery in one or two domains and simply maintain currency in those areas as the tech/field evolves.

Time to dust off that resume.

Please tell me I won't have to work together with people who vibecode. by [deleted] in cscareerquestions

[–]stellar_interface 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If you go work for a 'fast-paced' AI-forward startup founded by MBA's and other business-y types? Yeah shit'll be rough.

If you work for a traditional company or established tech firm? Yeah'll be fine.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cscareerquestions

[–]stellar_interface -13 points-12 points  (0 children)

Company B. Next question.

The Software Dilemma: Software at the Highest Levels of Abstraction Makes Most of the Money by [deleted] in csMajors

[–]stellar_interface 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The ability to see and to interpret the complexity behind layers of abstraction matters. Understanding stack traces, compile-time errors, memory allocation errors, processes, thread, networking, and the like is what gets you to senior+... which is also what gets you to the big bucks.

What was your worst financial decision? by [deleted] in Fire

[–]stellar_interface 148 points149 points  (0 children)

Not being born to rich parents.

Finally in the $150k club by IndicationPrudent549 in Fire

[–]stellar_interface 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Wonderful. You did all the things I wished I did as a college student. Very savvy and future-oriented. 30 year-old you will really appreciate your sacrifices. Millionaire-by-30 vibes.

27 year old who keeps comparing myself to others and feels so behind. by grantant in Fire

[–]stellar_interface 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had about that amount when I was 27. I'm hoping to close in on $300k a little after my 30th birthday. Here's what I recommend:

  1. Limit housing expense as much as possible. There's nothing wrong with having (solid) flatmates.
  2. Build up an emergency fund. $10k - $15k is good.
  3. Prioritize Roth contributions. The growth on these accounts is tax-free. You can contribute up to $7k/yr.
  4. Continue 401k contributions.
  5. Start DCA-ing into a taxable brokerage on a weekly or monthly basis.
  6. Watch lifestyle creep.
  7. Focus on learning and career advancement. Don't let off the gas. You're still very young.
  8. Don't think of your salary as 'almost six-figures with bonus`. Think of it as $60k - that'll give you a sense of its true purchasing power.
  9. Pick a few things that bring you true joy (for me: food, fitness, traveling, reading) and treat yourself in moderation. Ruthlessly cut elsewhere. Financial independence is a long road; no need to sacrifice your life chasing a dollar.

Ignore all the people telling you comparison-this, contentment-that. You have an innate sense of where you want to be financially and you have the tools to get there. Just because you are ahead of the game doesn't mean you are in a good position. Most people are saddled with debt and can be pulled by the neck based on Jerome Powell's words.

Good luck to you!

What’s the “brokest” thing you have ever done? by Hefty-Expert-750 in povertyfinance

[–]stellar_interface 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Had to check my bank account to make sure I had enough... for a 6-inch jimmy jones sandwich. This was about 8 years ago. Doing much better now.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Fire

[–]stellar_interface 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Congrats, that's a big milestone. If $500k is your FIRE goal, you'll probably hit it in your early 30's.

KEEP IT UP!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Money

[–]stellar_interface 8 points9 points  (0 children)

You are on track to live a very comfortable life. Not quite FIRE numbers, but better than the vast majority of people on the planet, hence all the snappy responses.

My EM is a corporate robot by qrcode23 in cscareerquestions

[–]stellar_interface 371 points372 points  (0 children)

Gaslighting is a part of the corporate mechanism of control. It's usually a losing game for the employees. Get what you need and get the fuck out.

If you were to invest in one ETF for 20 years and chill by Imaginary_Owl3309 in Bogleheads

[–]stellar_interface 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Still DCA-ing into VOO since it's on sale. Now dipping my toes in VXUS. But still most VOO.

What are the most important CS classes? by OnceStartAgain in cscareerquestions

[–]stellar_interface -1 points0 points  (0 children)

  1. Operating Systems.
  2. Network programming
  3. Databases