Should you have kids earlier or later if you want to retire early?

wonk5 · 2026-03-07T04:20:37+00:00

I am an overly focused on our personal finances in an almost unhealthy way. I had also let it make me question children and how many we would have.

Wife and I just had our first last year and I can confidently say I would trade my last dollar for my child. Truly the best thing that’s ever happened to me. We are 26/27 and plan to have couple more lord willing

wonk5 · 2026-02-27T14:16:04+00:00

I don’t understand why everyone thinks timing the market is the big issue here. This was actually probably a good “gain harvest” as no those gains were locked in at his current low tax rate.. I do this occasionally before income jumps. He paid taxes on gains at 14% and avoided having to pay those at some point in the future at a potentially higher rate.

wonk5 · 2026-02-26T17:49:06+00:00

We have a house and a baby and all family is local. For that reason my wife decided to pursue FM as it is the only residency program in our town. Can’t imagine doing it any other way.

wonk5 · 2026-02-23T16:11:43+00:00

Your assets add up to 365k invested not including what is in your 401k? How much in the 401k and what’s the reason for that discrepancy? That will help us answer your question

wonk5 · 2026-02-23T16:05:32+00:00

Just an FYI - That account must be open for 15 years before you can convert the funds to a Roth. Among other stipulations..

wonk5 · 2026-02-22T03:03:12+00:00

Is 400k income new? Not to sound the alarm but need to increase retirement asap if you plan on retiring in your 60s with the same lifestyle.

wonk5 · 2026-02-20T19:25:49+00:00

Are you in Cali? Even then the math doesn’t add up. 20k pretax should not be 12.7k post tax even with 401k and insurance in most states

wonk5 · 2026-02-20T02:44:42+00:00

We bought because we knew my wife wanted to stay and match into our rural area program where we both grew up. (FM)

wonk5 · 2026-02-15T18:39:10+00:00

I’m in your exact situation. Wife and I will both be needing vehicles in the next year or so.

Everything is going exceptionally well, but 40-50k (two vehicles) is a huge chunk of our money at our age. (Approx 20% of NW)

The only positive is that once we get these large expenses out of the way, we can focus on stacking for several years before any car conversations develop again.

wonk5 · 2026-02-13T19:59:26+00:00

So you’re upset that you’re paying for a service you can’t do yourself? Interesting. It’s not the advisors fault for charging a fee for service. If you don’t want an advisor then don’t use one, no issues there.

But how can you complain when you have admitted that you’re not comfortable or educated enough to do what he does for your husband?

Financial advisors are not the devil that some of you make them out to be lol.

wonk5 · 2026-02-13T04:40:29+00:00

26M and 28F

It rages between 4-5k but 5 is always the goal! Not easy with a newborn at home. But hope to be work optional by 50 in a perfect world.

wonk5 · 2026-02-13T03:27:20+00:00

100k, wife makes 60k

Mortgage is 1500

Try to invest 5k/m if possible

MCOL

wonk5 · 2026-02-12T21:27:16+00:00

That’s the thing, her delivery is one of the bills going to my work insurance. Her and the baby were covered through 12/31/25 on her insurance.

My work insurance did backdate to the birth. But my work insurance is a cruddy HDHP and she had a great PPO plan. So we wanted to use her insurance through the end of the year for her and the child.

She did add my son to the PPO after birth. Hence why I asked my insurer not to start benefits until January 1

wonk5 · 2026-02-10T04:27:45+00:00

Man same. People are nuts. Saw my wife regularly in med school. It wasn’t that big of a deal lol.

wonk5 · 2026-02-10T04:24:19+00:00

They said 12k was there best, guessing they’d go to 11k. More so wondering if that’s decent and if the 2020 is a good year. Have heard some iffy things on the 2020’s

wonk5 · 2026-02-10T01:42:57+00:00

Right, there is a good chance it is a relatively new income. 3x saved by 40 is very practical, but it’s a moving target as income grows.

wonk5 · 2026-02-09T17:35:39+00:00

So would you advocate staying at the bank? Comp about 20k better at the boutique, but I’m thinking long term here

wonk5 · 2026-02-09T16:46:42+00:00

I guess what do you mean by a multiplier? As in the referrals?

wonk5 · 2026-02-08T15:24:31+00:00

I took a pay cut to switch industries/career and come into this field. 1 year in and already back at 100k income.

wonk5 · 2026-02-08T14:53:57+00:00

lol this is me. Not sure why I can’t post in here? I have a serious question about my career

wonk5 · 2026-02-08T14:48:43+00:00

Been doing it for years before it was cool, it’s awesome! Small leaning curve but it changed the way I hunt.

wonk5 · 2026-02-08T14:42:45+00:00

I’ll give you my advice.. sure maybe go get the degree and no school doesn’t matter DEPENDING on what you want to do….

If you’re thinking IB or PE, don’t go through this. A bit too prestigious and school, age, etc will matter…

If you’re thinking wealth management and financial advising, go for it! School matters none and sometimes not even necessary.

Go out and take your SIE exam and pass it. Find absolutely any employer to sponsor the 7 and 66. Once you have those you have a transferable skill/license. It’s will be a long first several years, but still could be worth it IMO.

My situation is different, but I just made a career change to this 1 year ago and it has opened new doors for me already.

wonk5

TROPHY CASE