We just got back from a week at our vacation place near Walt Disney World and had an odd vibe about early retirement that hadn’t hit me before. It made me doubly appreciative for the FIRE lifestyle we were able to achieve. We had our Florida handyman working on a few projects – at the same time our Minnesota handyman (and painter) were doing projects … Continue reading Double Incongruity of FIRE Lifestyle
I met up with an old friend this week on a visit to my hometown of Racine WI. He had retired four years ago and said he “wasn’t happy without something to do” and went back to work at his old job half-time. I wondered how common that feeling was among early retirees and found an online thread where people addressed the question, “Are you … Continue reading Are You Happier In Retirement?
I recently Googled the term ‘early retirement’ to see how the media is chattering about this topic. Since I’ve been boring readers with this topic for more than 9 years, I felt I had a responsibility to keep up-to-date with how early retirement is being discussed in the media. As usual, the headlines were confusing and at odds with each other: “My Dad Sacrificed Everything … Continue reading Early Retirement: Searching For Answers?
I see a lot of headlines in the news lately touting how high the stock market has gone. It is true that the S&P 500 has reached a new Apex – up +19% YTD to almost 5,600. At the same time, few in the mainstream media are noting that the bond market has tumbled markedly in the last two years (down -16%). Compared with equities, … Continue reading A Tale of Two Markets
We’re sitting down with our financial planner on Monday for our annual portfolio checkup. The key issue we need to think through is the relative balance of our portfolio between safe/less safe investments and those which are liquid/illiquid. When we bought our condominium in Celebration FL in February, I was a bit concerned our portfolio would be getting a bit heavy in real estate. In … Continue reading Rebalancing Act
I often read articles & posts where young people are bemoaning their financial lot in life. They complain about student debt. The gripe about limited opportunities. The grouse about job prospects. I’ve always believed they were being prematurely pessimistic. Yes, the economy is a bit ‘wobbly’ these days – but there is no crisis. Sometimes it seems everyone wants to play the victim these days. … Continue reading Every Generation Better …
Wow. I cannot believe how high inflation has soared over the past few years. High inflation has been my biggest concern since we early retired. I’ve probably written 15 posts worrying about what may happen to our FIRE plans if high inflation came as a result of the economic Pol-idiots in Washington DC. A few favorites: Cut Those Prices In Half! IRS Changes Don’t Keep … Continue reading Who’s Afraid of Inflation?
A quick post on April Fool’s Day today. I saw this post in a FIRE group recently and thought I’d share the person’s question and my response … POST: I am very close to retiring. I am 56, married, and have four kids. Three are adults and one nearly out of high school. I have planned well and can retire and seek freedom and flexibility … Continue reading Feeling Guilty? Nah.
File this under “Things I’m Thankful For, But Have No Control Over”. The S&P 500 is off to a blazing start in 2024. Q1 is ending, and the index is already up double-digits (10.1%). It’s the U.S. equity market’s best start since 2019! I know, a quarter isn’t much to be excited for, but the U.S. market has really been rocking for a full decade … Continue reading Two Different Worlds
Our home state of Minnesota regularly shows up at the top of the list of states with the highest taxes in the USA. A few years ago, Kiplinger’s named Minnesota – not California or New York – as the country’s “Least Tax Friendly State”. As many Minnesotans have left the state for low taxes & warm weather in Florida, many have suggested we join them. … Continue reading Department of Residency
MrFireStation 