Are you "lucky"if you have a secure retirement?

[jix]

A delicate balance when one looks - backwards.[/QUOTE]

nice way to put it...20-20 hindsight

 

[300UGUY]

One thing I don't understand is the professional advisors recommending bonds only, as you age. I really think stocks should be the primary investment, especially if you are still working at all.

 

[Buggs67]

Not knowing your career, I can not speak directly to it. But,, aren't you lucky to be alive and healthy??

Luck ALWAYS has something to do with it, ALWAYS.

Well, I'm alive, but I don't think that's luck. No reason I should be dead. SO I'll call it even. And I'm not healthy; some job related injuries and genetic. I'm not complaining. I'm happy with how things turned out. I always felt my luck was in not having any, good or bad.

 

[JDgreen227]

The way I look at it, being alive is a given while being healthy is a gift. One of the reasons I tried to retire early is because healthwise, males in my family history have very short lifespans. My dad died at 68, my grandfather at 51, my great-grandfather at 47. Lots of various types of cancer on both my mom's and dad's side. One type is genetic (prostate cancer) so I may not be around much longer. But at least can say I have had one heck of a good time the past 12 years. I have always admired those who continue working into their 70's and longer but who wants to get up and go to work at age 70-plus when you didn't sleep worth a darn last night, you ache all over, and your breakfast is decaf coffee and All-Bran?

Not this guy. So grateful I was able to jump off the treadmill on my own terms.

 

[DFB]

One thing I don't understand is the professional advisors recommending bonds only, as you age. I really think stocks should be the primary investment, especially if you are still working at all.

I think some today do suggest a slightly more aggressive approach to a percentage of your "semi" retirement investing simply because people are living longer today.
And generally the wife outlives the husband :shocked:

Again its a comfort level thing.

 

[DFB]

The way I look at it, being alive is a given while being healthy is a gift. One of the reasons I tried to retire early is because healthwise, males in my family history have very short lifespans. My dad died at 68, my grandfather at 51, my great-grandfather at 47. Lots of various types of cancer on both my mom's and dad's side. One type is genetic (prostate cancer) so I may not be around much longer. But at least can say I have had one heck of a good time the past 12 years. I have always admired those who continue working into their 70's and longer but who wants to get up and go to work at age 70-plus when you didn't sleep worth a darn last night, you ache all over, and your breakfast is decaf coffee and All-Bran?


Not this guy. So grateful I was able to jump off the treadmill on my own terms.

Enjoy it when u can JD You earned it!

 

[Travelover]

..........I have always admired those who continue working into their 70's and longer but who wants to get up and go to work at age 70-plus when you didn't sleep worth a darn last night, you ache all over, and your breakfast is decaf coffee and All-Bran?

Not this guy. So grateful I was able to jump off the treadmill on my own terms.

I think what is critical is to be in a position to make a choice. If a guy wants to be a Walmart greeter (or work any other job) when he is 70 because he enjoys it, that's cool. If he has to work because he can't afford not to, that's pretty sad.

 

[TomSeller]

Those on SS, how much do you receive each month?

 

[JDgreen227]

Those on SS, how much do you receive each month?

As for me, it's $1365 a month, I began collecting at age 62, just over a year and a half ago. 85% of it is taxed by the feds so I have 10% or $136.50 taken out in withholding per month. So....$1228.50 a month net.

 

[TomSeller]

There's a matrix that recommends the different type of women you should tolerate, depending if you just want to have fun, date or marry:
<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/related-topics/411210-you-lucky-if-you-have-hot-crazy-matrix-png"/>

The dark blue is on that end of the hot scale? And what is it with a unicorn? I'm not sure I want to know.

 

[ultrarunner]

All the men in my family stop working when they die... I think this was much more common with farm families... there is always work that needs to be done... on the other side it was small family business.

The idea of retirement with a pension has never happened as best as I can tell... I was going to be the first and I think my Dad was more excited than I was when I landed a job with big company benefits... if he was still around, he would be in shock that they have all gone away...

 

[vtsnowedin]

As for me, it's $1365 a month, I began collecting at age 62, just over a year and a half ago. 85% of it is taxed by the feds so I have 10% or $136.50 taken out in withholding per month. So....$1228.50 a month net.

I've been drawing $1450 a month taxable from my state government retirement post 2006 and working about half time but that has faded off. I plan on taking my SS at 62 in two years and expect it to be above $1200/ m but I'm not sure of the tax bite on that. If that holds true I'll stop looking for any side work and just play with my tractor.

 

[JDgreen227]

The dark blue is on that end of the hot scale? And what is it with a unicorn? I'm not sure I want to know.

It's the trannys that worry me more than a unicorn....:laughing:

 

[ovrszd]

10 YEARS and 2 children! And now your getting married! Congratulations!

I've got 2 children by SWMBO, the youngest being 26, and we've only had 7 anniversaries. We got married in the courthouse on our lunch hour on Feb 29th, 1984.

Sinner.

 

[ovrszd]

A good lifelong older (90) friend of mine and I were talking 10 years ago about retirement. He asked what retirement meant? I said well I guess it's getting up every morning and doing what you want to do. He said then I've been retired my whole life. He farms. Still farms. Rowcrops about 400 acres by himself. I think he's one of the "richest" men I know. I'm sure he would be amused by some statements in this thread.

 

[bajabum]

Those on SS, how much do you receive each month?

I just signed up, I'll get the first check April 1st (April fools day, appropiate, eh?)
They sent me a letter, after medicare part B is deducted, I supposedly will get 2300 - ish.
The wife (63) will get 900 ish.
Got two very small pensions coming in also (beer Money ):licking:
Not great, but doable.
Don't owe anybody a nickle, that helps alot.

 

[TomSeller]

I just signed up, I'll get the first check April 1st (April fools day, appropiate, eh?)
They sent me a letter, after medicare part B is deducted, I supposedly will get 2300 - ish.
The wife (63) will get 900 ish.
Got two very small pensions coming in also (beer Money ):licking:
Not great, but doable.
Don't owe anybody a nickle, that helps alot.

Nice.

 

[JDgreen227]

Nice.

Had I waited until my full retirement age of 66 I would collect about $1765 a month rather than $1365 and if I waited until age 70 it would be about $2365. By starting collecting at age 62 I will get around $67000 over a four year period by starting early, now how long would the payback time be for that amount had I waited until age 66? 164 months!!! Almost 14 years....I don't know why people wait so long to collect SS.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Had I waited until my full retirement age of 66 I would collect about $1765 a month rather than $1365 and if I waited until age 70 it would be about $2365. By starting collecting at age 62 I will get around $67000 over a four year period by starting early, now how long would the payback time be for that amount had I waited until age 66? 164 months!!! Almost 14 years....I don't know why people wait so long to collect SS.

I'm with you on that one. Unless your in excellent health and expect to live past eighty you will collect more in total if you start early. I've seen a couple of people that were smokers only collect two checks before cashing it all in.

 

[300UGUY]

I'm with you on that one. Unless your in excellent health and expect to live past eighty you will collect more in total if you start early. I've seen a couple of people that were smokers only collect two checks before cashing it all in.

Yeah. But even if you expect to live past 80, how important will the extra couple of bucks be when you are 80 something? Not so much I think. Take the money and RUN!!!!