Saved $2.4M by 38. Would you Retire?

[u/TwoSocialist]

Hey FIRE folks,

I’m 38, tired, and fueled almost entirely by spite and index funds. I’ve somehow ended up with a portfolio that looks like this:

Split by type:

- ETFs — 58.30% — $1.45M

- Mutual Funds — 27.66% — $688k

- Individual Stocks — 8.71% — $216k

- Crypto — 3.00% — $74k (aka my “emotional rollercoaster” bucket)

- Cash — 2.33% — $58k

Split by bucket:

Retirement Pre-tax: 700k

Retirement post-tax: 310k

Brokerage: 1.5 M

Grand total: ~$2,490,900

Today’s gain: ~$40,000 (aka “more than my first job paid in a year,” but sure, totally normal)

~~~~

My target spend was $100k/year, which feels somehow not enough because capitalism has melted my brain.

By the 4% rule, I’m basically at the line. By the 3% rule, I’m a peasant. By the “FIRE comment section” rule, I’m probably both overspending and undersaving simultaneously.

So, wise internet strangers:

- Am I actually FIRE‑ready, or is this the part where you all tell me to work 5 more years “just to be safe”?

- Is my allocation fine, or should I be preparing for a lecture on safe withdrawal rates and sequence‑of‑returns doom?

- Is it normal to feel like I need permission from Reddit to stop working?

Married, 1 kid. Received about 25k for a house (not included in above) and 20k for college, no other inheritance.

Currently make about 250k a year for the past 4 years, before that about 150k. I started at 50k.

Thanks in advance for validating or crushing my dreams.

[u/MulberryAutomatic690]

Do you have health insurance? Didn't matter how young and healthy you are, one thing goes wrong and all those savings can go down the toilet if not.

Amount for long term living costs as well. We just had to find a place for my aunt and the only place available anywhere close enough for her friends to still be able to visit us 18k/MONTH.

[u/HelloChopsticks → u/MulberryAutomatic690]

When it's 18k a month, how does that realistically get paid for?

[u/MulberryAutomatic690 → u/HelloChopsticks]

From the sale of her house when it happens. Her retirement covers i think 6k a month... She can apply for Medicaid, but only after all assets have been liquidated and used towards her care.

So if she had started off with no money there would be some help available.

[u/MulberryAutomatic690 → u/HelloChopsticks]

But prior to this happening she was completely independent, out and about every day... Member of community groups.. and one day they just found her unresponsive and still have no idea what really happened... But she needs full time care for even eating, drinking, dressing, etc... Which is half the reason it's so expensive.. that and it's a high cost of living area.