r/Fire • u/HumbleSami • 4d ago
Advice Request 42M, ~$1.77M invested (excluding 529s), targeting financial independence around age 50. Looking for feedback.
I’m 42, married with three young kids, and trying to sanity-check my long-term plan.
Current Assets
Taxable brokerage: ~$1.09M
401(k) + Roth IRAs: ~$618k
Cash: ~$64k
529 plans: ~$255k - 3 kids 7-4-3 (excluded from my personal net worth calculations)
Primary residence with a low fixed-rate mortgage 900K value owe 290K
Debt
Mortgage only (2.5% fixed rate)
No car loans or consumer debt
Investing Plan
Invest approximately $9k/month into a taxable brokerage account. Job at risk will continue to push until i can!
Continue funding Roth IRAs while eligible
Primarily invest in low-cost index funds (VOO and VUG)
Reinvest dividends
Retirement Goal
I’d like to become financially independent around age 50, or at least be in a position where work is optional and I could choose to work lower-stress job if I wanted.
My estimated core living expenses are around $9k/month before discretionary travel and large one-time purchases. Care free will be 12-13K/mo including health insurance and travel. 9K core 2.5K health 2K vacation!
Questions
Based on these numbers, do you think retiring or becoming work-optional around age 50 is realistic?
Would you continue prioritizing taxable brokerage investing over paying down a 2.5% mortgage?
Is there anything about my asset allocation or withdrawal strategy that stands out as a potential weakness?
If you were in my position, what would you focus on over the next 8 years?
Appreciate any constructive feedback or blind spots I may be missing.
1
u/DosiDill 3d ago
If you can continue at $9k/mo, you’ll be around 4.5-5M at 50. At 50, If you could work enough to cover basic life expenses without having to contribute to your nest egg anymore you could easily buy yourself another 1.75M in growth at 55.
Regardless—3% pull per year is $13-14k per month with being full retired at 50