OT - Money / Investing Thread (aka financial no stupid questions)

[MikeDeTiger]

But as I said... That's 5 years out. Right now I'm focusing on the accumulation phase... If by then I know what my number is and I've overshot, well, that's a good problem to have. I suspect I might still have a few years to go at that point though...

We're quite a bit further out, but keeping an eye on "the number" is a good idea.  I'm forecasting pretty far ahead at the moment, and as I mentioned, I've factored in bottom-end returns, and (assuming I stay at this job) a worst-case scenario pension.  I figure there's quite a decent chance we beat the amount I'm projecting, but I like to plan conservatively.  I'm also relying on ssa.gov's projections for our projected SS income at various ages, which....I have no idea how accurate that is.  

Point being, I have this all entered into a spreadsheet now where I can quickly update the inputs.  I need to remember to revisit every so often, and it'll be a good idea to adjust the assumptions and consequent projections as time goes by and some of today's projections become yesterday's quantifiable reality.  No sense in working past when we need to, I reckon.  If returns outpace my conservative estimates and some other things transpire, we might be able to knock a few years off.  We'll see.  

[MikeDeTiger]

I hope everyone here is truly prepared for a major health event.

Two down, ? to go.  

[Riffraft]

I don't follow any withdrawal rule.  I withdraw what I need when I need it, though I plan for expenses so I am not forced to liquidate an asset I don't want to liquidate. 

Before I retired, I looked at my annual expenditures, being an anal CPA, I had detailed tracking of my expenses. Put in an allocation for travel.  Look at projected SSI for my wife and I. Ran all this out for 30 years adjusting for projected inflation.  I looked at the shortage SSI from Expenses.  From there I looked at my assets and figure out what growth I need on those assets for my money to last.  Figured I needed a 4% return, so I retired.  Been retired for 2 and half years and up to this time I actually have more money than when I retired because my ROI has been much greater than 4%.  

As to the mix, I originally had a more balanced mix with bonds, but as I have liquidate those assets, I have tended to be heavier in stocks.  A financial planner might say I have let it go too far that way and I have consider reallocating but haven't taken the step.  

[Riffraft]

We're quite a bit further out, but keeping an eye on "the number" is a good idea.  I'm forecasting pretty far ahead at the moment, and as I mentioned, I've factored in bottom-end returns, and (assuming I stay at this job) a worst-case scenario pension.  I figure there's quite a decent chance we beat the amount I'm projecting, but I like to plan conservatively.  I'm also relying on ssa.gov's projections for our projected SS income at various ages, which....I have no idea how accurate that is. 

Point being, I have this all entered into a spreadsheet now where I can quickly update the inputs.  I need to remember to revisit every so often, and it'll be a good idea to adjust the assumptions and consequent projections as time goes by and some of today's projections become yesterday's quantifiable reality.  No sense in working past when we need to, I reckon.  If returns outpace my conservative estimates and some other things transpire, we might be able to knock a few years off.  We'll see. 

my spreadsheet is updated daily after the market closes, as I said I am a bit OCD 

[MikeDeTiger]

my spreadsheet is updated daily after the market closes, as I said I am a bit OCD

That's good hustle.