That is awesome. Soak it up. Enjoy the freedom.After more than 30 years working for the same company, i officially retired yesterday. I set the goal many years ago to retire by 55 and i turned 55 earlier this week. I have accomplished everything in the corporate world i set out to achieve so time for new goals.
A few years ago we were in Maui and we ran into my wife's cousin...he had been an accountant for a major firm for 35 years. I asked him "Bill, what do you do now".... right disgusted he said "DOOOO....I am done DOING...I DID for 35 years." I though that was both hilarious and so profound. Once you have achieved something why keep doing it over and over.
So what now...I plan to do all the same stuff but less rushed. I will walk the dog without racing to get home to leave for the office. I will go to the gym without watching the clock because i raced to the gym straight from work and need to be home by a certain time for dinner. And that said, i have agreed to contract back to the company as an advisor...but i set boundaries...no Monday or Fridays and no meetings before 9am. I am calling it "reverse weekending" Instead of 5 days on, 2 off, i am going to do 5 days off, two on.
Cheers
Thanks. 100% agree. Options in life don’t have to be work or retire, a hybrid I feel to be a very good solution. two days of work per week allow me to continue to stay active in the industry and top up my pension plus i get added time to focus on jitz club, lifting, the dog and the lake.Life is too short and you take money with you when your time is up. Congrats on making a plan and it worked. Very happy for you.
I see so many people working into their 70's because they have to, not because they want to and it is unfortunate.
I love the idea of remaining busy with work by working a small amount but not pressure/demands, I intend to do the same - sell my 1//2 of the business and just work a few hours a week. Good role model @Oldguyjiujitsu !
Nothing wrong with a modest pension. Is it defined benefit? If yes having a guaranteed stable base income os outstanding. Remember that when you’re no longer making contributions to your pension, CPP, EI and a lower tax bracket the take-home is usually pretty healthy.as a young guy who will get a modest provincial pension when i retire, can i ask what you did to prepare to retire at 55? like when you started, what steps you took etc
Exactly. I did FIRE so it was a tight reasonable budget for 10yrs. Every extra dollar was saved. Live way under my means saving the balance. Housing is number one and sounds like you are done your mortgage. Make a huge difference. I did a semi annual review my finances last month $840 per month covers absolutely everything from car and house insurance to property taxes and all utilities, internet, phone, etc. A 100k/yr job minus a generous 8% matched pension is a take home of about $2600 E2W which plumps up the savings quickly for someone that wishes to. Plus there are those two extra cheques every year as well that I call "found" money. All found money is never spent at the time I was in FIRE mode. After the self-sacrifice of 10yrs it made literally a night and day difference in life.....Working to paying off the mortgage was a priority, maximize your tax-free savings account and live within your means.
with inflation adjusted, around 55-60k annual. but the kicker is the hefty penalties for each year you retire before 65, same with cpp (if that even exists once i retire.) i don’t remember off the top of my head but i think retiring 10 years early is almost a 50% decrease. i plan to work until 65, but i would also like to get myself in a position where i can say fuck this i’m done at 55-60 if my body gives out/if i get ptsd. paramedic.Nothing wrong with a modest pension. Is it defined benefit? If yes having a guaranteed stable base income os outstanding. Remember that when you’re no longer making contributions to your pension, CPP, EI and a lower tax bracket the take-home is usually pretty healthy.
With the scenario of a pension as a base, Working to paying off the mortgage was a priority, maximize your tax-free savings account and live within your means.
-36% on CPP if taken at 60. Loss of 0.6% per monthwith inflation adjusted, around 55-60k annual. but the kicker is the hefty penalties for each year you retire before 65, same with cpp (if that even exists once i retire.) i don’t remember off the top of my head but i think retiring 10 years early is almost a 50% decrease. i plan to work until 65, but i would also like to get myself in a position where i can say fuck this i’m done at 55-60 if my body gives out/if i get ptsd. paramedic.
a numbers guy that’s what i need! so let’s say someone has a 100k salary and stops working at 55, and takes cpp at 65. with those 2 years (after dropping the lowest 8 years of earnings,) of $0 income, how much would that person’s cpp drop vs working to 57?-36% on CPP if taken at 60. Loss of 0.6% per month
+42% on CPP if taken at 70. Increase of 0.7% per month
Old age pension starts at 65. Plus 0.3% per month to hold off but both pensions must start at 70. Break even point is somewhere around 75ish if I recall correctly.
Yes drop lowest 8yrs. Please note this is from the age of 18 on.a numbers guy that’s what i need! so let’s say someone has a 100k salary and stops working at 55, and takes cpp at 65. with those 2 years (after dropping the lowest 8 years of earnings,) of $0 income, how much would that person’s cpp drop vs working to 57?
And that said, i have agreed to contract back to the company as an advisor...but i set boundaries...no Monday or Fridays and no meetings before 9am. I am calling it "reverse weekending" Instead of 5 days on, 2 off, i am going to do 5 days off, two on.
Cheers
Since you have Monday and Friday off and your wife has a year to go can you please make her breakfast on those days?jk or if you like cooking?That’s my situation. We were fortunate it worked out the way it did. I hit my 30 years with a very healthy pension and next April My wife will hit her 30 years with a good pension.
Both defined benefit, fully indexed
It was a great first week. Did lots but was not rushed.Since you have Monday and Friday off and your wife has a year to go can you please make her breakfast on those days?jk or if you like cooking?
Congratulations you found the good life now, enjoy. What will your day look like tomorrow? Finishing some of the projects? What one do you think you would want to start first? What ever you do enjoy and do things at your pace.![]()
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