I'm out of the work force
 

September 28th was my last day at work:). I decided about 10 years ago that I wanted to retire by at least 55 and ended up retiring at 50. It just showes that setting goals, planning, and saving pays off.

Now as soon as its too cold to golf, and I get back from a trip I'm leaving on next week, I can start on getting my old 911's back on the road.

Life is good!

Good for you man--enjoy!

I hate you. OK, I'm just green with envy. Congrats! :)

Retired, in a mansion on a hill, with 911's.
Tough life.
Rotten bastard.

:)

Congrats!

I hope to be there one day.

Good for you! I've been heading down a similar path (targeting age 50), but for some reason, I think the "outsourcing army" from India that was onsite yesterday might make that decision for me a bit "prematurely"...I can hardly wait :)!

Congrats.

Am not far from that place in life but dammit they keep giving me money to do something I enjoy, so will keep at it for a while.

Congrats! (Bet are back to work in 6 months...)

Retired at 47 here. Now 64. I could die tomorrow and still be ahead of the game. Planning, saving, investing...yep, it works.

Must... suppress... intense... jealousy...

(through gritting teeth) Congrats! :D:D

I'm retired, and I'm only 37.

I made the wisest investment any man could make.

I married an anesthesiologist.:D

I hope to work at something I enjoy until the day I croak. The happiest people I've ever known love what they do. To each their own, though.

Speeder, you've got it made :)! Seriously, I mean that. I picked a career that I used to REALLY enjoy (unfortunately, it's locked in a corporate environment), but things have really changed over the past decade or so. I envy guys like you and Joe, so once I "retire", I'll continue to "work", but it will be something that I truely love this time around. If I only knew then what I know now...

You're not retired...you're a "kept man" :)!

ps: Does she have a sister?

Nah...

Be the son of one and retirement is not an option, you just never start working....

Best situation to be in....doing something that I'd be doing anyway and they pay me to do it....

Bakc on topic... dm, gald to hear you are out of the rat run.. but with 911 project cars you haven't stopped working yet...:D

Bet you're just asleep. Wait till you wake up, are you ever going to be pi$$ed!

All kidding aside, I'd love to hear tips & strategies from you guys. Meeting our financial advisor on Thursday.

My wife and I are very frugal, and are putting about 12% aside right now. We're also considering looking at 3-4 unit rental property, now that renovations on our house are pretty much done

Thanks guys. The thing that helped me was simply tracking my net worth over the years. It made me look at things as assetts or liabilities. When I was still paying off my house I could see that was increasing my net worth and getting me closer to my goals. I also didn't keep alot of money in my checking account, I simply transfered it directly to my brokerage account . Also I maxed out the retirement accounts. We of coarse lived below our means, but still lived very good.

It also helped that my wife and I have had good jobs and everyone in the family has been healthy.

My golf game still sucks though, lost $25 today. I guess I'm going to have to work on that.

Congrats on your achievement !! Have a great day and do the things you enjoy, every day of the week...

I also bought a few acres in 2001 and cut it up into building lots. Sold the last lot in 2005 and made something like 500% over my initial investment. Used the money to pay off my house as at the time I didn't see anything else I wanted to invest in.

Jake...you asked for advice. Mine, gained through experience, is to forget being "mom and pop" landlords. There are easier and better ways to make money throiugh investing...that is, unless you enjoy dealing with people who trash the place, ruining your hours of hard work spent on improvements...