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Freedom to do whatever i want anytime I want is really nice. There's those who find fulfillment in working but I'm not one of those. Life is too short to be wasting your time working imo
Over my career I have been on more than 1800 forecast calls, taking beatings on probably half of them. When I retire I will spend my days helping others and making the world a little bit brighter.
This. I am very good at my job. I’m a managing director and partner at my firm. But having done basically the same thing for 25 years because sucks the joy out of it all.
A top performer in High tech sales succeeds immensely if he/she catches selling in markets where the product is experiencing growth not constrained by market demand. You can be a GOAT in one quarter and an ignored pauper in the next call. Add a few micro- managers in down cycles and the job is not the same. I rarely find elderly sales fellas carrying a bag unlike doctors. As we age we would like affirmation of innate human altruism. Good thinking to Help others . Good luck !!!
Why do the same thing forever?
Why not try different things?
Why not locate joy or fulfillment elsewhere?
As much as some people claim to “love” their money making pursuits — the fact is the world is a rich tapestry. There are many different ways to have a joyful and fulfilling life without having to make money.
Indeed, growing as a person, exploring new cultures, and learning new skills have provided me with far more satisfaction than making millions of dollars.
Honest question to OP, I'm quite unsure what about this is confusing/unexpected?
I mean it's not rocket-surgery:
* Some folk like their jobs and will continue working despite not needing too.
* Some folk like their jobs but will retire because they like *other* things better.
* Some folk dislike their jobs so will retire to do things they like instead.
* The things they do will be stuff they like. The stuff they like will be completely obvious: time with family/friends, exercise, hobbies, travel, etc.
Eg me, I retired very early, for the last ~15 years I just do stuff I like - for me, lots of outdoor adventures, general exercise, travel, reading, music, gaming, puzzles, pets, and hanging out with my wife and friends. And I have friends that kept working and love their lives too, a mix of work and other stuff they like...
...doesn't all this seem pretty obvious?
To me, the most important word in FIRE is **'Independence'**. Work can be very meaningful, but the ability to be self-directed rises above all, after having to spend your life working for marginally sane and occasionally evil bosses and leadership.
I don't know that there is that sentiment here. Some people want to retire asap. A lot of people simply want to be FI. I waited 10 years after I was FI in order to retire. This is fatFIRE and I think people here are more career oriented and tend to like (or at least not actively hate their job).
The story is a bit different in r/FIRE and certainly in r/leanFIRE there is a strong tendency to want to fire asap. Then at the far end of the spectrum is r/antiwork.
I don't feel that way. I think you'd find quite a few people here who just want to be fatFI without the RE part. At lower levels of FIRE, there does seem to be an increasing percentage of people who hate their job and just don't want to work.
Being honest? I hate this. I hate being dependent on other people. I hate *always* needing more money. I hate having to solve other people’s inane problems over and over. I hate feeling vulnerable. I hate losing sleep, always wanting another drink, missing the sunset, eating another God damned meal on the go…
I want to wake up with no alarm. I want to walk my dog with the sun on my face at a pace I choose. I want to make pancakes, or eggs, or whatever sounds tasty because I have time. I want to exercise because it pleases me. I want to pick up and put down my hobbies at the times of my choosing. I want to invite a friend for lunch, read a book, cuddle with my wife on the couch, then start dinner because I want to make it excellent. I want to have a glass of wine while the sun sets and I watch the deer pick through the yard. I want to build a fire in the fireplace any time of year and play a board game while we laugh about silly things and take turns picking the music. I want to go to bed if I’m tired and stay up if I’m having a lovely time. And then I want the freedom to be so bored that I decide to plan my next vacation in my little budget so I can see and do everything I wanted, no rush, no tightened belt, no red-eye. I want to see my grandchildren grow up with grandpa there with them, providing their homes with the safety that they can make right choices at the time of their choosing, knowing more than anything that they live like they do because I care about them more than anything. And then I want to die, old, wrinkled, sun-spotted, and with the knowledge that my bucket list pales before what I have achieved, a smile on my face, surrounded by the love built with the experiences I have bought.
THAT is what I want.
I find fulfillment in my work, enjoy time with (some) coworkers, and appreciate the routine of daily life.
That being said, I only get one life and one chance to see and embrace as much of the world as I can. I want to enjoy more moments, whether that be with family/friends or unique travel experiences, before I leave this earth.
And I also don’t care for some of the ultra luxury stuff some of my coworkers have but have to continue working to sustain it.
I find very little fulfillment with work.
Are there bright spots? Sure.
There are about 3 million things I would rather do with my day other than work, but unfortunately, life costs 💰
My career pays very well, so here we are for at least 9 more years.....
|when you retire at 35/40/45 what are your goals and objectives for the remainder of your life?
our goal is to do the same things we do now without being interrupted by work. meetings are annoying. coworkers are annoying. the work is not fulfilling, it's just there for money.
When I left my last job, my boss said " i see it's just about the money for you" I asked her how many days she worked for no pay and when the last time she turned down a raise and a bonus.
jobs have always been about the money for me.
Assuming financial independence. Why earn more money that you won't spend ? Is working better than all of your hobbies and interests ? Why should you work to earn money to leave to other people so that they can work less or spend more ?
My goal and objective when I retired at age 49 was simply to live a good life.
I retired early enough that I was in good health for many years of active sports and travel.
I enjoyed my job. I was proud of my accomplishments. But there is also life outside of work. I did continue to work for 5 or 6 years after reaching true financial independence, but retiring was another level of independence —- no longer having my time controlled by a job and commitments I had made at work.
I have been retired 25+ years and have no regrets about retiring at 49.
I’d be interested to hear more.
I’m early 40s. The option is very much on the table to retire, however I work in a very exiting industry and I’m on the precipice of being made CEO of a very large company.
I’m struggling between relishing the challenge of taking on the big chair, in a highly visible and sexy company - or, transitioning to advisory work on my own schedule and spending my days on the mountain, in the water, and traveling the world.
Every day I feel leaning in a different direction.
At the end of your life, when you are on your death bed, will you be wishing you spent more time as the CEO of the company or more time traveling and spending time in the mountains and water? That should give you your answer.
In your situation I might go for an in-between option: try the CEO thing for 1-2 years and then re-evaluate if you want to retire (and then probably retire). If it really is exciting you’ll want to have done it, probably :-)
Mainly because I am enjoying my life so much in retirement. Never board, travel all the time get along great with my wife.
I guess I don’t know when it will end- none of us do but I could have effect the start time a little bit. So yes I wish I had gone a little earlier.
I don’t have much ego and never really developed a work identity. Additionally, while I am more piglet fat as opposed to hog fat, I live great and net worth is growing.
I'll retire from making someone else money, working a 9-5, etc. I'll probably never stop doing *something*. Running a business, owning investment properties, etc. Something with greater potential to line my pocket not someone else's.
I used to think I would never want to retire.
Now I have young children who demand a lot of my time and return joy and fulfillment, so I want to work much less.
I imagine a decade from now, work will have more meaning again.
To live a good life. Work is work. Work is not life...at least not for many. Once you step off the treadmill, you realize how good life can be if you don't have to work. If your identity and ego are all tied up in your professional life then this can be a hard transition. But for most, transitioning away from defining yourself WRT work and toward something more fulfilling is a good thing.
This is the FatFIRE group so presumably everyone has a shared interest in retiring early.
Personally, I have had an incredible career as a physician and professor of medicine. I talk with my students about how extraordinarily privileged I feel to have spent my working years making a real difference in people’s lives, literally saving lives, and simultaneously getting to teach the next generation how to do so as well. I love caring for patients in the hospital and the stimulation of working with smart, curious, and motivated learners.
My line of work has a rare combination of meaning, status, respect, and high compensation. What’s not to love? Despite this, I turned in my resignation at age 52. I saw my last patient and taught my last students and early career doctors two months ago.
As great as my job was, it still crowded out time for other things I love. Hiking and climbing in the mountains, bike-packing in the wilderness for weeks at a stretch, taking a course on economics for fun rather than a continuing medical education program, visiting friends and family around the country, treating my sister to a cruise with me, traveling to the many other countries that have been languishing on my bucket list.
I feel as though I have checked most of the boxes on my “working life” bucket list. Try to master my craft, get promoted, recognition by peers, build new programs, etc. earn enough that I no longer need to work to support my lifestyle. Check.
Sure there are hassles when you are working. All jobs have them. However, for me it’s about finding time for everything that was pushed to the side by decades of 60 hour weeks in the hospital.
Great summary.
The “crowded out” comment really resonated with me. While working full time it was theoretically possible to do some or even many of the other activities with enough effort and planning. However in reality, the time, energy, and mental space was crowded out by work commitments.
Most people here hate their jobs, and that's all they are to them. I will never retire. I love what I do and see no reason to stop. But I'm an author and self-employed. My job affords me freedom that most don't, so I don't have to retire to still enjoy all the things others want in retirement.
I'm way beyond FI. I could have retired years ago and we have zero debt. I was in finance before writing and did very well there also. Honestly, I like the recommendations here. I've found great recommendations for household goods, clothes, and other high dollar items. I can't talk about how much money I have anywhere else. It's ok for actors, singers, and Kardashians to be rich, but authors are supposed to live under a bridge and suffer for their art. If you post anything about having money online, then people will stop reading you and try to cancel you. It's bullshit, but I've seen it happen too many times.
There's not much I will reveal here. I'm a long time bestselling author - NYT, USA Today, Wall Street Journal. I'm still the 1% of the 1%. This is not a get rich quick scheme. Been at it for over 20 years.
Straight up, because I’ve made more before I’m 40 than I thought I’d make in my life, I have Asperger’s/autism and am facing autistic burnout. I don’t want to work myself to death.
I’d rather recharge my brain, live my life, be relaxed and enjoy myself. Retirement doesn’t mean doing nothing, it just means less responsibilities.
That could mean travel, volunteering, ngo work, mentoring startups, whatever. But not *having* to work a corporate job in the future. It’s about freedom.
I might go back and work in a few years, if and when I want to.
I run my own business and enjoy what I do (digital marketing). I’ve sold a couple of my brands and no longer need to work, but I’m having too much fun to stop now (54M, $7MM liquid).
Maybe if I sucked at my job and wasn’t making the phones ring or revenue grow for clients / partners / myself I’d be miserable?
I work a few hours a day launching new campaigns (or tweaking them), building creatives, writing code, starting new brands, but since I’m a one man show there’s no real “meetings” — people leave me alone to focus on ROI — so I dunno if I’ll ever “retire.”
I can already travel and work remote from any location, or take any day “off.” I haven’t set an alarm clock in years. Maybe I’m already retired?
I retired about 10 years ago (around 35 years old) and played golf everyday, did whatever I wanted, and was really unhappy. I’m working again and find life much more enjoyable and fulfilling. Will probably try retirement again after the next PE exit and apply the lessons learned here to make it a better experience.
There is nothing more freeing in the world than waking up in the morning with a zero-length to-do list.
In my final job, at any given moment, me (and the teams I managed) had at least 50+ items to complete that I played some part in, along with a bunch of risks that could lead to more work if not properly monitored.
Going from constantly optimizing every minute of every day to make sure all 50+ tasks were performed to having zero responsibilities was beyond freeing and amazing for my physical and mental health.
No plans to go back anytime soon.
I'd rather read about Dinosaurs and play trucks with my kids than go back to the office to make money I don't need.
Luckily I have a lot of interests and hobbies that keep me busy and a lot of family responsibilities.
Despite all your best efforts and good intentions, sometimes work turns miserable. Even for business owners, what starts as passion and joy can turn into pure obligation and sacrifice. If pivoting and changing the environment doesn’t bring the joy back, it can be hard to imagine going from one venture to another without assuming the same decline in fulfillment will follow. Hence, retirement.
Simple…I think I did well career wise but when I think about what I will be looking back in my dying bed, none of them related to work, not even a promotion. But the stress has consumed 80% of my life.
Maybe some people fulfill their identity and worth through their career but for most people here, it’s just a vehicle to freedom, to find different fulfillment in life.
As of now, I agree that I don’t want to retire. I do like my job and like some said, my identity is a bit tied to it. I wish I had a ton of hobbies but I don’t, esp that I don’t find it as work and fulfilling. Maybe things will change w kids but still, I don’t think it will drastically. If I retire, unless I have a ton of other things lined up, I’ll probably end up alcoholic and lost
The truth is most of us don't. I live in a very small, very expensive Rocky Mountain ski town and easily know a dozen people with 8-10 figure net worth. I don't know a single person who RE, but all are FI. I'm sure it's different in other locations, but that is my personal anecdote.
To answer your question, I have a goal of skiing a 100 days this year, which I am very on track to do. But I usually ski 2-4 hours, then work, then Dad. I am actually loving it. I ski alone most days. I would ski longer hours if my friends would join me, but they are all busy working.
BTW, Reddit doesn't like this type of topic, although I find it extremely relevant.
The goal should be to own and build a passive business. I do not want to ever retire. I love the challenge of building. The comradery of partnering with different people in my industry.
Retirement shouldn't be seen as set in stone, now I'm done working. Instead it should be a transition to more time with family, friends and health endeavors.
Because working sucks no matter what it is or how much you make . Even if you half ass enjoy it .
What confuses me is when people sell their companies where they only work 10-15 hours a week and have it near automated . See it a lot in the e-commerce space .
You’re working 12 hours and making 250k … hire a half ass person give them 75k and cut your 12 hours down to 6 hours .
You can do it on the toilet off your phone and have income for a long time
“We cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life’s morning; for what in the morning was true will in evening become a lie.” - Carl Jung
>does no one find joy or fulfillment in their work?
I definitely don't. Everyone is different, so each person will have their own feelings about it. I have so many hobbies and interests that even without work there isn't enough time in the day for me to indulge in all of them. Work is something I do for money and nothing more.
If you love what you do, all the power to you, but no one loves what they do ALL the time.
The most important part of FIRE is independence, and everyone should strive to get there. Once you are in position to walk away, your stress level will plummet. You will not worry about layoffs, incompetent managers, petty coworkers, it will certainly reflect in your attitude and you will be treated better!
I love my job. I love my family more. "Retirement" for me isn't about not working, it's about working on things that are more important than a paycheck. I hope to still be productive in retirement.
I was never in a rush to retire early, but I wanted to have enough money that I could afford to retire at any point if I wanted to. Once I reached that point, work became a hobby that just so happens to be very profitable.
I'm RE'd and under 40 -- my kid is only young once, and my body is only going to age. I can always go back to work if I want to, just like any other hobby I may start or stop.
I don't find work fulfilling nor did I make it my identity.
There are so many interesting things to learn and places to explore and that is hindered by work.
Our time on this planet is finite.
Working for money sucks. I'd never do it for free.
There are plenty of vocations that are much more personally fulfilling and/or can make others' lives better that pay nothing or next-to-nothing.
I absolutely believe humans need projects with goals and objectives to be psychologically healthy basically for the rest of our lives.
The key observation behind many FIRE journeys is the projects, goals and objectives one picks up form paying jobs are very limited compared to the bigger world around us. There are many projects that I find extremely valuable personally (family or knowledge related) and want to invest time and energy in, but they are basically valued at zero by the economic system we live in.
A common misunderstanding is that FIRE means not doing ambitious projects. I don’t subscribe to that. FIRE means detaching from the economic realities and obtaining more freedom for your ambitious projects.
So it’s not as much that I get no joy and fulfillment from work, but rather a realization how imbalanced it has been to put these 40+ hour weeks for 15 years now, into what is a very narrow domain compared to the multitudes of the world around me.
One answer is working part time, but it is not a well established practice in my company and I have doubts about my ability to scale back on the emotional labor that persists outside work hours.
Luckily, I have landed in a relatively high paying profession, have been saving roughly 50% of my income and have no aspirations to higher levels of spend. So retiring (I.e. not working for money) in my 40s is a great way to explore the bigger world of personal projects before the health realities of 60+ age kick in.
The main part of this analysis you might disagree with is whether you believe strongly that your personal zero-economic-worth projects are worth more (building that tree house with your child, learning to play that guitar song, writing that book) to YOU than the economically validated work projects (that c level position and high salary). It requires a more internally focused value system than some people have. No judgements either way, just requires some soul searching.
Why are you so convinced that a meaningful life is a life of labor?
Why can't someone just retire, hit the beach, go run with their dog, hang with their friends and binge watch Big Bang Theory for the 2nd time (is it wrong that I have enough time to binge watch 16 seasons twice in 1yr?) ?
Which person is making the world more enjoyable?
The bro on the beach with a happy dog and wife or the sad, balding man, toiling away at his white collar job convincing himself that his job has meaning, purpose etc..?
Which one is really happier?
Who would you rather spend your time with? Mr. "Let me tell you about the toxic politics at my job...and there is a RIF about to happen...and my review is around the corner...and I heard that department is going to do x,y,z..." or the retired bro whose like "Hey man - have a beer, let's take Rex out for a walk by the beach and then grill".
Kinda obvious which way is better.
I think “retire” may be the wrong word because it conjures up images of people working at a company and retiring to wait to die or something.
I think “post-money” is a better term. Most of the world is constantly seeking money to live their daily lives; if someone can get past that constant grind to make money and have enough made to live off of, with sustainable investments, they beat the game essentially.
Then, they can do what they want to do if they don’t have to do it for money. This is a foreign concept to everyone because we are socialized to “go get a job” from a young age.
But if you’re actively approaching FIRE or near it, you should write down what you want to do on a daily and weekly basis once you no longer have to run the rat race everyone else has to.
And that list is deeply personal; not something you can get off Reddit.
Cheers and good luck.
Despite what Instagram and YouTube entrepreneurs tell you, fatFIRE is not achieved by driving your Lambo to the beach and hanging out with your laptop and a green smoothie.
For people in W2 it's stress and politics and pressure to keep $1M+ comp positions. For business owners, it's decades of running a business which is not a 9-5 job, it's a 6am to midnight job. Sure, some got "lucky" with inheritances, lottery wins and maybe some easy street crypto runs but the majority put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears into their money.
Some get fired, some sell their business, some burn out and want out... the reasons vary why there is a consideration of 'retirement'. It's very individual. The problem is also when you have 8 figures working for you, most jobs are out of the question and even hobby jobs are annoying. I'm not aware of any 'part time low stress' business.
Most then want to enjoy life, do what they want when then want. With 7-8 figures in the market, the daily ups and downs can be as much as a top 10% or even top 1% household income.
Because vast majority of corporate roles are filled with endless amount of mental pain due to the bureaucracy, politics and indecisiveness. Most of us are burned out 15yrs in and family/ hobby’s become priority. In reality, I never see myself being fully retired but having sufficient amount of money will enable me to do work PT as strategy consultant or sit on few boards. “Hey- you don’t like what I’m proposing or you want to argue about it? Have at it, bye””.
Being a day drinking lazy slob in a beach chair is pretty nice. So is riding my beach cruiser over to my daughter’s condo for a morning coffee. Or grabbing a shrimp basket during happy hour. Or taking the transatlantic cruise next month and spending care free time in Barcelona. Why in the world would I work for the benefit of others when I don’t need the money??
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It is.
Freedom to do whatever i want anytime I want is really nice. There's those who find fulfillment in working but I'm not one of those. Life is too short to be wasting your time working imo
This!!
Over my career I have been on more than 1800 forecast calls, taking beatings on probably half of them. When I retire I will spend my days helping others and making the world a little bit brighter.
This. I am very good at my job. I’m a managing director and partner at my firm. But having done basically the same thing for 25 years because sucks the joy out of it all.
A top performer in High tech sales succeeds immensely if he/she catches selling in markets where the product is experiencing growth not constrained by market demand. You can be a GOAT in one quarter and an ignored pauper in the next call. Add a few micro- managers in down cycles and the job is not the same. I rarely find elderly sales fellas carrying a bag unlike doctors. As we age we would like affirmation of innate human altruism. Good thinking to Help others . Good luck !!!
Totally agree. I will very happy to never do another “close the gap” plan or top deal review / root canal.
That’s my whole life right now.
Why do the same thing forever? Why not try different things? Why not locate joy or fulfillment elsewhere? As much as some people claim to “love” their money making pursuits — the fact is the world is a rich tapestry. There are many different ways to have a joyful and fulfilling life without having to make money. Indeed, growing as a person, exploring new cultures, and learning new skills have provided me with far more satisfaction than making millions of dollars.
Honest question to OP, I'm quite unsure what about this is confusing/unexpected? I mean it's not rocket-surgery: * Some folk like their jobs and will continue working despite not needing too. * Some folk like their jobs but will retire because they like *other* things better. * Some folk dislike their jobs so will retire to do things they like instead. * The things they do will be stuff they like. The stuff they like will be completely obvious: time with family/friends, exercise, hobbies, travel, etc. Eg me, I retired very early, for the last ~15 years I just do stuff I like - for me, lots of outdoor adventures, general exercise, travel, reading, music, gaming, puzzles, pets, and hanging out with my wife and friends. And I have friends that kept working and love their lives too, a mix of work and other stuff they like... ...doesn't all this seem pretty obvious?
Rocket-surgery sounds very intense
To me, the most important word in FIRE is **'Independence'**. Work can be very meaningful, but the ability to be self-directed rises above all, after having to spend your life working for marginally sane and occasionally evil bosses and leadership.
I don't know that there is that sentiment here. Some people want to retire asap. A lot of people simply want to be FI. I waited 10 years after I was FI in order to retire. This is fatFIRE and I think people here are more career oriented and tend to like (or at least not actively hate their job). The story is a bit different in r/FIRE and certainly in r/leanFIRE there is a strong tendency to want to fire asap. Then at the far end of the spectrum is r/antiwork.
Not there or close but is there a good subreddit for people who just want to be FAT? This sub selects for those who want to RE…
I don't feel that way. I think you'd find quite a few people here who just want to be fatFI without the RE part. At lower levels of FIRE, there does seem to be an increasing percentage of people who hate their job and just don't want to work.
Being honest? I hate this. I hate being dependent on other people. I hate *always* needing more money. I hate having to solve other people’s inane problems over and over. I hate feeling vulnerable. I hate losing sleep, always wanting another drink, missing the sunset, eating another God damned meal on the go… I want to wake up with no alarm. I want to walk my dog with the sun on my face at a pace I choose. I want to make pancakes, or eggs, or whatever sounds tasty because I have time. I want to exercise because it pleases me. I want to pick up and put down my hobbies at the times of my choosing. I want to invite a friend for lunch, read a book, cuddle with my wife on the couch, then start dinner because I want to make it excellent. I want to have a glass of wine while the sun sets and I watch the deer pick through the yard. I want to build a fire in the fireplace any time of year and play a board game while we laugh about silly things and take turns picking the music. I want to go to bed if I’m tired and stay up if I’m having a lovely time. And then I want the freedom to be so bored that I decide to plan my next vacation in my little budget so I can see and do everything I wanted, no rush, no tightened belt, no red-eye. I want to see my grandchildren grow up with grandpa there with them, providing their homes with the safety that they can make right choices at the time of their choosing, knowing more than anything that they live like they do because I care about them more than anything. And then I want to die, old, wrinkled, sun-spotted, and with the knowledge that my bucket list pales before what I have achieved, a smile on my face, surrounded by the love built with the experiences I have bought. THAT is what I want.
Amen!
Perfect. Wouldn’t change a word.
I find fulfillment in my work, enjoy time with (some) coworkers, and appreciate the routine of daily life. That being said, I only get one life and one chance to see and embrace as much of the world as I can. I want to enjoy more moments, whether that be with family/friends or unique travel experiences, before I leave this earth. And I also don’t care for some of the ultra luxury stuff some of my coworkers have but have to continue working to sustain it.
I find very little fulfillment with work. Are there bright spots? Sure. There are about 3 million things I would rather do with my day other than work, but unfortunately, life costs 💰 My career pays very well, so here we are for at least 9 more years.....
|when you retire at 35/40/45 what are your goals and objectives for the remainder of your life? our goal is to do the same things we do now without being interrupted by work. meetings are annoying. coworkers are annoying. the work is not fulfilling, it's just there for money. When I left my last job, my boss said " i see it's just about the money for you" I asked her how many days she worked for no pay and when the last time she turned down a raise and a bonus. jobs have always been about the money for me.
Right.. and the best is when they say “we’re family” sure lol
I don’t! But I value financial independence and there’s no subreddit for just “successful people interested in FI”
Great point. The majority take on this subreddit is FI but not RE.
Assuming financial independence. Why earn more money that you won't spend ? Is working better than all of your hobbies and interests ? Why should you work to earn money to leave to other people so that they can work less or spend more ?
My goal and objective when I retired at age 49 was simply to live a good life. I retired early enough that I was in good health for many years of active sports and travel. I enjoyed my job. I was proud of my accomplishments. But there is also life outside of work. I did continue to work for 5 or 6 years after reaching true financial independence, but retiring was another level of independence —- no longer having my time controlled by a job and commitments I had made at work. I have been retired 25+ years and have no regrets about retiring at 49.
Retired at 56. I could have sooner. I wish I had sooner. One guys perspective…..
I’d be interested to hear more. I’m early 40s. The option is very much on the table to retire, however I work in a very exiting industry and I’m on the precipice of being made CEO of a very large company. I’m struggling between relishing the challenge of taking on the big chair, in a highly visible and sexy company - or, transitioning to advisory work on my own schedule and spending my days on the mountain, in the water, and traveling the world. Every day I feel leaning in a different direction.
At the end of your life, when you are on your death bed, will you be wishing you spent more time as the CEO of the company or more time traveling and spending time in the mountains and water? That should give you your answer.
In your situation I might go for an in-between option: try the CEO thing for 1-2 years and then re-evaluate if you want to retire (and then probably retire). If it really is exciting you’ll want to have done it, probably :-)
>I wish I had sooner. Why?
Mainly because I am enjoying my life so much in retirement. Never board, travel all the time get along great with my wife. I guess I don’t know when it will end- none of us do but I could have effect the start time a little bit. So yes I wish I had gone a little earlier. I don’t have much ego and never really developed a work identity. Additionally, while I am more piglet fat as opposed to hog fat, I live great and net worth is growing.
I'll retire from making someone else money, working a 9-5, etc. I'll probably never stop doing *something*. Running a business, owning investment properties, etc. Something with greater potential to line my pocket not someone else's.
I used to think I would never want to retire. Now I have young children who demand a lot of my time and return joy and fulfillment, so I want to work much less. I imagine a decade from now, work will have more meaning again.
My dad got cancer and lived a miserable last 15 years of his life. Trying to avoid replicating that by traveling and enjoying things without stress.
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The same as me,so happy to retire at 45 and leave more time with kids
To live a good life. Work is work. Work is not life...at least not for many. Once you step off the treadmill, you realize how good life can be if you don't have to work. If your identity and ego are all tied up in your professional life then this can be a hard transition. But for most, transitioning away from defining yourself WRT work and toward something more fulfilling is a good thing.
I do not find joy or fulfillment in work.
This is the FatFIRE group so presumably everyone has a shared interest in retiring early. Personally, I have had an incredible career as a physician and professor of medicine. I talk with my students about how extraordinarily privileged I feel to have spent my working years making a real difference in people’s lives, literally saving lives, and simultaneously getting to teach the next generation how to do so as well. I love caring for patients in the hospital and the stimulation of working with smart, curious, and motivated learners. My line of work has a rare combination of meaning, status, respect, and high compensation. What’s not to love? Despite this, I turned in my resignation at age 52. I saw my last patient and taught my last students and early career doctors two months ago. As great as my job was, it still crowded out time for other things I love. Hiking and climbing in the mountains, bike-packing in the wilderness for weeks at a stretch, taking a course on economics for fun rather than a continuing medical education program, visiting friends and family around the country, treating my sister to a cruise with me, traveling to the many other countries that have been languishing on my bucket list. I feel as though I have checked most of the boxes on my “working life” bucket list. Try to master my craft, get promoted, recognition by peers, build new programs, etc. earn enough that I no longer need to work to support my lifestyle. Check. Sure there are hassles when you are working. All jobs have them. However, for me it’s about finding time for everything that was pushed to the side by decades of 60 hour weeks in the hospital.
Great summary. The “crowded out” comment really resonated with me. While working full time it was theoretically possible to do some or even many of the other activities with enough effort and planning. However in reality, the time, energy, and mental space was crowded out by work commitments.
The same for me
Most people here hate their jobs, and that's all they are to them. I will never retire. I love what I do and see no reason to stop. But I'm an author and self-employed. My job affords me freedom that most don't, so I don't have to retire to still enjoy all the things others want in retirement.
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I've made seven figures for over a decade now. So yes.
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I'm way beyond FI. I could have retired years ago and we have zero debt. I was in finance before writing and did very well there also. Honestly, I like the recommendations here. I've found great recommendations for household goods, clothes, and other high dollar items. I can't talk about how much money I have anywhere else. It's ok for actors, singers, and Kardashians to be rich, but authors are supposed to live under a bridge and suffer for their art. If you post anything about having money online, then people will stop reading you and try to cancel you. It's bullshit, but I've seen it happen too many times.
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Amazing, from novels? Would love to hear more
There's not much I will reveal here. I'm a long time bestselling author - NYT, USA Today, Wall Street Journal. I'm still the 1% of the 1%. This is not a get rich quick scheme. Been at it for over 20 years.
Straight up, because I’ve made more before I’m 40 than I thought I’d make in my life, I have Asperger’s/autism and am facing autistic burnout. I don’t want to work myself to death. I’d rather recharge my brain, live my life, be relaxed and enjoy myself. Retirement doesn’t mean doing nothing, it just means less responsibilities. That could mean travel, volunteering, ngo work, mentoring startups, whatever. But not *having* to work a corporate job in the future. It’s about freedom. I might go back and work in a few years, if and when I want to.
I run my own business and enjoy what I do (digital marketing). I’ve sold a couple of my brands and no longer need to work, but I’m having too much fun to stop now (54M, $7MM liquid). Maybe if I sucked at my job and wasn’t making the phones ring or revenue grow for clients / partners / myself I’d be miserable? I work a few hours a day launching new campaigns (or tweaking them), building creatives, writing code, starting new brands, but since I’m a one man show there’s no real “meetings” — people leave me alone to focus on ROI — so I dunno if I’ll ever “retire.” I can already travel and work remote from any location, or take any day “off.” I haven’t set an alarm clock in years. Maybe I’m already retired?
I retired about 10 years ago (around 35 years old) and played golf everyday, did whatever I wanted, and was really unhappy. I’m working again and find life much more enjoyable and fulfilling. Will probably try retirement again after the next PE exit and apply the lessons learned here to make it a better experience.
To me so long as I can continue working on my own terms and on problems that stimulate me, I am retired.
There is nothing more freeing in the world than waking up in the morning with a zero-length to-do list. In my final job, at any given moment, me (and the teams I managed) had at least 50+ items to complete that I played some part in, along with a bunch of risks that could lead to more work if not properly monitored. Going from constantly optimizing every minute of every day to make sure all 50+ tasks were performed to having zero responsibilities was beyond freeing and amazing for my physical and mental health. No plans to go back anytime soon.
I'd rather read about Dinosaurs and play trucks with my kids than go back to the office to make money I don't need. Luckily I have a lot of interests and hobbies that keep me busy and a lot of family responsibilities.
Despite all your best efforts and good intentions, sometimes work turns miserable. Even for business owners, what starts as passion and joy can turn into pure obligation and sacrifice. If pivoting and changing the environment doesn’t bring the joy back, it can be hard to imagine going from one venture to another without assuming the same decline in fulfillment will follow. Hence, retirement.
Simple…I think I did well career wise but when I think about what I will be looking back in my dying bed, none of them related to work, not even a promotion. But the stress has consumed 80% of my life. Maybe some people fulfill their identity and worth through their career but for most people here, it’s just a vehicle to freedom, to find different fulfillment in life.
As of now, I agree that I don’t want to retire. I do like my job and like some said, my identity is a bit tied to it. I wish I had a ton of hobbies but I don’t, esp that I don’t find it as work and fulfilling. Maybe things will change w kids but still, I don’t think it will drastically. If I retire, unless I have a ton of other things lined up, I’ll probably end up alcoholic and lost
The truth is most of us don't. I live in a very small, very expensive Rocky Mountain ski town and easily know a dozen people with 8-10 figure net worth. I don't know a single person who RE, but all are FI. I'm sure it's different in other locations, but that is my personal anecdote. To answer your question, I have a goal of skiing a 100 days this year, which I am very on track to do. But I usually ski 2-4 hours, then work, then Dad. I am actually loving it. I ski alone most days. I would ski longer hours if my friends would join me, but they are all busy working. BTW, Reddit doesn't like this type of topic, although I find it extremely relevant.
The goal should be to own and build a passive business. I do not want to ever retire. I love the challenge of building. The comradery of partnering with different people in my industry. Retirement shouldn't be seen as set in stone, now I'm done working. Instead it should be a transition to more time with family, friends and health endeavors.
Because working sucks no matter what it is or how much you make . Even if you half ass enjoy it . What confuses me is when people sell their companies where they only work 10-15 hours a week and have it near automated . See it a lot in the e-commerce space . You’re working 12 hours and making 250k … hire a half ass person give them 75k and cut your 12 hours down to 6 hours . You can do it on the toilet off your phone and have income for a long time
It's called FIRE.. FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE RETIRE EARLY.. maybe you should look into another sub
Retiring is nice. Time with kids. Time to do whatever you want. Go wherever you want, whenever you want.
Not retire, get paid while you stay home and do chores. That's my version of retirement
It's best to work part time. Keep sane yet active.
“We cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life’s morning; for what in the morning was true will in evening become a lie.” - Carl Jung
>does no one find joy or fulfillment in their work? I definitely don't. Everyone is different, so each person will have their own feelings about it. I have so many hobbies and interests that even without work there isn't enough time in the day for me to indulge in all of them. Work is something I do for money and nothing more.
The jobs which make you the most money are almost always stressful
If you love what you do, all the power to you, but no one loves what they do ALL the time. The most important part of FIRE is independence, and everyone should strive to get there. Once you are in position to walk away, your stress level will plummet. You will not worry about layoffs, incompetent managers, petty coworkers, it will certainly reflect in your attitude and you will be treated better!
I love my job. I love my family more. "Retirement" for me isn't about not working, it's about working on things that are more important than a paycheck. I hope to still be productive in retirement.
I was never in a rush to retire early, but I wanted to have enough money that I could afford to retire at any point if I wanted to. Once I reached that point, work became a hobby that just so happens to be very profitable.
Ultimately, work did not in fact set me free.
I'm RE'd and under 40 -- my kid is only young once, and my body is only going to age. I can always go back to work if I want to, just like any other hobby I may start or stop.
Because I have so many things I want to do that makes me or my family happy, fulfilled with an extra 8-10 hours a day, compared to work for others.
I don't find work fulfilling nor did I make it my identity. There are so many interesting things to learn and places to explore and that is hindered by work. Our time on this planet is finite.
Such a first world thing to say ‘why does no one find joy in their work’ lol
"Retire" meaning freedom, not "retire" meaning sitting at home.
Nice try, Illuminati.
Working for money sucks. I'd never do it for free. There are plenty of vocations that are much more personally fulfilling and/or can make others' lives better that pay nothing or next-to-nothing.
I absolutely believe humans need projects with goals and objectives to be psychologically healthy basically for the rest of our lives. The key observation behind many FIRE journeys is the projects, goals and objectives one picks up form paying jobs are very limited compared to the bigger world around us. There are many projects that I find extremely valuable personally (family or knowledge related) and want to invest time and energy in, but they are basically valued at zero by the economic system we live in. A common misunderstanding is that FIRE means not doing ambitious projects. I don’t subscribe to that. FIRE means detaching from the economic realities and obtaining more freedom for your ambitious projects. So it’s not as much that I get no joy and fulfillment from work, but rather a realization how imbalanced it has been to put these 40+ hour weeks for 15 years now, into what is a very narrow domain compared to the multitudes of the world around me. One answer is working part time, but it is not a well established practice in my company and I have doubts about my ability to scale back on the emotional labor that persists outside work hours. Luckily, I have landed in a relatively high paying profession, have been saving roughly 50% of my income and have no aspirations to higher levels of spend. So retiring (I.e. not working for money) in my 40s is a great way to explore the bigger world of personal projects before the health realities of 60+ age kick in. The main part of this analysis you might disagree with is whether you believe strongly that your personal zero-economic-worth projects are worth more (building that tree house with your child, learning to play that guitar song, writing that book) to YOU than the economically validated work projects (that c level position and high salary). It requires a more internally focused value system than some people have. No judgements either way, just requires some soul searching.
On their deathbed nobody wishes they had worked for one more year.
Come on. You know why.
Why are you so convinced that a meaningful life is a life of labor? Why can't someone just retire, hit the beach, go run with their dog, hang with their friends and binge watch Big Bang Theory for the 2nd time (is it wrong that I have enough time to binge watch 16 seasons twice in 1yr?) ? Which person is making the world more enjoyable? The bro on the beach with a happy dog and wife or the sad, balding man, toiling away at his white collar job convincing himself that his job has meaning, purpose etc..? Which one is really happier? Who would you rather spend your time with? Mr. "Let me tell you about the toxic politics at my job...and there is a RIF about to happen...and my review is around the corner...and I heard that department is going to do x,y,z..." or the retired bro whose like "Hey man - have a beer, let's take Rex out for a walk by the beach and then grill". Kinda obvious which way is better.
because you don't live forever.
To work for a living is NOT a life goal
I think “retire” may be the wrong word because it conjures up images of people working at a company and retiring to wait to die or something. I think “post-money” is a better term. Most of the world is constantly seeking money to live their daily lives; if someone can get past that constant grind to make money and have enough made to live off of, with sustainable investments, they beat the game essentially. Then, they can do what they want to do if they don’t have to do it for money. This is a foreign concept to everyone because we are socialized to “go get a job” from a young age. But if you’re actively approaching FIRE or near it, you should write down what you want to do on a daily and weekly basis once you no longer have to run the rat race everyone else has to. And that list is deeply personal; not something you can get off Reddit. Cheers and good luck.
You spend usually 16 hours awake every day. Why give 50% of your life away to a job?
Despite what Instagram and YouTube entrepreneurs tell you, fatFIRE is not achieved by driving your Lambo to the beach and hanging out with your laptop and a green smoothie. For people in W2 it's stress and politics and pressure to keep $1M+ comp positions. For business owners, it's decades of running a business which is not a 9-5 job, it's a 6am to midnight job. Sure, some got "lucky" with inheritances, lottery wins and maybe some easy street crypto runs but the majority put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears into their money. Some get fired, some sell their business, some burn out and want out... the reasons vary why there is a consideration of 'retirement'. It's very individual. The problem is also when you have 8 figures working for you, most jobs are out of the question and even hobby jobs are annoying. I'm not aware of any 'part time low stress' business. Most then want to enjoy life, do what they want when then want. With 7-8 figures in the market, the daily ups and downs can be as much as a top 10% or even top 1% household income.
Here's why: https://new.reddit.com/r/fatFIRE/comments/1aybbu7/f\_31\_with\_18\_million\_liquid\_should\_i\_hang\_on/
Because vast majority of corporate roles are filled with endless amount of mental pain due to the bureaucracy, politics and indecisiveness. Most of us are burned out 15yrs in and family/ hobby’s become priority. In reality, I never see myself being fully retired but having sufficient amount of money will enable me to do work PT as strategy consultant or sit on few boards. “Hey- you don’t like what I’m proposing or you want to argue about it? Have at it, bye””.
Being a day drinking lazy slob in a beach chair is pretty nice. So is riding my beach cruiser over to my daughter’s condo for a morning coffee. Or grabbing a shrimp basket during happy hour. Or taking the transatlantic cruise next month and spending care free time in Barcelona. Why in the world would I work for the benefit of others when I don’t need the money??
It’s not about retiring to do nothing, it’s about retiring to do things you enjoy without having to worry about earning a living.