u/ThisIsAbuse

New Member.

My career and pay was decent enough most of my life, but in my early 50's I entered into this category (per this groups definition of Henry) as an executive and it has continued to grow since then, mainly due to bonus and stock options. I am doing late catch-ups on investing.

Its been welcome to me (and wife) but also a bit of a Alice in wonderland transition. Never figured I would need to worry about extensive tax planning for retirement, and things like options for deferred compensation, mega back doors, etc.

Just looking to see if anyone here is in this "late bloomer" category to say hello.

I feel for everyone still dealing with so much. I know the feeling being overloaded and responsible for so much.

I have my work and staff, have to keep winning work for them, I am a local city council member dealing with issues in my town, one last kid with mental health issues, my home, the dog, my health. Saving for retirement. I attended an extended family reunion and seems like all the kids and grandkids have major issues. No one seems happy just tired. At 61, I don’t have the energy to do as much as I should. Falling behind on somethings.

Hang in there everyone who is struggling. I know you’re doing the best you can. You are deserving of praise for all you have to do.

Me 61, Wife 60. Wife is retired with secure pension. I plan to retire in about 4-5 years. We will both take SS around age 66-67. So we will have a good base of fixed income in the future. Home will be paid off in 3 years and we will be debt free.

At this point my retirement investments are ahead of targets. Not wealthy, just better than I hoped I would have many years ago. It is also invested very conservatively, and I, and my company, are contributing highly each year to the accounts.

My wife and I have some health issues but are managing them right now. To be frank, I dont see us living past 80. Its not in our family history, nor our own health history.

We have come to the idea that it might make sense for us to start taking one big vacation trip each a year now. We do take little ones each year anyway. So we are thinking We will use some money from my retirement investments starting next year, to help fund at least one big yearly trip. Hawaii, Alaska Cruise, Europe, etc.. Maybe take out 20K a year plus use regular funds I have from still working.

I think this all makes sense, financially and practically, but its difficult to bring myself to dip a little into my investments when I am not officially retired, even though I am 61 and eligible to do so. I worry If I wait to age 66 both of us will start to hit some reductions in health, energy and mobility.

From my mid 40’s to mid 50s I found a number of folks, men and women, that I trained with at the gym thought I was a bit younger - 5 years or more.

When I 58 I started aging more and now at 61 a number of people seem to clearly understand I am in my early 60s.

Kind of bummed. I know it’s vanity thing and age comes for us all.

I read a post from 3 years ago suggesting beers or food at end of job. The crew has been working for two days on my roof in 85 degree heat. Nice work so far. So ….. cash tips at the end are not common practice ? Just drinks or food ?