u/yeetboi017

I’ve only ever fished ultralight and I had the same rod/reel for 15 years. It is a little 5ft rod and 500 size reel. Recently got a Daiwa AIRD X ultralight rod and Laguna LT 1000 reel. The 1000 reel feels too big, it feels wrong on the UL rod. It feels hard to cast some micros and I don’t know if it’s a learning curve for casting the plastic itself or the reel. Regardless I am considering getting a 500 or 750 reel for the ultralight. Am I crazy or is this something that anyone else experiences?

I would use the 1000 reel on a medium light rod with 8lb mono to fish larger smallies and try for walleye in the river.

I can’t go back to my old setup because my girlfriend uses that to fish with me and she likes it.

I am currently contributing 12% pre tax to my retirement fund (403b through employer) I am wondering how to best balance that with a brokerage account. I have the ability to save/invest a little over 50% of my pay due to my frugal lifestyle. (Please don’t say build up an emergency fund, I am doing that right now but I need a plan for afterwards).

I am curious to hear the thought process behind striking a balance of where you contribute money and why. If you intend to stop working at 50 and won’t be accessing those funds for another 10 years what is your strategy to get there? Thanks!!

31 M getting a late start on it. I recently out from under my student loans and doing the math on what I have saved thus far. I currently rent, contribute to my retirement fund and I am going to create a brokerage account with Fidelity for long/intermediate term savings. I am trying to get my head around an end point and I don’t know how to go about getting a realistic number down on paper.

Without a current mortgage, can I even estimate a number?
How do you take inflation into account?
What kind of metrics are you using?
What kind of an account is good to have your money in for easy access/withdrawals?
How do you get your FIRE number?

Sorry if these are stupid questions. I’m still trying to get this figured out.

I am a 31 y/o M looking for some advice on where to begin my financial planning journey. I had about $150k student loans after grad school and paid them all off over the past 6 years. During that time I have had absolutely no plan and have not made any intelligent financial decisions other than committing to paying off my loans. I am looking for recommendations on where to begin the process of getting my shit together. My gf and I are trying to seriously save for a down payment for a house and begin a serious investment portfolio. I have absolutely no clue where to start.

Current financial situation:

Salary: $94k

403b: $93k (contributing 11% + a % of salary from employer)

Savings (combined with my gf): $28k - this is currently sitting in a dumb low interest account. I intend to move it shortly, possible money market.

Checking: $6k (gf also keeps 6k checking at all times)

Rent: $1500

Monthly expenses: ~$1300

Debt: $0

This allows me to save approx $2k/month with the current situation. My gf is also saving approx $1500 per month, this should increase to $2k in a few months when her student loans are paid off.