What Age & How Much Money? (Your Plan)

[OCWhale]

This is some good perspective. Hoping to make some good progress over the next few years!

How old are you today? 30
Portfolio Value Today? $500K ($900K between DW and I)
What is your portfolio target size for retirement in PV dollars? Targeting at least $3M, ideally $5M
What age are you targeting full retirement? Both enjoy our careers, probably by 55-60.

[Ed 2]

51 and 52
Portfolio: $2.1m+ liquid investments
House equity around $450k
$215k mortgage left to pay ( no rush)

[Tanker]

Current Age: 57.5 (wife is 59.5)
Current Portfolio: $5.3M + $800K in 2 paid-off homes
Target for Retirement: $6M
Target Retirement Age: 59 (wife will be nearing 62 and will start social security then)

I can smell the finish line. Waiting for 2023 & 2024 year-end bonuses, 15 yr. company match to Deferred Comp account, and a likely buy-out package at end of 2024 to get me launched. My wife is a retired teacher already drawing her pension and covering our retirement health benefit needs.

[Back Dr]

Seems most BH folk are top 5% net worth.

Very successful folks indeed

[TinyHouse]

I am 33 today.

PV of what I need in retirement, factoring in ~75% of what i expect from social security in case there are cuts: $3M if I am married, $2M if single

I'll likely be there in my mid-40s, but i don't imagine retiring so much as dropping down to 3 or4 days/week until my mid 50s then really retiring.

I used to want to FIRE in my 30s, but then realized i would be bored because all of my friends will be working into their 60s, and most people who FIRE are obnoxious tech people i wouldn't want to hang out with. now i am just going to focus more on having fun now and worrying less about retirement. Between DW and I we have NW of $1.3M even after the recent crash, i've saved enough i am on auto-pilot. not having kids helps a lot.

Planning on a change?

i got married really young, and my wife and i have grown into different people. fortunately, we don't have kids...

Sorry to hear, and glad kids aren’t in the picture, best wishes

[stoptothink]

How old are you today? 33

Portfolio Value Today? About $165,000

What is your portfolio target size for retirement in PV dollars? $1,000,000 is my base goal, $1,300,000+ is my "just one more year" goal

What age are you targeting full retirement? Between 39 and 45.

When I was at college, I thought that life after age 40 was pointless.

My best friend and I have discussed this multiple times; in early adulthood we looked at 40 as pretty much the end of life. He told his wife when they met that he didn't plan to live past 40 and I told mine on our wedding day that I'll give her the best 8yrs of my life (I was 32). We both are having the times of our life at 41.

Not living past 40 seems strange to me. Did you not know any people over 40? Were they all dying or sick or broke?

None of my grandparents made it to 60. From what I know (I haven't seen him since I was very young) my birth father will be lucky to see another year, but my mother is pretty healthy at 60. There was a lot of early morbidity around me, but 40 just always seemed really old.

[Wannaretireearly]

I used think just like all the folks who posted here. But not anymore. It important to visualize cash flow streams and really pencil down numbers.

For example this thread I started, viewtopic.php?p=7078889#p7078889

Effect paid off mortgage, SS, ACA subsidy using MAGI management if pre-Medicare -all this needs to be required education for those who have posted here. So much of wealth accumulation goals listed here are beyond the marginal utility of wealth. The prime of life spent accumulating it could be spent enjoying it. Just my take on this thread.

Cliff notes please?

[Wannaretireearly]

Current Age: 57.5 (wife is 59.5)
Current Portfolio: $5.3M + $800K in 2 paid-off homes
Target for Retirement: $6M
Target Retirement Age: 59 (wife will be nearing 62 and will start social security then)

I can smell the finish line. Waiting for 2023 & 2024 year-end bonuses, 15 yr. company match to Deferred Comp account, and a likely buy-out package at end of 2024 to get me launched. My wife is a retired teacher already drawing her pension and covering our retirement health benefit needs.

You, Mr/Ms Tanker are golden. What are the retirement plans? Start them asap!!

[egri]

How old are you today? 28
Portfolio Value Today $190,000
What is your portfolio target size for retirement in PV dollars? I don't have a firm target, but based on future contributions and growth, I'm expecting to have just under $8 million by age 65.
What age are you targeting full retirement? Also don't have a firm target, but I want to have the flexibility to retire early if that's the route I end up wanting to go.

[kd2008]

I used think just like all the folks who posted here. But not anymore. It important to visualize cash flow streams and really pencil down numbers.

For example this thread I started, viewtopic.php?p=7078889#p7078889

Effect paid off mortgage, SS, ACA subsidy using MAGI management if pre-Medicare -all this needs to be required education for those who have posted here. So much of wealth accumulation goals listed here are beyond the marginal utility of wealth. The prime of life spent accumulating it could be spent enjoying it. Just my take on this thread.

Cliff notes please?

Find out your all inclusive annual spend in retirement and then do the following math exercise:
1. Subtract mortgage amount from portfolio and also subtract annual principal plus interest amount from your annual spend
2. Multiply annual SS at 70 amount by number of years left to start SS. This is your SS bridge. Subtract this amount from the reduced portfolio value in step 1. Also subtract annual SS at 70 amount from reduced annual spend amount from step 1.
3. Do similar steps for other income streams like pension etc.
4. Figure out necessary taxable account amount needed to be saved so that "income" for ACA purposes can be managed to receive subsidy in pre- Medicare years.
5. This process revealed residual portfolio amount to be around 75x for the residual portfolio withdrawal actually needed for our case. (We are on the low end of numbers listed in this thread)
5. Do successive approximations of the process as you get better handle on actual spend numbers in pre-Medicare retirement years.

Nearly all the people in the thread do not need the portfolio amount they profess to want to meet their annual spend if they understand the sequence of various cash flow streams that will reduce their portfolio withdrawal needs.

[oysterboy]

Age: 75, Wife 71
Retired: 56
Portfolio at retirement (2004): 2.5MM (about 3.7MM in today's dollars), plus $45K pension, $600K house, SSN at 65
Current portfolio: $4MM, 1.1MM house, no debt
Perspective: Lived well while monitoring expenses generally; good stock market; great BH advice along the way. It's not difficult under those circumstances.

[dcabler]

I'll be 62 this year and DW will be 63. We never planned for a certain dollar amount. We saved and invested. Fixed amount monthly into our taxable account which is increased along with gross pay, maxing out 401K every year, directing proceeds from ESPP, Bonus, RSU's & stock options (back when they existed) to our taxable account unless needed for something more urgent. Rinse and repeat over a 39+ year career.

What I've been doing for the last few years has been to calculate what our withdrawals would be at any given time using a method that is close to ABW as described elsewhere on the forum. I compared that to our current spending at any given time. Current spending was calculated tops down instead expense by expense. By that I mean starting with my gross pay, subtracting everything that won't be there during retirement such as 401K withholdings, SS with holdings, medicare, monthly proceeds to taxable investments, etc. accounting for the tax treatment of each. Then replacing healthcare premiums through employment with best-guess ACA premiums till Medicare starts.

At the point where calculated withdrawals exceeded spending with what we think is reasonable margin, we called it. Retiring in April.

Good luck.

Cheers

[volleyballer]

I'll bite!

How old are you today? Late 30's

Portfolio Value Today 900k, mostly retirement accounts.

What is your portfolio target size for retirement in PV dollars? 2.5mm? So, $100k/yr in today's dollars from portfolio, plus dw will have a pension that I'm guessing will be 35k/yr in today's dollars. 135k/yr to spend feels downright chubby in my lcol-ish area. I'd say I'm on track savings wise for that.

What age are you targeting full retirement? 53 to 58? Waiting till 58 would put DD at regular college graduation age. Maybe I'll keep going if she wants to go to med school or something. She seems to like giving checkups to all of her stuffed animals

On second thought, I sure as heck don't want to be grinding away like I'm doing right now work wise in 20 years, or dealing with corporate bureaucracy and bs any more than I have to... So maybe retire or coast / barista fire early 50's after engineering provides a suitable enough stash? I need to figure out how to do the "consulting on the side" thing after retirement from regular full time work.

[capran]

Me-- quit in 2013 age 61 Cola pension start age 65, started SS at 64
Her--retired in 2014 age 59.5 Pension started right away, take SS at 70.
2014: Nest egg at retirement excluding paid for house, cars, boat- 1.85m
2023: 1.795 after two unplanned expenditures: 62k gifting over 2 years for down payment and 270k for a larger boat. (The old anachronym for B.O.A.T. is Break Out Another Thousand, only in our case it was 270.)

[GatorMD]

How old are you today? 43, spouse 41
Portfolio Value Today? NW $1.9M with home equity. $1.5M in 401k, 403b, 457, brokerage
What is your portfolio target size for retirement in PV dollars? 3.5M (will likely be significantly larger if I maintain current savings rate)
What age are you targeting full retirement? 55. Spouse with $70k/yr pension starting at 55 with BCBS healthcare for life. Mortgage will be paid off same year.

I'm hoping to make it to 55. My job is very stressful so there's a good chance that I will slow down before then. Maybe not in comparison to some Bogleheads, but in my mind I already won the game coming from my late start, humble beginnings, and considering my present day portfolio size and the wife's guaranteed pension and Healthcare.

[Wannaretireearly]

I used think just like all the folks who posted here. But not anymore. It important to visualize cash flow streams and really pencil down numbers.

For example this thread I started, viewtopic.php?p=7078889#p7078889

Effect paid off mortgage, SS, ACA subsidy using MAGI management if pre-Medicare -all this needs to be required education for those who have posted here. So much of wealth accumulation goals listed here are beyond the marginal utility of wealth. The prime of life spent accumulating it could be spent enjoying it. Just my take on this thread.

Cliff notes please?

Find out your all inclusive annual spend in retirement and then do the following math exercise:
1. Subtract mortgage amount from portfolio and also subtract annual principal plus interest amount from your annual spend
2. Multiply annual SS at 70 amount by number of years left to start SS. This is your SS bridge. Subtract this amount from the reduced portfolio value in step 1. Also subtract annual SS at 70 amount from reduced annual spend amount from step 1.
3. Do similar steps for other income streams like pension etc.
4. Figure out necessary taxable account amount needed to be saved so that "income" for ACA purposes can be managed to receive subsidy in pre- Medicare years.
5. This process revealed residual portfolio amount to be around 75x for the residual portfolio withdrawal actually needed for our case. (We are on the low end of numbers listed in this thread)
5. Do successive approximations of the process as you get better handle on actual spend numbers in pre-Medicare retirement years.

Nearly all the people in the thread do not need the portfolio amount they profess to want to meet their annual spend if they understand the sequence of various cash flow streams that will reduce their portfolio withdrawal needs.

Thank you! I’ll play with this and probably end up with $100k a year of actual portfolio need, I think. I agree, we’re all likely overestimating our nest egg need. Now I just need to convince my wife! I guess I have 5 years to get her on the same page

[ivgrivchuck]

40 (spouse 38)
1M
30x expenses, probably around 2M
53-60, depending on how things go...

[James.534]

Current Age: 55
Current Portfolio: $7m
Target for Retirement: ?
Target Retirement Age: still trying to figure this one out

[Nyc1967]

Him 56/ Her 55
CPV - 1.2m
Target for Retirement - about 1.7 -- (will have 3 small pensions/No Cola)
Retirement Age - him 60/her 63

[ranger3]

How old are you today?
26/26

Portfolio Value Today
$175,000

What is your portfolio target size for retirement in PV dollars?
$2,000,000

What age are you targeting full retirement?
Partial retire/work just for healthcare by age 45

[8301]

I am curious to get a sample size of Bogleheads in 2023.

If anyone wants to contribute please answer the following.
[snip]

Just curious... how do you plan to use this information to inform your own decisions, that is, how is this personally actionable? We have people here with a wide range of careers, incomes, family circumstances (married/single, kids or not, etc.), cost of living (New York or San Francisco vs. Podunk), lifestyle expectations, etc.). Many of the responses so far don't include such information, so it's hard to compare them with one's own situation.

It seems to me that if you want help in deciding how to set your financial goals for retirement, you ought to give that sort of information about yourself, so as to encourage people in a similar position to respond.

Helpful for me to hear what other focused individuals are targeting. I have my own data points locally but seeing a sample size is both fun and helpful.

I also have young kids and only so much income. So I am trying to plan for how to have the best life I can afford along the way and pair it with hopefully a fulfilling retirement.

I have shared my situation in other posts I have done if you are more interested in it and it helps you in anyway.

The question was how is it helpful?

What's wrong with asking fellow students about how they did in the mid-term when you are at college? Haven't you asked such questions? Were such questions helpful?

[sfnerd]

Current Age: early 40s
Current Portfolio: $10m+ (liquid stock/bonds/cash is ~10m, illiquid assets are a probably worth a few million, maybe more)
Target for Retirement: I'm ready to stop when work no longer feels worth it
Target Retirement Age: I'll force myself to stop around 50 to pursue other life goals

[sailaway]

I am curious to get a sample size of Bogleheads in 2023.

If anyone wants to contribute please answer the following.
[snip]

Just curious... how do you plan to use this information to inform your own decisions, that is, how is this personally actionable? We have people here with a wide range of careers, incomes, family circumstances (married/single, kids or not, etc.), cost of living (New York or San Francisco vs. Podunk), lifestyle expectations, etc.). Many of the responses so far don't include such information, so it's hard to compare them with one's own situation.

It seems to me that if you want help in deciding how to set your financial goals for retirement, you ought to give that sort of information about yourself, so as to encourage people in a similar position to respond.

Helpful for me to hear what other focused individuals are targeting. I have my own data points locally but seeing a sample size is both fun and helpful.

I also have young kids and only so much income. So I am trying to plan for how to have the best life I can afford along the way and pair it with hopefully a fulfilling retirement.

I have shared my situation in other posts I have done if you are more interested in it and it helps you in anyway.

The question was how is it helpful?

What's wrong with asking fellow students about how they did in the mid-term when you are at college? Haven't you asked such questions? Were such questions helpful?

So, not actually helpful at all, just morbid curiosity. Sorry I tried to have a productive conversation asking how it was helpful.

[8301]

Just curious... how do you plan to use this information to inform your own decisions, that is, how is this personally actionable? We have people here with a wide range of careers, incomes, family circumstances (married/single, kids or not, etc.), cost of living (New York or San Francisco vs. Podunk), lifestyle expectations, etc.). Many of the responses so far don't include such information, so it's hard to compare them with one's own situation.

It seems to me that if you want help in deciding how to set your financial goals for retirement, you ought to give that sort of information about yourself, so as to encourage people in a similar position to respond.

Helpful for me to hear what other focused individuals are targeting. I have my own data points locally but seeing a sample size is both fun and helpful.

I also have young kids and only so much income. So I am trying to plan for how to have the best life I can afford along the way and pair it with hopefully a fulfilling retirement.

I have shared my situation in other posts I have done if you are more interested in it and it helps you in anyway.

The question was how is it helpful?

What's wrong with asking fellow students about how they did in the mid-term when you are at college? Haven't you asked such questions? Were such questions helpful?

So, not actually helpful at all, just morbid curiosity. Sorry I tried to have a productive conversation asking how it was helpful.

Man is a social animal. You may get motivated to save more or loosen up a little bit. It's always better to compare yourself against your peers rather than stay isolated in your own little castle. You never know what's missing until you peek out.

Once I had a difficult time in an advanced graduate physics course and I was quite distressed. After I asked around, I found out that I was the top student. Glad I did not commit suicide then.

[Tanker]

Current Age: 57.5 (wife is 59.5)
Current Portfolio: $5.3M + $800K in 2 paid-off homes
Target for Retirement: $6M
Target Retirement Age: 59 (wife will be nearing 62 and will start social security then)

I can smell the finish line. Waiting for 2023 & 2024 year-end bonuses, 15 yr. company match to Deferred Comp account, and a likely buy-out package at end of 2024 to get me launched. My wife is a retired teacher already drawing her pension and covering our retirement health benefit needs.

You, Mr/Ms Tanker are golden. What are the retirement plans? Start them asap!!

Yes, we've been blessed that everything worked out well for us. I've already traveled the world for work (global logistics exec) over the last 3 decades, so we plan to see the last 8 US states and spend time at national parks. I've liked my job/career but now am thinking more and more about things I can be doing instead of being at work.

[srblanco7]

Current Age: 54 (wife is 53)
Current Portfolio: $5.2M + modest paid off home
Target for Retirement: $5M+
Target Retirement Age: 55 (wife will be retiring this spring)

[8301]

I've liked my job/career but now am thinking more and more about things I can be doing instead of being at work.

You are retiring like a champ!
This is the way to go start.

[WorkToLive]

Current age - 48 for both
Current portfolio - $5.5M plus paid off $700k house
Desired portfolio at retirement - $5M but I got there younger than I expected and still have pre college children.
Desired retirement age - 55 for me. Spouse went to a part-time “fun” job in 2021.

[bradinsky]

Impressive! Good job everyone. I looked at all of these posts & compared to everyone here, I’m just a decrepit old guy.

[TheNightsToCome]

How old are you today? 63
Portfolio Value Today: $5M + house
What is your portfolio target size for retirement in PV dollars? $7M?
What age are you targeting full retirement? 70?

I took a year between college and med school to perform with a dance company, and another year between 34-35 to travel, ski, surf, and dive. Then I left medicine to pursue other interests between 2001-2014, so I enjoyed my "retirement" while still fairly young. Right now I'd rather work than retire. I imagine that will change at some point, just not sure when.

[young danny]

Current age: Me 36 and DW 31

Current portfolio: $625k. Including home equity ($150k). $295k left on mortgage at 2.74% interest. 75% stocks (VTI and VGTSX) and 25% bonds. Tilting toward 80% stock 20% bond.

Target retirement: $3M - we'll likely have some bit more. TBH we don't have a target number but instead save as much as we can and are constantly pleased with where it's taken us to.

Target retirement ages: Probably 60 and 60 (DW likes being an elementary school music teacher). It may be sooner for both of us, and if it is, I'm glad we both have hobbies / interests that can be daily and don't cost a ton.

[albireo13]

I am but a humble lightweight compared to you all.

67yo, currently retired. Wife still working, will retire in 2025 at 65yo.

Current nest egg: $1.6M
When wife retires, our combined SS and pensions will easily exceed
our annual expenses so we will live off that and keep nest egg
for emergencies or lumpy expenses (new roof on house, new car, etc).

[TheNightsToCome]

I am but a humble lightweight compared to you all.

67yo, currently retired. Wife still working, will retire in 2025 at 65yo.

Current nest egg: $1.6M
When wife retires, our combined SS and pensions will easily exceed
our annual expenses so we will live off that and keep nest egg
for emergencies or lumpy expenses (new roof on house, new car, etc).

Less lightweight if you consider the present value of pensions.

[privateer79]

How old are you today?
43

Portfolio Value Today?
$4.1M investible+ ~1M home/vacation home equity

What is your portfolio target size for retirement in PV dollars?
~4 M

What age are you targeting full retirement?
the sooner of:

• 7 years (when DW vests subsidized tuition for kids)
• 9 years (when youngest graduates HS)
• the employment market realizes I'm way overpaid, I get fired and bag it

[privateer79]

I am but a humble lightweight compared to you all.
....
When wife retires, our combined SS and pensions will easily exceed....

Don't be so humble... your pension could easily be worth Millions over your lifetime....
I think thats one thing not captured in the data here... there are probably lots of older folks not including pension benefits in their portfolio.

[Wannaretireearly]

Current Age: 54 (wife is 53)
Current Portfolio: $5.2M + modest paid off home
Target for Retirement: $5M+
Target Retirement Age: 55 (wife will be retiring this spring)

Great inspiration! Very well done

[Wannaretireearly]

Current age - 48 for both
Current portfolio - $5.5M plus paid off $700k house
Desired portfolio at retirement - $5M but I got there younger than I expected and still have pre college children.
Desired retirement age - 55 for me. Spouse went to a part-time “fun” job in 2021.

Again, inspiration…
Only on this site. Very cool

[FishEarly]

Current Age: 55 / 53
Current Portfolio: $4.1m liquid
Net Worth: $9.3m (incl. paid off home and several investment properties)
Target for Retirement: $5M liquid
Target Retirement Age: Almost a daily debate in my mind. We own a small business that has performed very well the last couple of years. It's allowing us to save around $600K a year. We've put 17 years into building the business and it's a difficult decision to stop now.

[Engaging in sloth]

A friend mine, who is not a BH, read some of this thread and said- and I quote: " I am calling BS on this thread. Most of those responding are exaggerating their amount of wealth."

I tried to explain to him that the folks here are atypical of the majority, live below their means, successful, and financially driven. He doesn't' believe me or what the responders here have stated.

[FishEarly]

A friend mine, who is not a BH, read some of this thread and said- and I quote: " I am calling BS on this thread. Most of those responding are exaggerating their amount of wealth."

I tried to explain to him that the folks here are atypical of the majority, live below their means, successful, and financially driven. He doesn't' believe me or what the responders here have stated.

I think most people dream of having a $1M+ net worth, but they never take the steps to achieve the goal. Most of our friends make pretty good money, but somehow manage to live paycheck to paycheck. We don't talk about finances much with our friends, but I've heard enough general comments to know that investing in the stock market is not important to them.

[batman]

Current Age: 34
Net Worth: 940K USD
Target for Retirement: 2MUSD in todays Money plus paid off house. I will receive a pension worth 2MUSD+ as well
Target Retirement Age: 60

[bradinsky]

A friend mine, who is not a BH, read some of this thread and said- and I quote: " I am calling BS on this thread. Most of those responding are exaggerating their amount of wealth."

I tried to explain to him that the folks here are atypical of the majority, live below their means, successful, and financially driven. He doesn't' believe me or what the responders here have stated.

Too many people want to dream about it but most don’t want to put forth the effort. The vast majority of people in this country live up to their means - spending everything they make and more. I believe most posters here are very disciplined & always make saving for the future a priority. We never made big money but we saved what we could. It got easier after our children left the nest. Now, we’re not rich but comfortable.

[Sho]

After spending most of online time of these kind of forums, it appears that everyone is earning well , saving well and financially doing great .

[sailaway]

After spending most of online time of these kind of forums, it appears that everyone is earning well , saving well and financially doing great .

I know plenty of people who struggle, my siblings and half my in laws are not saving for retirement or even a rainy day, I help out friends who fall short once in awhile, etc ..., but even I feel out of touch when I see what percentage people feel totally whammied by inflation.

[MrBobcat]

How old are you today? 56/57
Portfolio Value Today? 1.2M ($450k taxable, $330K SEP, $25k HSA, 395K Roth)
What is your portfolio target size for retirement in PV dollars? 1.5M
What age are you targeting full retirement? 60/61
Estimated annual spend (in todays dollars) in retirement: 72K, this can be cut back if needed.
Mrs. will get a pension of about 1.8K/month. She'll start drawing SS between 65-66, I'll start at 70.
I'll get $36,840 SS at 70 and She'll get about $16K in SS.
Annual savings $60k Taxable $24k SEP, 7.5k Roth and $8k HSA

House paid off and no other debt. I also own a paid off office building worth about $400K. Kids are all through college and on own.

I may pull the plug earlier but Mrs will work till about 3 months before turning 61 (to get full pension and keep health insurance). I may also decide to keep working longer, just depends on how I feel about working but it's getting close to where I don't need to.

[broncocountry25]

A friend mine, who is not a BH, read some of this thread and said- and I quote: " I am calling BS on this thread. Most of those responding are exaggerating their amount of wealth."

I tried to explain to him that the folks here are atypical of the majority, live below their means, successful, and financially driven. He doesn't' believe me or what the responders here have stated.

I think most people dream of having a $1M+ net worth, but they never take the steps to achieve the goal. Most of our friends make pretty good money, but somehow manage to live paycheck to paycheck. We don't talk about finances much with our friends, but I've heard enough general comments to know that investing in the stock market is not important to them.

This thread picked up some steam.

Interesting your friend doesn't believe that there is a subset of the population that has this level of wealth. There is certainly a subset well about the levels of net wealth we are discussing here.

Bogleheads paired with hard work can get the majority of Americans wealthy.

I would also argue adding direct real estate ownership & small business will help juice your personal finance position.

I love Bogleheads and am very happy I found them early in life. I think if you put forth the effort and are seeking improvement you can always better your financial life.

Most people do not care.

[Jimsad]

A friend mine, who is not a BH, read some of this thread and said- and I quote: " I am calling BS on this thread. Most of those responding are exaggerating their amount of wealth."

I tried to explain to him that the folks here are atypical of the majority, live below their means, successful, and financially driven. He doesn't' believe me or what the responders here have stated.

I think most people dream of having a $1M+ net worth, but they never take the steps to achieve the goal. Most of our friends make pretty good money, but somehow manage to live paycheck to paycheck. We don't talk about finances much with our friends, but I've heard enough general comments to know that investing in the stock market is not important to them.

This thread picked up some steam.

Interesting your friend doesn't believe that there is a subset of the population that has this level of wealth. There is certainly a subset well about the levels of net wealth we are discussing here.

Bogleheads paired with hard work can get the majority of Americans wealthy.

I would also argue adding direct real estate ownership & small business will help juice your personal finance position.

I love Bogleheads and am very happy I found them early in life. I think if you put forth the effort and are seeking improvement you can always better your financial life.

Most people do not care.

Majority of Bogleheads tend to only do passive index investing and this thread reflects that
However it leaves out people whose majority networth is in real estate and other income streams like pension etc

[Jimsad]

A friend mine, who is not a BH, read some of this thread and said- and I quote: " I am calling BS on this thread. Most of those responding are exaggerating their amount of wealth."

I tried to explain to him that the folks here are atypical of the majority, live below their means, successful, and financially driven. He doesn't' believe me or what the responders here have stated.

I think most people dream of having a $1M+ net worth, but they never take the steps to achieve the goal. Most of our friends make pretty good money, but somehow manage to live paycheck to paycheck. We don't talk about finances much with our friends, but I've heard enough general comments to know that investing in the stock market is not important to them.

This thread picked up some steam.

Interesting your friend doesn't believe that there is a subset of the population that has this level of wealth. There is certainly a subset well about the levels of net wealth we are discussing here.

Bogleheads paired with hard work can get the majority of Americans wealthy.

I would also argue adding direct real estate ownership & small business will help juice your personal finance position.

I love Bogleheads and am very happy I found them early in life. I think if you put forth the effort and are seeking improvement you can always better your financial life.

Most people do not care.

Majority of Bogleheads tend to only do passive index investing and this thread reflects that
However it leaves out people whose majority networth is in real estate , business assets and other income streams like pension etc

[MrBobcat]

A friend mine, who is not a BH, read some of this thread and said- and I quote: " I am calling BS on this thread. Most of those responding are exaggerating their amount of wealth."

I tried to explain to him that the folks here are atypical of the majority, live below their means, successful, and financially driven. He doesn't' believe me or what the responders here have stated.

I think most people dream of having a $1M+ net worth, but they never take the steps to achieve the goal. Most of our friends make pretty good money, but somehow manage to live paycheck to paycheck. We don't talk about finances much with our friends, but I've heard enough general comments to know that investing in the stock market is not important to them.

One could go crazy comparing oneself to many on this forum. It seems like I'd be rather poor if I used members here as a benchmark, but compared to the vast majority of my family and friends I feel self conscious with how much we have and we absolutely keep it secret from them.

[hudson]

How old are you today? 36
Portfolio Value Today? $1,165,000 + 200k equity on 700k primary residence
What is your portfolio target size for retirement in PV dollars? $2,000,000 + paid off primary residence
What age are you targeting full retirement? Would like to downshift to part time at 40

age 75
Portfolio Value: not disclosed...retired at 66...house paid off