2023 was interesting. Another major health event, but everything is fine now. Big tax refund covered the health care deductible. Inflation is still bad. 1.4 million is still my number, but my spouse worries it's not enough. Hoping to start house upgrades this year. It's weird sometimes when I'm out and about thinking I'm a millionaire in my early 40's.
$655k in 401(k)
$289k in Roth IRA & non-qualified
$312k in HSA & non-qualified
$(63k) mortgage
Approx Total savings minus mortgage is about $1.2 million.
Just stumbled upon this thread again.
You're clearly doing great on the savings... but Im also curious about the initial goals/wants you described 12years ago here when you started this thread.
"I enjoy my freedom"
"See myself living overseas 4-5 months out of the year"
"40 years old is the "I'm dreaming" age, however retirement at 50 is very realistic"
Rough math has you at 42 now and well beyond your initial $ goals (great work!).
How are you feeling about those other goals? Have you been spending as much time working on the dream board/making travel plans as you have watching the retirement account?
Numbers often shift in our minds as the years pass by, which often means the "finish line" keeps moving further ahead as well. In most cases thats because with those years comes comforts and higher spending, as where the 30yr old self had different priorities/goals.
Just thought I'd pop in and be the little devil on your shoulder and make sure you're considering/weighing things beyond the dollars in the account (happiness, dreams, travel, freedom, etc).
Many of us are surprised/learning how much cheaper some places in Europe/the rest of the world are compared to their home in the US (especially when including health care, etc).
Maybe it's time for some daydreaming. Imagine you're in Europe right now (for your 6th month straight) and actively trying to decide whether to or not you CHOOSE to head back to the US or stay...
Maybe you've found a little town on the coast you love, you've happened in to some remote/online work that doesn't really care where you are (and that you LOVE doing) - AND it's suddenly sounding oddly great to simply let the tenant that has been taking care of those house projects and paying your mortgage (as well as much of your travel expenses) keep doing it for a while longer while you play.
Seriously... you're doing great.
Just don't forget to remember what you were saving for back when your goal was $400k.
Especially on forums like this it can be pretty easy to get so heads down on the calculations that we forget that the one metric/row missing from the calculator is freedom (or happiness or travel or dreams).
Maybe it's time for a sabbatical (or a gap year) to go to Europe and try that lifestyle on for size??
Here's the secret almost nobody else will tell you - you can always come back!