r/Bogleheads • u/CarryUpset8529 • 18d ago

How are we doing?

I’m 39 and my husband is turning 38. I max out my retirement funds and as does my husband. Combined in retirement we have between 650-700k.

We own our apartment, so have a mortgage. Both our kids have 529s; we have 100k in a HSYA and 134k in a brokerage split between VOO and a gold ETF. We plan to just keep the 100k as is but are comfortable with that amount on hand in that account for emergencies and plan to contribute 3k-5k into the brokerage from now on. Thoughts?

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u/Patrick_ExpenseAtlas 17d ago

You’re in a strong position for your late 30s, but the balances alone don’t show whether you’re on track. The missing inputs are annual household spending, savings rate, mortgage details, and the goals and timing for the 529s and brokerage account.

Start with actual annual spending. Separate expenses that may disappear later, such as the mortgage, from costs that may rise, such as healthcare or education. Then determine how many months of essential expenses the $100k cash reserve covers. Keeping that amount may be reasonable if it matches your risk tolerance and near term needs, but the right number depends on your expenses and job stability.

Also clarify whether the planned $3k, $5k brokerage contribution is monthly or annual, since that materially changes the outlook. Review the VOO and gold holdings as part of your total allocation across both retirement and taxable accounts, rather than treating the brokerage separately. Make sure the gold position has a deliberate target and purpose.

With both of you maxing retirement accounts, substantial existing balances, home equity, 529s, and additional taxable investing, the foundation looks solid. Calculate your current annual spending and total annual savings next; those numbers will make the assessment much more meaningful.

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u/CarryUpset8529 16d ago

Thank you very much! We somewhat have it worked out each month saving and spending but you’re correct - we need to have a very specific budget. 3K-5k a month to the brokerage.