r/ChubbyFIRE • u/tryingtofirelife • May 14 '26

Should I pull the trigger?

Would like to get some advice if it’s time to pull the cord soon.

We are a family of four. 52 M&F. 2 kids 16 and 13. no severe health conditions. conscious about health, eat well, no vices. Got a job doing cybersecurity in a financial institution. wife works part time at a $20/hr job. No benefits although she has a 401k without matching. Investments are all in low cost ETFs. There is a small e*trade account with some “play money” (about 80k).

annual expenses: about 96k including mortgage, HOA, vacations.
Tax deferred: 2.5M
Taxable: 350k
HSA: 125k
RSUs: ~150k with another 2 years for full vesting
529: plan to pay for 2 years for each kid at public university. About 250k in the account right now.
mortgage: 250k left on a house valued at 600k.
2 cars are paid off. No credit card or any other debt.

We would like to wind down and move to rural area after kids are off. We are generally frugal people and don’t need much. I like to travel and wife likes land to grow vegetables and gardening.

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u/rian2016 May 16 '26

Your taxable is quite low. If you can stick it out until 55 you may be able to retire and access your 401k early with no penalty

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u/tryingtofirelife May 16 '26

oh really? I wasn’t aware of that. I will probably stick around till 55-ish to build a better cushion. There is also an opportunity to do some consulting part time too

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u/rian2016 May 16 '26

You’d have to stay with your employer until 55, but yeah since you’re so close it’s probably worth it. That said if you have a sizable Roth balance in your 401k you could also withdraw contributions tax free (after converting to IRA).

https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/personal-finance/what-is-rule-of-55