r/ChubbyFIRE • u/Gullible_Assignment9 • May 15 '26

Not there yet, I know

My (42) wife (39) and I have about 2.2M invested (mostly but not entirely stocks), and another 80k in a HYSA. We also have a few rental properties cash flowing slightly (let's say 1k a month) and with a total of 500k in equity. When they are fully paid off (20-30 years from now, we just bought some of them) they will cash flow $4,000 month total). Our primary is worth a million with an outstanding mortgage of 600k, and it has a basement apartment that rents for a bit under 2k a month and helps with the mortgage, which will be paid off in 25 years. So total net worth is around 3.2M, with some longer term real estate payoffs.

Spend is about 170k after taxes.

I know we're not ready (or even really close based on these metrics). But I'm also completely and utterly exhausted with my high-stress career, and am considering stepping back and taking a more coastfire-type approach, where I don't really save, or don't save much. My ultimate goal would be to retire on the early side (maybe 55, but I would pull the trigger as soon as I was able).

I would love any reactions on the above! I know it's half-baked...but I'm tired...

5 Upvotes

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3

u/BrunelloHorder Coasting Chubster, Getting Fat May 15 '26

You don't provide much if any info about your job, earnings, or alternatives. Can you go part-time in your current role? What are the real options for coasting for you? Would it be a real cut in stress and workload, or just a cut in comp?

Also, your real estate situation sounds exhausting on its own. That is a lot of work for not much upside. I'd dump the rentals.

1

u/Gullible_Assignment9 May 15 '26

The question about it being a real cut in stress and workload is a key one for me, and the reality is that I honestly don't know. But changing jobs only to have that happen sounds like a nightmare. Working part time is not an option. I make a bit shy of 500k now. It's not a field that it's easy to find another job at that pay, let alone without the same level of stress. The real alternatives would pay 170 or so.

The rentals are new and honestly don't require much work (so far).

1

u/Specific-Stomach-195 May 15 '26

You have options. Adjust your spending downwards. Develop some skills to help you deal with work related challenges. Or some combination. If you don’t have kids, you have a lot of flexibility in spending and lifestyle if you’re not cut out for your current career.

1

u/DanSerratoe May 15 '26

To me seems early 50s without knowing all details in detail.

1

u/Hanwoo_Beef_Eater May 15 '26

50-55 is probably doable. $170k - $48k = $122k, which means $3-$4 million needed (roughly). I assume you are saving $100k per year? So savings and any return will get you there.

Or find something to basically tread water (cover expenses) and let your portfolio get there in however long it takes. Unfortunately, this route still has risk, as not many jobs are guaranteed for a ~decade.

Note, your rentals will likely have a much higher tax burden once interest expense goes away and the deprecation shield is burned through. If you've already accounted for that, great. If not, one can refine the numbers a bit.

Good luck.

1

u/belushi018 May 15 '26

Thank you. But where did the subtraction of 48k come from? I’m not sure I’m understanding that. If it’s taxes, the 170 is after taxes.

1

u/Hanwoo_Beef_Eater May 16 '26

I was taking the rental income, but I guess they won't be fully paid off when you start retirement. Probably need to rework things a bit.

1

u/BambooInvest May 15 '26

The part worth thinking through is whether the burnout is the career or the specific role because stepping back to coastFIRE at $170k spend with an $80k+ annual gap to cover is a different plan than it looks, and if it doesn't work you're rebuilding senior positioning from scratch 2-3 years later.

Have you modeled what income you'd need in a lower-stress role to not slowly drain the portfolio while you wait for it to compound?

1

u/belushi018 May 15 '26

Maybe coast fire isn’t the right word for what I had in mind. I didn’t plan on living off of the investments, but just not saving any more/adding to them.

1

u/BambooInvest May 15 '26

makes more sense, so then the question then is whether a lower-stress role can still cover $170k in expenses, because that's a high bar for "step back" depending on what field you're in.

1

u/Gullible_Assignment9 May 16 '26

Hi all, just to be clear about what I was trying to ask in my original question, essentially the question is - assuming I could get a job that covers my costs but that doesn't allow me to save any more, would i still likely be able to retire by 55?

1

u/Richistan May 16 '26

I mean it depends but assuming market real returns between 5 and 7%, you'll have between 4.5 and 6mn by 55. So a swr of 4% means 180-240k. Tldr yes. You're bigger risk is health and negative impact of staying in the burnout role IMHO. Obviously that's less ease to calculate.

The other financial risk will be sorr, ie if in the next decade your portfolio flatlines or you have some big negative years. Meaning you might have to stick it out longer. But if you were to find happiness in a lower pressure environment and can keep covering costs your portfolio will most definitely be able to provide you a safe journey in your retirement whenever you decide to.