A 55-year-old California man recently turned to the Bogleheads forum — a famously level-headed community of long-term investors — to ask the question most workers dream of: Am I ready to retire?
His post wasn't wishful thinking. It read like a financial statement. He's single, has no children, and no plans for an inheritance. His portfolio? A staggering $7.45 million, split across a mix of pre-tax accounts, Roths, and taxable investments. About 85% sits in stocks — index funds and a few highly appreciated individual shares — while 15% rests in bonds and cash.
His lifestyle runs about $133,000 a year, with a huge chunk — roughly $90,000 — going toward mortgage, taxes, and HOA fees on his California condo. He's thinking about packing up and heading to Las Vegas, where there's no state income tax and housing costs are far lower. "After that," he wrote, "I could have my dream of spending three months in Europe and three in South America each year."
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"You Have Plenty of Money"
The replies came quick. "You have plenty of money. Congratulations," one member said, pointing him toward a retirement planner tool. Another added, "You're loaded. Pull the pin and enjoy."
Others dug into finer details — mostly healthcare and taxes. One user noted that $20,000 a year for pre-Medicare coverage sounded high, but reasonable if it included out-of-pocket costs. Another reminded him to check Affordable Care Act subsidies and premium differences between states.
But the best advice wasn't about spreadsheets. It came from retirees who'd already crossed that same mental bridge. One recalled the fear of losing purpose after decades of 50-hour weeks. "It never happened," he wrote. "I ended up wondering how I ever had time for work before."
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The Real Question: What Comes Next?
The California poster admitted that it wasn't the money part that made him hesitate — it was the blank calendar. "That's the scary part," he said. "Waking up in the morning and having nothing to do and nowhere to go."
"Assuming I am financially ready, how do I go about making decisions when I'm on the fence about both retiring and moving?" he wrote, capturing the crossroads many future retirees find themselves at — not worrying about running out of cash, but about what comes next.
Others reassured him that boredom isn't inevitable — especially if you fill your time with something you love. "I can't imagine it becoming boring to play golf every day," one forum member joked.
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Money Says Yes, Mind Says Maybe
On paper, he's more than ready. Between his $7.45 million nest egg, a projected $4,190 monthly Social Security check, and ACA coverage until Medicare, the numbers line up neatly. Even if his expenses grew, his portfolio could handle it with room to spare.
What's holding him back isn't math — it's meaning. After 15 months of tracking his expenses in Quicken Simplifi, he finally has clarity on what life costs. "My real spending is significantly lower than I thought," he wrote. "For the first time, I have concrete numbers to work with."
One forum regular wrapped it up neatly: "You're there. Sounds like you just need to figure out how you want to spend your time, not your money."
For now, that might be the truest definition of financial independence — when the hardest part isn't earning enough, it's deciding what to do with the freedom you've built.
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