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Started By
Message
For those not retired folks whose money typically earns more in a year than they do…
Posted on 7/10/25 at 9:41 am
Posted on 7/10/25 at 9:41 am
At what age did you cross this threshold?
Was this one of your objectives when you started your investment plan?
How does it feel?
For sake of wealth building discussion, I am excluding ‘windfall’ money (inheritance, law suits, gambling winnings, etc).
This was a goal for me.
Crossed the threshold mid-40’s.
Took a bit longer than planned but for blessed reason, as salary out-paced what my 20’s yo self realized was possible. A blessing.
The peace of mind from, what is now a real option for me to not work ever again, feels amazing. This does not happen for me without 3 things:
1. Parents sat me down in HS to understand time value of money. They did not live this in their financial lives. Wanted different for me.
2. Wife and I saw the opportunity in the same way and chose to make investing a priority from day 1.
3. Life’s blessings - grateful for no major health issues, destructive events, or other matters that can suffocate a financial plan. Of course, this can change tomorrow so I do not type this one lightly nor assuming risks are no longer there. Grateful!
Love to hear others’ experiences.
Was this one of your objectives when you started your investment plan?
How does it feel?
For sake of wealth building discussion, I am excluding ‘windfall’ money (inheritance, law suits, gambling winnings, etc).
This was a goal for me.
Crossed the threshold mid-40’s.
Took a bit longer than planned but for blessed reason, as salary out-paced what my 20’s yo self realized was possible. A blessing.
The peace of mind from, what is now a real option for me to not work ever again, feels amazing. This does not happen for me without 3 things:
1. Parents sat me down in HS to understand time value of money. They did not live this in their financial lives. Wanted different for me.
2. Wife and I saw the opportunity in the same way and chose to make investing a priority from day 1.
3. Life’s blessings - grateful for no major health issues, destructive events, or other matters that can suffocate a financial plan. Of course, this can change tomorrow so I do not type this one lightly nor assuming risks are no longer there. Grateful!
Love to hear others’ experiences.
10
Posted on 7/10/25 at 9:55 am to Artificial Ignorance
Early-mid 40s I'd guess when it was pretty consistent without a unusually good market year. Also had few years since when I lost more than I earned so didnt necessarily bring peace of mind.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 10:01 am to Artificial Ignorance
Two variables at play with income changing over time plus the portfolio development. I plan to be where you describe by early 40s and be financially independent. How will it feel? Relieving.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 10:15 am to Artificial Ignorance
Are you including retirement accounts you cant really touch until 59.5 in this or just money you can take out right now from investment earnings each year in a brokerage or other investments that arent sitting in a retirement account?
I think there's a pretty big difference there
I think there's a pretty big difference there
This post was edited on 7/10/25 at 10:17 am
Posted on 7/10/25 at 10:40 am to lynxcat
quote:
Two variables at play with income changing over time plus the portfolio development. I plan to be where you describe by early 40s and be financially independent. How will it feel? Relieving.
I’m not even close to there yet at 44 on an average year of 7 to 8%. Now last year I did over 20% so I was probably close but my income still beat it.
I’ve been at my coast fire number for regular retirement for a couple years now and now working on retiring early or at least having the option to.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 10:48 am to Artificial Ignorance
At age 50, I can beat my salary in a good year. We are not close to beating our combined salary, wife got a big raise.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 12:47 pm to Artificial Ignorance
Age 43 was the first year my portfolio gained more than my salary (excluding new contributions).
It hasn't been like that consistently since. A couple years it was below my salary and one year I lost more than my salary. Though the last two years, I have gained double my salary on average. This year, I'm currently up about my 1x salary.
It feels good obviously when it's up but the loses can be bigger too. I do feel better in general though as I know the end is in sight and will be able to retire early.
Though I still remember the financial crisis of 2008 and so many people had their retirements wiped out or had to delay for many years. I've taken steps to help ensure that doesn't happen to me.
It hasn't been like that consistently since. A couple years it was below my salary and one year I lost more than my salary. Though the last two years, I have gained double my salary on average. This year, I'm currently up about my 1x salary.
It feels good obviously when it's up but the loses can be bigger too. I do feel better in general though as I know the end is in sight and will be able to retire early.
Though I still remember the financial crisis of 2008 and so many people had their retirements wiped out or had to delay for many years. I've taken steps to help ensure that doesn't happen to me.
This post was edited on 7/10/25 at 4:07 pm
Posted on 7/10/25 at 12:54 pm to Artificial Ignorance
I'd need 3.5 million. I'm not there at 36.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 1:07 pm to Artificial Ignorance
I made too much and spent too much to ever get there during working career. Retired now so investment returns just have to beat my social security.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 1:10 pm to ynlvr
quote:
I made too much and spent too much to ever get there during working career. Retired now so investment returns just have to beat my social security.
What age did you start drawing? I’m thinking of waiting until 67 but may take it earlier.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 1:31 pm to Rize
quote:
What age did you start drawing? I’m thinking of waiting until 67 but may take it earlier.
When do you plan to retire? If you take it earlier and are still working you're a fool because you will be severely income limited or your SS will be greatly reduced.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 1:42 pm to Rize
I’ll start in October @ 70.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 1:43 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
When do you plan to retire? If you take it earlier and are still working you're a fool because you will be severely income limited or your SS will be greatly reduced.
I’m not sure yet somewhere in my mid 50’s to late 50’s I would guess.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 1:45 pm to Rize
quote:It's sort of a paradox. But generally, if you're going to need SS to supplement living expenses, you're better delaying drawing it as long as you can. If you don't need it, as payouts are basically life expectancy actuarials after ~63, draw it early
I’m thinking of waiting until 67 but may take it earlier.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 2:23 pm to Artificial Ignorance
You’re going to get some poor ole me posts in here about how it’s going to take them the better half of their working career since their joint income is +$500k. Nothing glamorous about it
Posted on 7/10/25 at 2:39 pm to Tiger4life306
Correct me if i've calculated this wrong, but say someone started at $100k for simplicity sake and never got a raise. If they invested 25% of that per year and averaged an 8% return, it would take you a about 21 years to get to the point that the interest your account makes each year surpasses your $100k income.
Obviously this is assuming you are starting at absolute $0. Bonuses and employer matches and stuff would lower that timeline a little depending on situation. Flipside, rarely would someone start out at that income level, it would increase over time which would probably push the date out especially if they had a big ramp up in earnings closer to their 40's or something, so that timeframe is probably pretty close to what it reasonably would be, if you can consistently invest ~25% of your income.
Obviously this is assuming you are starting at absolute $0. Bonuses and employer matches and stuff would lower that timeline a little depending on situation. Flipside, rarely would someone start out at that income level, it would increase over time which would probably push the date out especially if they had a big ramp up in earnings closer to their 40's or something, so that timeframe is probably pretty close to what it reasonably would be, if you can consistently invest ~25% of your income.
This post was edited on 7/10/25 at 3:49 pm
Posted on 7/10/25 at 6:48 pm to thunderbird1100
quote:
Are you including retirement accounts you cant really touch until 59.5 in this or just money you can take out right now from investment earnings each year in a brokerage or other investments that arent sitting in a retirement account?
Including all money that earns wealth for you. Wealth building is at center of the question in post. Not wealth reduction.
Separately, the 59.5yo is misunderstood. You can take out of deferred account of employer penalty-free if stop working for that employer in the year in which you turn 55 (ie, even if you were 54 for 364-days in that year).
This post was edited on 7/10/25 at 7:00 pm
Posted on 7/11/25 at 7:36 am to Artificial Ignorance
I just doubt I work long enough for that to happen.
My "excuses" - got market value for time way too late, ran a failed business, held onto student loan debt far too long, lifestyle creep, irresponsible saving habits (consistent with saving, but then "life" happens).
Mitigating factors: Passive income sources will reduce reliance on retirement savings
Having said all of that, if I work until 70, my money might make more than I do that year.
My "excuses" - got market value for time way too late, ran a failed business, held onto student loan debt far too long, lifestyle creep, irresponsible saving habits (consistent with saving, but then "life" happens).
Mitigating factors: Passive income sources will reduce reliance on retirement savings
Having said all of that, if I work until 70, my money might make more than I do that year.
This post was edited on 7/11/25 at 7:37 am
Posted on 7/11/25 at 8:54 am to Artificial Ignorance
If we include retirement accounts and after tax accounts, I'm almost there. YTD my income is about $5K ahead of my investment returns. Some considerations, my income is variable and it's been a slow year thus far and I'm including retirement accounts that I can't touch. I didn't look at my wife's retirement so all in we should be ahead YTD versus my income and we are a single income household.
I knew the value of saving but didn't know/understand investing. TD Money Talk pointed me in the right direction. Started a brokerage account 12 years ago and it's greatly accelerated my net worth. We haven't been able to avoid major health issues or destructive events, just kept grinding through all the shite. How does it feel? Like I want to
nearly everyone I work with. Just can't yet and we aren't rich enough. One day.
I knew the value of saving but didn't know/understand investing. TD Money Talk pointed me in the right direction. Started a brokerage account 12 years ago and it's greatly accelerated my net worth. We haven't been able to avoid major health issues or destructive events, just kept grinding through all the shite. How does it feel? Like I want to
nearly everyone I work with. Just can't yet and we aren't rich enough. One day. 
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