Since early 2020, we have been 50% income stocks(85% US, 15% Intl), 10% growth, and 40% in a mostly bond ladder. I retired in 2021. We still have not sold a single "share" for living expenses and continue to live off the income our portfolio generates at an increasing rate.
It's a tie between reliving our simple Air Force chapel wedding some 45 years ago(no video, minimal photos remain)....or....Go back through Air Force UPT (flight school) with my 42 years of piloting experience between the Air force and airlines. But there are numerous collages of brief moments with my better half and the kids at a quiet beach, a woodland scene, or along a lazy stream when I felt at peace with the world surrounded by the presence of God.
After truly studying what other nations were charging us before this tariff chapter kicked I am calmly letting this administration level the playing field. Between this and what DOGE has uncovered I am appalled and embarrassed at what We The People have let our government get away with. We are former "Lazy Portfolioists" and now are Dividend Harvesters. When the market gyrates I turn off CNBC, open up our brokerage website to the activity page and say to myself "Oh look! Another dividend..." It is a Sleep Well At Night portfolio that took some work to build but now runs on autopilot. This is worth 13 minutes of your time: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/04/04/hayman-capital-kyle-bass-tariffs-will-work-in-long-term.html
We use a combination of withdrawing an amount that doesn't exceed our average earned dividends and interest and a "fake RMD". I have tracked this dividend and interest number monthly for two years before I retired in 2021. We then "tweaked" the IRS RMD chart to start at 65 and withdraw that calculated amount (not to exceed our earned dividends and interest). So far we have not had to sell one share of our equities so our dividend motor keeps humming along and we sleep very well at night.
We have both ETF and CEF option funds that pretty much cover the various equity markets. I believe we have had them for 3+ years now. As with stocks (I know you know), there have been good periods as well as bad. And specifically with options, there are proper times to buy/write them. Anyway, we are up 15.6% with a yield of 7.95%. Expenses come in at 0.96 due to the CEFs but this small portion of our portfolio is just a little nitro added to the fuel tank so I'm OK with it.
My grandfather, a former commercial photographer, was suffering from macula degeneration. Due to his terrible vision, he would simply "OK" whatever his stock broker called about. One day my Mom (a Boglehead before we were Bogleheads) was going through his statements and discovered the churning this broker had been doing. Investing shouldn't be complicated and neither should the tax code.
"Money is the root of all evil" No sorry. That is the often misquoted version. Here is the real quote: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." 1 Timothy 6:10English Standard Version
We desperately want to give to our children as well as some charities now. The dilemma is ensuring we have enough left for our future (we are 68 and 66), dealing with tax rates and IRMAA cliffs, as well as rationalizing starting SS now vs 70 to help with this giving and the associated torpedo coming from that IRS office. And let's not forget the RMDs and the need to reduce their impact by reducing/draining/converting IRAs....I'm a wicked smaaht guy(MA thing) but this makes my head hurt.
Comments
Since early 2020, we have been 50% income stocks(85% US, 15% Intl), 10% growth, and 40% in a mostly bond ladder. I retired in 2021. We still have not sold a single "share" for living expenses and continue to live off the income our portfolio generates at an increasing rate.
Post: Ch-Ch-Changes?
Link to comment from May 10, 2025
It's a tie between reliving our simple Air Force chapel wedding some 45 years ago(no video, minimal photos remain)....or....Go back through Air Force UPT (flight school) with my 42 years of piloting experience between the Air force and airlines. But there are numerous collages of brief moments with my better half and the kids at a quiet beach, a woodland scene, or along a lazy stream when I felt at peace with the world surrounded by the presence of God.
Post: Hitting Repeat by Jonathan Clements
Link to comment from April 5, 2025
After truly studying what other nations were charging us before this tariff chapter kicked I am calmly letting this administration level the playing field. Between this and what DOGE has uncovered I am appalled and embarrassed at what We The People have let our government get away with. We are former "Lazy Portfolioists" and now are Dividend Harvesters. When the market gyrates I turn off CNBC, open up our brokerage website to the activity page and say to myself "Oh look! Another dividend..." It is a Sleep Well At Night portfolio that took some work to build but now runs on autopilot. This is worth 13 minutes of your time: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/04/04/hayman-capital-kyle-bass-tariffs-will-work-in-long-term.html
Post: Tariffs and our retirement assets
Link to comment from April 5, 2025
Follow Jesus.
Post: Help Wanted
Link to comment from March 29, 2025
We use a combination of withdrawing an amount that doesn't exceed our average earned dividends and interest and a "fake RMD". I have tracked this dividend and interest number monthly for two years before I retired in 2021. We then "tweaked" the IRS RMD chart to start at 65 and withdraw that calculated amount (not to exceed our earned dividends and interest). So far we have not had to sell one share of our equities so our dividend motor keeps humming along and we sleep very well at night.
Post: Spending It
Link to comment from January 11, 2025
I thought "we" had put this to bed... I'll let Nick Maggiulli https://ofdollarsanddata.com/dollar-cost-averaging-vs-lump-sum/
Post: Dollar Averaging by Jonathan Clements
Link to comment from October 12, 2024
We have both ETF and CEF option funds that pretty much cover the various equity markets. I believe we have had them for 3+ years now. As with stocks (I know you know), there have been good periods as well as bad. And specifically with options, there are proper times to buy/write them. Anyway, we are up 15.6% with a yield of 7.95%. Expenses come in at 0.96 due to the CEFs but this small portion of our portfolio is just a little nitro added to the fuel tank so I'm OK with it.
Post: A Foolish Option
Link to comment from August 24, 2024
My grandfather, a former commercial photographer, was suffering from macula degeneration. Due to his terrible vision, he would simply "OK" whatever his stock broker called about. One day my Mom (a Boglehead before we were Bogleheads) was going through his statements and discovered the churning this broker had been doing. Investing shouldn't be complicated and neither should the tax code.
Post: Many Unhappy Returns
Link to comment from June 19, 2024
"Money is the root of all evil" No sorry. That is the often misquoted version. Here is the real quote: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." 1 Timothy 6:10English Standard Version
Post: What’s your favorite financial quote?
Link to comment from April 6, 2024
We desperately want to give to our children as well as some charities now. The dilemma is ensuring we have enough left for our future (we are 68 and 66), dealing with tax rates and IRMAA cliffs, as well as rationalizing starting SS now vs 70 to help with this giving and the associated torpedo coming from that IRS office. And let's not forget the RMDs and the need to reduce their impact by reducing/draining/converting IRAs....I'm a wicked smaaht guy(MA thing) but this makes my head hurt.
Post: Give While You Live
Link to comment from March 20, 2024