This is my alternate profile...it's what happens when you have too many email accounts. Not much is linked here as this is not my preferred account for HumbleDollar. My author profile can be found here: Ken Cutler's HumbleDollar Page
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She did not qualify for SS on her own earnings record as she had less than 40 credits (her 8 years working for the federal government didn't count). My point was that her spousal benefit, taken at her FRA age, is a substantial percentage of my earned benefit, taken before my FRA.
When I set my LinkedIn profile to ‘Open to Work’, opportunities started finding me. I also had some options arise from my company network. Ended up working part time for a little under three years, averaging about 15 hours a week. It was a great transition for me. Still turning away unsolicited opportunities. I was fortunate that my particular set of skills and experience happens to be in high demand and low supply these days. Never experienced age discrimination at any time in my 40+ year career.
About a year and a half ago, I wrote an article explaining why I kissed rebalancing goodbye: https://humbledollar.com/2024/02/letting-it-ride/. I haven't wavered from that approach. At the time, my stock percentage was 57%. Now it's up to 64%. Low maintenance "couch potato" investing suits me fine these days.
I think you'd find many of the HD readers who see managing money as stewardship are in fact keenly interested in how the organizations they support manage their funds. Your previous post's statement I don’t see tithing 10% to any religious organization as a productive use of the funds is rather sweeping. Do you feel giving to all educational institutions, the arts, or museums is a similar waste of largess? I'm not interested in subsidizing bronze doors or a televangelist's new airplane, but there are lots of resources available to evaluate how religious charities use their funds. Plenty of them do use a high percentage of income to actually help people. Additionally, my church publishes a detailed budget so I have a good idea how that portion of our giving is used.
Eric, you have a lot of "what ifs" running through your brain. I get it-I did too when I was in my 40s. Still, you stated what your objective is: Moreover, and more importantly to me, the author and perfecter of my faith commands us not to worry and not to store up treasure on earth and to give to anyone who asks. He proclaims, “You cannot serve both God and money,” and he ever emphasizes care for the poor. Here are links to a couple of my old articles that touch a bit on the issues you raised: https://humbledollar.com/2024/02/prophet-motive/https://humbledollar.com/2023/09/all-my-children/ Hope they are helpful.
We have (or will have) five main streams of income in retirement: pension (not nearly as large as yours, but better than average), interest/dividends from post-tax investments, 401(k) withdrawals, income from my part-time gig, and (eventually) Social Security. What if I didn't have a pension? We would be down to four streams of income and the 401(k) percentage withdrawal would be a bit higher. I'd probably feel slightly less secure but knowing I could keep working for a while longer would take the edge off. It would not be a catastrophe.
Dan, it's great that she found you considering your name is far from unusual. The perks of being a HD celebrity. Alas, the ubiquitous Parade magazine of our youth no longer exists. The last printed edition came out November 13, 2022. I found it amusing that Parade came up in my dream as one of my early HD pieces was about a Parade article that was influential for me.
Comments
She did not qualify for SS on her own earnings record as she had less than 40 credits (her 8 years working for the federal government didn't count). My point was that her spousal benefit, taken at her FRA age, is a substantial percentage of my earned benefit, taken before my FRA.
Post: Spouses SS benefits don’t always equal half workers benefit.
Link to comment from August 1, 2026
Better?
Post: Spouses SS benefits don’t always equal half workers benefit.
Link to comment from July 31, 2026
When I set my LinkedIn profile to ‘Open to Work’, opportunities started finding me. I also had some options arise from my company network. Ended up working part time for a little under three years, averaging about 15 hours a week. It was a great transition for me. Still turning away unsolicited opportunities. I was fortunate that my particular set of skills and experience happens to be in high demand and low supply these days. Never experienced age discrimination at any time in my 40+ year career.
Post: How Did You Find Paid Work After Retiring from Your Primary Career?
Link to comment from July 31, 2026
My wife and I started SS this month. In dollars, her spousal benefit is almost two-thirds of mine.
Post: Spouses SS benefits don’t always equal half workers benefit.
Link to comment from July 31, 2026
About a year and a half ago, I wrote an article explaining why I kissed rebalancing goodbye: https://humbledollar.com/2024/02/letting-it-ride/. I haven't wavered from that approach. At the time, my stock percentage was 57%. Now it's up to 64%. Low maintenance "couch potato" investing suits me fine these days.
Post: Rethinking Rebalancing
Link to comment from July 4, 2025
I think you'd find many of the HD readers who see managing money as stewardship are in fact keenly interested in how the organizations they support manage their funds. Your previous post's statement I don’t see tithing 10% to any religious organization as a productive use of the funds is rather sweeping. Do you feel giving to all educational institutions, the arts, or museums is a similar waste of largess? I'm not interested in subsidizing bronze doors or a televangelist's new airplane, but there are lots of resources available to evaluate how religious charities use their funds. Plenty of them do use a high percentage of income to actually help people. Additionally, my church publishes a detailed budget so I have a good idea how that portion of our giving is used.
Post: Saving and Giving
Link to comment from June 23, 2025
Eric, you have a lot of "what ifs" running through your brain. I get it-I did too when I was in my 40s. Still, you stated what your objective is: Moreover, and more importantly to me, the author and perfecter of my faith commands us not to worry and not to store up treasure on earth and to give to anyone who asks. He proclaims, “You cannot serve both God and money,” and he ever emphasizes care for the poor. Here are links to a couple of my old articles that touch a bit on the issues you raised: https://humbledollar.com/2024/02/prophet-motive/ https://humbledollar.com/2023/09/all-my-children/ Hope they are helpful.
Post: Saving and Giving
Link to comment from June 21, 2025
We have (or will have) five main streams of income in retirement: pension (not nearly as large as yours, but better than average), interest/dividends from post-tax investments, 401(k) withdrawals, income from my part-time gig, and (eventually) Social Security. What if I didn't have a pension? We would be down to four streams of income and the 401(k) percentage withdrawal would be a bit higher. I'd probably feel slightly less secure but knowing I could keep working for a while longer would take the edge off. It would not be a catastrophe.
Post: A theoretical, simplified road to retirement income without a pension. I’ve learned it doesn’t exist.
Link to comment from June 21, 2025
Looking forward to hearing Jonathan at 10:00 AM today.
Post: Full Circle
Link to comment from June 21, 2025
Dan, it's great that she found you considering your name is far from unusual. The perks of being a HD celebrity. Alas, the ubiquitous Parade magazine of our youth no longer exists. The last printed edition came out November 13, 2022. I found it amusing that Parade came up in my dream as one of my early HD pieces was about a Parade article that was influential for me.
Post: Taking Center Stage
Link to comment from January 25, 2025