Stephen Kilpatrick

Comments:

• After posting this I felt I needed to give credit to the Amish builders who built our home. They really do their work perfectly.

  Post: On the Clock

  Link to comment from August 17, 2024

• Jonathon, your plan of eating well and exercising along with the treatments sounds like the way to go to have an enjoyable life, short though it may be. The bathroom remodel doesn't sound crazy to me at all. My house was built new 6 years ago for me and my daughter's family. I have my "in-law suite" which is very comfortable and private when I want privacy. And I really, really enjoy it, perhaps more than any of the other 7 homes that I've own in my lifetime. Why? I'm not sure, but it could be because I had the final say in its design. It's not extravagant at all. But I love it. So I feel you and Elaine will have that same opportunity to make something as private as your bathroom exactly how you want. And I believe that will make you both happy.

  Post: On the Clock

  Link to comment from August 17, 2024

• Keeping fixed costs low has always been a priority for me. Especially regarding vehicles! I've never fell for the advertising that "your car is a reflection of you". Baloney!!!! I've always bought new because I'm no good at fixing vehicles. And I keep them a long, long time. The last time I bought a new Corolla and the salesman was taking my information for financing options, he asked for my income. I told him. His response was "are you sure you wouldn't rather have a Highlander or a Sequoia? You would qualify for one." I said "yes, I'm sure the Corolla will be just fine. I've had 3 of them and this will be the 4th one." I'm especially happy with the Corolla when I fill up at the gas pump. I see the total on the pump for a big SUV that just pulled away and his total was well over $100. Even when gasoline is near $4 a gallon I rarely go over $50 for a fill-up.

  Post: Turning on a Dime

  Link to comment from August 10, 2024

• Jonathan, God bless. Neither would I have regrets about all the planning and efforts to fund my retirement, knowing that it was going to help my kids if I were in your situation. And likewise, even if I had only a month to live, I don't think I could spend the money for a first-class seat for an 8-hour flight. I'm just too much in the mindset of being reasonable with my spending. I'm not a tightwad, but I have my limits. I drive a Toyota Corolla when I know I could afford a very nice SUV. But I know it would gall me every time I filled up the gas tank.

  Post: Looking Different

  Link to comment from July 6, 2024

• Jonathon, I'm so sorry about your diagnosis. Best wishes for your treatments ahead. Thank you for your wisdom.

  Post: The C Word

  Link to comment from June 15, 2024

• Jonathan, I'm in the process of doing much the same as you, although the timing is a little skewed in your favor. I'm planning on retiring in 2026 when I turn 68, then not having much if any earned income for 2 year and using that 2 year span to do major Roth conversions and get my traditional IRA balances down as much as possible. At age 70 I'll start claiming Social Security and start using as much from my IRA's as I need, whether it is from the Roth or the traditional. I've hired an adviser to keep me between the rails on all of this IRMAA, SS, and other rules that the IRS has. I feel I'm pretty good at finances---been putting 100% of my 401k contributions into Roth for several years now in spite of the pain of paying taxes upfront. A lot of this post-retirement stuff is brand new to me and I don't mind paying for someone who can help me through it.

  Post: Paying to Avoid Pain

  Link to comment from May 13, 2024

• As a banker, I can't tell you how many business customers have a trust set up and then tell us there is nothing in their trust (yet). These are smart people, many or most of them millionaires. But they don't utilize their trusts the way it was intended by their legal counsel to handle their passing. I personally have a trust and everything except my retirement accounts are in the trust now, while I'm alive: my house, my checking account, CD's for my grandkids, etc. The retirement accounts will go straight to the listed beneficiaries upon my death.

  Post: Unsettling Experience

  Link to comment from May 8, 2024

• I love the book Quiet! After reading it I really started to appreciate myself as an introvert rather than trying to be what the world thinks I should be. For the last 21 years, I have been in a position that is perfect for me and pays well. Many times, when working for previous banks, I felt pressured to be at and volunteer at a lot of community events so that the community would appreciate our brand. In my current position I do very little of that. My employer has a good assessment of me: I'm not a salesman. I'm not extroverted. But I'm very good at analysis and planning. So they let me do that and the board of directors always wants to hear my opinion. As a single person, I plan to travel A LOT in retirement (I already do while working). I love to explore, observe, learn and experience.

  Post: A Quiet Life

  Link to comment from March 23, 2024

• I like how HumbleDollar articles cover the entirety of life, not just the dollars and cents part of it. I live in Ohio and would love to have breakfast or lunch with Dan. I promise not to try to get free tax advice! LOL! Stephen Kilpatrick

  Post: He Sold Staples

  Link to comment from January 24, 2024

• David, you and I are very similar. I love my work. I'm great at working but not much of a socializer. I like doing things alone like walking and bike riding. Occasionally I'll have someone else with me, but if not, no big deal. I'm planning on working until I turn 68 and want to continue my passion for traveling both domestically and to other countries. Therefore I know how essentially it is to stay healthy. I never played sports in school. Since I'm 6'1" people automatically assume I must've played basketball, right? If I could run, jump or shoot, I would've been a helluva basketball player. LOL!!! I survived an aortic aneurysm 25 years ago and keeping my blood pressure down by keeping my weight down is a big motivator for me to stay healthy. I don't plan on taking Social Security until I'm 70. At this point, it looks like making that work should be easily accomplished. I will admit that I've never been much of a DIY guy. I was just never taught. Once I retire, I realize that I'll have the time to fix things on my own and you can learn anything on YouTube! Steve

  Post: My Retirement Prep

  Link to comment from November 29, 2023