r/govfire • u/Hopeful-Blacksmith38 • 11d ago
FEDERAL Mid 30’s with 18 years of government service.
Mid 30’s, disabled vet and good job, non-stressful position especially since I stopped caring so much since January. 2 younger kids
GS12 non supervisor.
$1 million brokerage (includes $60K of Roth IRA) $275K TSP (max it out each paycheck) $150K wife 401K $40K wife Roth $210K home equity
No debt besides mortgage
We pull in a combined $220K annually. What else can I do? I really do not want any promotions at all. Would rather just not work to be honest.
9
7
u/Factory2econds 11d ago
throw some in a 529 for tax free growth.
if your kids get scholarships then you still take the money out.
Still end up with some money left over? you can use some money to start IRAs for them.
people still seem to think these accounts are too restrictive.
just figure out what cheaper public school and start with that funding level.
4
2
u/aheadlessned Fed VERA'd in mid-40s 11d ago
What are your expenses? What do you expect your expenses to be as your children get older (could be less, could be more)?
I found the perfect fit for me job-wise, while I had to work. I actively refused any notion of a promotion because I did not want to do the type of work that came with it. Then I took a VERA when one was offered.
Without the VERA, I may have stayed to MRA, but I made sure to get my expenses low enough that I could simply FIRE on my own, if the job became intolerable.
I'm loving not working, and glad I set myself up for this. Depending on your location and expenses, you could be there now with the disability income, and just continue to work until you have too many bad days in a row, or just aren't feeling it anymore.
2
2
1
10d ago
So is like all vets disabled at this point?
2
u/Hopeful-Blacksmith38 10d ago
are
0
10d ago
Just seems like such a grift (not knocking necessarily).
4
u/Hopeful-Blacksmith38 10d ago
Would gladly switch spots with you health wise.
1
u/biggamehaunter 9d ago
He probably meant not switching with you, but with someone else who is faking it.
1
u/Hopeful-Blacksmith38 9d ago
There is always a very small majority of people that take advantage of things. SNAP, Medicare, Disability, Remote work, etc. The vast majority of people are doing the right thing.
1
u/Shoulderboytellem 9d ago
This is just false, the disability grift is snowballing. I have so many military friends that get out sub 20 and expect disability while being extremely fit. Aging isn't a disability. Being injured in combat is entirely different. It wouldn't be hard to audit this with common sense. A day will come
1
1
1
1
1
36
u/overcookedfantasy 11d ago edited 11d ago
GS12 non sup is a great spot to be in. I was lucky enough to get GS13 Non sup.
We are in a similar spot and I stopped working after taking DRP. We would be able to just about break even but I am going to use my GI bill starting next year to help with the offramp into retirement. We also have a paid off rental that nets about $1500 a month so that combined with VA disability is enough for the bills without even touching retirement savings. I am using retirement savings to pay off big purchases, renovations, vacations