Hello

I am leaving my day job in about 100 days on March 3 after about 22 years working for the government

Was looking for any advice? Suggestions?

I will be 48 on March 4

Happily married for 16 years an 2 kiddos 13 12

I own close 60 homes

Have about 225k on a loc an going to lock it in on a 10 year to lower my rates before march

I am redoing my heloc on my personal since should now be worth a lot more since last time an will be for good for 10 years

I have health insurance figured out

My take home pay for my day job is 0, everything is going into Roth 401 an 457

I am throwing 1k a month into a sp500 (figure that represents my health care cost an will stop when I quit)

I am watching my money a little more but I like that to be honest not that I worry about money.. just moving money around a little more instead of having 100% going towards loc, I know take some out for daily needs like car payment an credit cards

I know I am 100% done with day job. No question at all an will never work for someone again

Trying to get all loans locked up while on W2 income. I did ask my loan guy an he says I am fine without w2

Any thing I miss? Any suggestions?

I plan on taking a month or two just to relax an get into new normal before I put foot on gas on start buying or will see .. I don't need anymore but I guess I like wheeling an dealing

I am with local landlord group

Going to find some hobbies when I quit an do things I enjoy besides landlording

I know my hot tub will get more use an a I see a new ATV in my future an let my wife have current one an do some mudding

Jason,

Congrats!

I don't see you actually taking a break!

I was so excited I put in 12 hours!

Discipline your self to block out the "work day". Spouses and others will want you to do lots of tasks, which is a great part of FREEDOM!!! but you have to set some boundaries.

Busy people get things done and that's how I operated. During employment I had to simplify, push everything else to the side, and focus on the key essentials.

It's amazing what you don't have to do.

Set some short term goals so you don't get bogged down in minutia. It's about profit, not doors.

BRAD

PS How can you put your entire paycheck in 401K?

Jason(MI), you're taking the leap; best to you! It sounds like you have your ducks in a row.

You're what I aspire to.

Make a list of what you want to do with your free time.

You've set yourself up for success, executed the plan, now it is time to reap the rewards.

Call the list a bucket list or get fancy and call it the Ghost Protocol (mission impossible style).

It could be anything from things you never had the time to do like clean out the garage, organize the tools, start a garden - to dreams you have always had - visit all national parks, get a motorcycle, visit Spain.

It's obvious you thought about getting to the end game, now make sure you have a plan for the game over days.

Congrats!

Make a list of things you look forward to in your upcoming extra time. Check that your enjoying the extra time rather then just time wasters. I've seen a couple retired folks become almost lazy and boring with the lack of time scarcity to focus them.

The "pursuit of happiness" door is wide open.

I retired from the military and jumped from PT to FT in property management and investment. Here are some important considerations to ponder.

1) The number of units you have absolutely doesn't matter. Your monthly cash flow absolutely does.

2) Look at and research your health care coverage options.

3) Consider implementing an asset protection plan

4) Build a new team that matches up your life's objectives.

5) Look at self directed investments while you have that W-2 income. You can create a smaller active income as an investor but you will be paying extra for that.

6) I am sure your marriage is awesome - mine was too, until it wasn't. Then it was seven figure mess and I didn't have much of a plan for that.

Thanks for the advice an tips. I dont talk about this stuff to family an friends.

Brad, I was surprised to that I could get 0 net pay. I am putting a total of 90% into a 457 an a roth 401. My job does not have a cap to % i can put in. As long as I stay under what the 457 an 401 max are I left the 10% for benefits that i pay for. I plan on just doing 90% in 457 in 2025, so wont show much earned income

I don't have any specifics that you haven't already thought of... other than the usual: have something you're running TOWARD before you jump ship.

Quitting sounds awesome until you realize that most of your family and friends don't have free time to hang out at this stage of life, so you'll want to find others like yourself who can hit up the local pub at 2 PM after a full morning of ATVing and lunch. They're out there, but probably lying low to avoid the jealousy that comes when you're very successful and others look on with envy.

Expect some friends to no longer "get" you and disappear. Be diligent making new ones.

Now that I have 6 weeks of paid time off per year, often when I'm off no one else I know is available. So I go on my own adventures driving twisty back roads and finding new places to visit. Even the self-employed are often too busy to join in, though they have flexible schedules. There just aren't that many people our age (I just turned 49) that have this level of freedom to do whatever they want whenever they want. So be diligent about finding those who do have that freedom: both the finances and the time. I've got one buddy who is a REALTOR and loves to join my adventures from time to time, but day trips only. No week-long adventures in the back country. He's still got clients to tend to.

Congratulations on successfully navigating the financial side of life. I've been out about 5 years now, here's some thoughts on my experience.

First, it will take a few months to settle into a new routine. Don't be suprised by feelings of loss. You've spent your life with the interaction and stimulation of a job which isn't there now. As you settle in, you may find new interests. I have taken up cooking which I never recognized I liked doing until I didn't have the stress of time constraints. I now help with a ministry where I cook for a large crowd at least once a week. So, embrace those things as you explore the new life chapter.

Second, don't put too much pressure on your wife to become your "side kick". She has her own routine that you are going to be disrupting. While you will be spending more time together, you also need to give her space away at times during the week. Balance is important for a healthy relationship and talking about it helps you both judge how you are doing.

Finally, it can be unsettling going into the unknown, especially financially. That is normal. It took me about 3-4 months to confirm my financial plan and that the empire was still growing without me having a W2. That allowed me to ease up on myself. I no longer work evenings and weekends. My morning coffee and wake-up routine now takes at least an hour. I hire out everything I don't like doing now, which is much of it, where I used to do it all myself. In short, life is much more relaxed. I have redirected time and effort (and money) into a couple of nonprofits and some Church activities that I help with during the week. It gives my days purpose and a sense of accomplishment as part of giving back. I still hunt for RE deals but not nearly as hard as I used to.

ooooo....I like MikeA's reminder this will impact your spouse.

My "retirement" at age 41 was to spend my time building more income. I was busy and not under foot hanging around the house.

And SID's suggestion about loneliness. No buddies for golf etc. My social outlet was our Monday lunch with other LLs and Boy Scouts with my sons (2 Eagles!)

Keep the wife happy ...she's the only one that can derail you now.

You have it all figured out...

DH uses our Hot Tub sometime several times a day :)

Big thing if you don't already: all maintenance requests in writing online or however you handle it. Once folks see you around during the day, even shopping at the grocery store or out to dinner, they will hit you up with so many tiny requests "just chatting"...you've GOT to push them to an official process or it gets out of hand quickly. Texts and emails don't work. If you aren't using Buildium or something, use your excellent Google Forms and Sheets!

We play Good Cop / Bad Cop. DH is the good cop: the genial handyman who defers to his Bad Cop wife...not that he DOES, you understand, but that's the part he plays to the Tenants.

I barely know what our tenants look like - DH knows their dog's name.