Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: What to do after $8M (all cash, post tax) exit?

news.ycombinator.com

271–280 of 531 posts

Re: Ask HN: What to do after $8M (all cash, post tax) exit?

#271
Based on the details you shared, I would use the same advice that's typically given to lottery winners. Speak with a trusted lawyer, then a financial advisor. Set up a low risk, income-generating structure. Once the dust has settled, your family banking is set up, and you have interest payments coming in - only then can you think what's next. Not before.

Congrats, this is a huge achievement.

Re: Ask HN: What to do after $8M (all cash, post tax) exit?

#273

I would buy a high yield stock like wells fargo. With 8 mil after taxes, you could buy enough wfc to payout 220K a year in dividends before a paltry 15% tax. You’d likely receive increases every year and as you did, your stock would appreciate. You might not like the idea of wells fargo or financials, so find some other lesser yielding stock(s). Never sell them and try to reinvest dividends at 50% with your minimal e…

Yeah, why do something conservative when you can invest your $8 million in Wells Fargo shares. What could go wrong?

Re: Ask HN: What to do after $8M (all cash, post tax) exit?

#275

This is a great thread. Throwaway also. Gonna write some stream-of-consciousness here, because I have to start my work day, but I personally made approx. this amount from an exit, and it has gone very well for me and my family (wife + 3 kids). Some additional fine-tuned advice of what worked for me: (1) don't be afraid to spend money - high hourly rates - for a good accountant and good tax attorney. (2) if I were you…

Re the 1% thing: might be worth it. Lots of people chase returns and pick risky investments. Instead of picking a diversified portfolio of index and/or blue chip stocks and sticking with it, they "play" the market, and almost never beat it. The 1% to a wealth advisor saves you from yourself. Of course, milage will vary

I think you should not chase returns and pick risky investments AND not have a 1% manager. You can pay for a good CPA and a good attorney, but I am very skeptical that in the long run you will do better with someone managing your money than ETFs and bonds. There is a myth that the wealthy get better advice. Sometimes. But people that want to advertise their skill advertise to the wealthy. There is tons of survivorship bias in wealth managers. You tend to hear about success, people are embarrassed by setbacks. Take it with a grain of salt.

Re: Ask HN: What to do after $8M (all cash, post tax) exit?

#277
post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I assume the OP has to be making about at least $130k salary, approximately $200k in total compensation. That gives 42 years at the current lifestyle at a lifespan of 85 years. That assumes wages track inflation. Lifespan should be higher by then too. I'd consider maintaining lifestyle as comfortable retirement.

This is if you just let it sit in an account instead of investing it. The parent comment is saying if you invest it you will be able to take 4% each year and still keep the nest egg in tact.

Wouldn't you need about 4% per year to break even with inflation? Can you safely invest at 7-8%?

Re: Ask HN: What to do after $8M (all cash, post tax) exit?

#278

This is a great thread. Throwaway also. Gonna write some stream-of-consciousness here, because I have to start my work day, but I personally made approx. this amount from an exit, and it has gone very well for me and my family (wife + 3 kids). Some additional fine-tuned advice of what worked for me: (1) don't be afraid to spend money - high hourly rates - for a good accountant and good tax attorney. (2) if I were you…

I disagree on not hiring an adviser. The key is to know what kind of adviser they are. If they are a fee-only adviser with fiduciary responsibility, it is likely exceptionally worthwhile. It sounds like you have a good handle on how to manage your finances, but there is a LOT to know. Minimizing taxes, planning children's' college, etc. Also, the good ones don't charge a flat 1% all the way up. They will charge less the more money you have with them. Source: my wife is a CFP and works for a well-respected firm in that industry.

Re: Ask HN: What to do after $8M (all cash, post tax) exit?

#279

As one of the "wealth managers" who you apparently should avoid like the plague, I'll just put my $.02 here for what it's worth. There is undeniably a lot of crap in the financial services space. I live in it and I could not agree more. I have to face this down every time someone asks what I do for a living. But this isn't really relevant to whether or not OP should hire an advisor. It just makes the job of finding a…

Well that the thing though a therapist will cost way less than 80K a year.

Re: Ask HN: What to do after $8M (all cash, post tax) exit?

#280
What kind of hobbies are you potentially into? I'd start there. You could grab an acrylic paint set, a few brushes, a few canvases, and get to work painting. You could buy a guitar or mandolin or cello and play some music. Buy a road bike for a few hundred and hit the bike paths. Learn to make gourmet food or baked goods. There's a LOT of really fun and enriching hobbies that are fairly cheap/middle class and yet, your family would like the baked goods or the paintings of Rufus, your new loveable mutt dog.
Post reply on HN