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Interview with a Programmer Who Retired at 34

triplebyte.com

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Re: Interview with a Programmer Who Retired at 34

#2
The gist of this strategy seems to boil down to: "Have very modest annual income expectations for the rest of your life, live in a place with free healthcare" It would seem that something like having kids would definitely throw a wrench in that. Unless I'm missing something?

Re: Interview with a Programmer Who Retired at 34

#3

The gist of this strategy seems to boil down to: "Have very modest annual income expectations for the rest of your life, live in a place with free healthcare" It would seem that something like having kids would definitely throw a wrench in that. Unless I'm missing something?

Check out reddit.com/r/financialindependence. Plenty of people on the FIRE path with kids.

Re: Interview with a Programmer Who Retired at 34

#5
FIRE is quite dependent on steady economic conditions (decent rate of return on investments with low capital loss, non destructive inflation rates), and for many they are trading their prime earning years placing this bet that it will continue indefinitely.

I wish them luck. historically over the time periods that they are potentially talking about (40-50 yrs), that is a risky bet.

Re: Interview with a Programmer Who Retired at 34

#6

The gist of this strategy seems to boil down to: "Have very modest annual income expectations for the rest of your life, live in a place with free healthcare" It would seem that something like having kids would definitely throw a wrench in that. Unless I'm missing something?

It's a good time for spending dollars in the UK too!

Re: Interview with a Programmer Who Retired at 34

#8
post #5

FIRE is quite dependent on steady economic conditions (decent rate of return on investments with low capital loss, non destructive inflation rates), and for many they are trading their prime earning years placing this bet that it will continue indefinitely. I wish them luck. historically over the time periods that they are potentially talking about (40-50 yrs), that is a risky bet.

Betting on the stock market (mutual funds) over timescales in decades is about the least risky thing you can do. You don't need a 5% return every year (that won't happen), you just need it to be the average.

Re: Interview with a Programmer Who Retired at 34

#9
post #5

FIRE is quite dependent on steady economic conditions (decent rate of return on investments with low capital loss, non destructive inflation rates), and for many they are trading their prime earning years placing this bet that it will continue indefinitely. I wish them luck. historically over the time periods that they are potentially talking about (40-50 yrs), that is a risky bet.

There are a thousand and one ways to mitigate risk in terms of choosing investments and withdrawal strategies and your FIRE age, it makes no sense for you to be so negative of the concept. In the extreme case, some people make so much money starting so early that they can live the rest of their lives just on cash.
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