Welly wrote: 
Is he a CFP? If he is, then I wouldn't hesitate to use him if you and C like him in general.

EDIT: Also check this Google link.

I could, if I planned to die after - mm - about a month.

 hippiechick wrote: 
Well that brings me back to my original question, which was, how much money do I need to put away in order to retire in my chosen lifestyle?
I can run numbers through a spreadsheet and make an educated guess, but we are looking for someone with specialized knowledge to help us plan.
We're considering this guy.
He used to work for a big bank brokerage and investment firm and quit. As he said in his resignation letter, which was made public, "we used to make money for our clients and now we make money from our clients".
Sounds like a guy who gets it. The pressroom articles on his site are worth a read.

 Welly wrote: 
If you start now doing, in some form, what you want to do "in retirement," you may find that the opportunity may come up sooner than you expect.

 Exit2Eden wrote: 
Yep I feel no compulsion to continue in my chosen field. But I would like to research and write, so I would be using the same skills.

Well after reflecting on my rants yesterday, I think I just might squeeze by this thing called life and retirement relatively unscathed. After all I'm a New Englander, and you know what they say about us. We're very thrifty and know the value of a dollar.

Got a small Cape with a garden, 2 old cars that I've repaired numerous times, more than a couple of old computers to stay on line, electricity, and indoor plumbing and enough soup to last til 2060.

 rosedraws wrote: 
Yes, exactly! Middle class. Nothing fancy, regular house, one or 2 cars, not have to worry about walking on my street at night.

I actually relived my parents' life in my own marriage, struggling just to have the few pleasures that mean you are not poor. I worked 4 jobs so my kids could take dancing and baseball. Is this entitlement?

Personally, I think that many families would benefit from having the parents home more with the kids, even if it means cutting back on a few things.

If by retire you mean quit working but rob a bank every month or so then yes, yes I can retire.

 Welly wrote: 

Once Guy and I "turn off" our regular jobs, we'll never look back...

 islander wrote: 
I'm not talking about that.  I'm talking about trying to live at the same level as I lived growing up — very modest.  Really, everything (now that I think about it, surprisingly so) about my life is similar to my parents at this time in their life.  If anything, I have way less than they did, and we have two incomes and can't get by. 

EDIT:  And, for having a retirement set up!

 jadewahoo wrote: 
Wax on...wax off!

its only a bit of snow dear.

 Welly wrote: 
I want to pursue things I find interesting, and have the spare time to look for other interesting things. I'm fortunate in that I have half of that equation already.

 jadewahoo wrote: 
I expect all spiritualists and artists feel the same way. It's not a job, it's a calling and and not something you just turn off one day.

 rosedraws wrote: 
I've heard this from a few people, but it doesn't map well. Houses are much bigger than they were a generation ago. They all have AC/ Central heat, monster picture windows, theater rooms in the basement and 3 car garages. 'Average' houses are what mansions were 30 years ago. And the cars that go in the garages are bigger, heavier (safer?), have air bags, navigation systems, dvd players for the munchkins.... We eat meat every night, and steak twice a week, a generation ago that was unheard of.

So yes, life is more expensive. But it is because we are buying more. People simply aren't satisfied with what their parents had. So they make choices that leave them with less in savings.

BTW - I'm not one to talk here. If I simplified and pared back, I could probably retire comfortably in a couple years. But my spending is pretty whacked. I drive older cars, but I have a boat too. I shop at whole foods, and have a stash of wine that is a cut or two above charles shaw. But I do make it a point to put something in savings first. And I use every advantage I can to keep as much money as possible. It all comes down to how you want to live, and what risks you are comfortable accepting for a long term. I could live like a pauper and amass a fortune quickly, but if I get hit by a bus I won't really get to enjoy it. So I balance living well w/ some long term planning. I think most people skip that last part and just hope it all works out.

I will never retire. It is a concept foreign to my culture. My life's calling garners me even further and deeper respect as my experience matures, enabling my capabilities even further. Service is the the nature of my life and life's calling. Right livelihood is the consequence. I will Shamanize until the day I die... and after.

 rosedraws wrote: 
They're the only people who have the time and enough history of their own to see that preserving it matters.

oh and, by the way, I think you're pretty special too

 Welly wrote: 
  I love you.  We have an amazing active group of retirees in our town.  Without them, we'd fall apart.  Literally!  Instead, we have refurbished our town hall, and have lovely town greenspaces, and energy-efficient buildings and a hundred other things that make life good in our town.

 Welly wrote: 
Zackly.

 Exit2Eden wrote: 
Excellent.