Probably CoastFI - what would you do from here?
Hi FIREUK,
Using rounded figures to the nearest £5k, I’m 35 and my current position is roughly:
- Home equity, my share: £100k
- ISA: £220k
- Pensions: £500k
- Cash/fixed income: £100k
- Vested RSUs, post-tax net: £600k
- Unvested RSUs over next 2.5 years, expected post-tax net: £1.4m
I really enjoy my job, but it is very demanding. I probably work around 50 hours a week on average. The harder part is that life outside work is difficult to keep consistent as some weeks I’m on a plane and travelling a lot, while other weeks I’m in more of a routine and can keep up with hobbies, exercise, friends, etc.
I’m not sure where to go from here.
I’ve clearly hit CoastFIRE at this point, assuming 3% real returns and a 3% drawdown. I’m not quite FIRE yet in the sense of having the life I want fully sorted. My live life as I am right now number is around £800k, but I’d also like to upgrade my home, which changes things. I'm also not sure if I want kids.
The big question is whether I should keep grinding after all the RSUs have vested or whether that would just be chasing a number I don’t really need. I’m not hugely money motivated. I care more about having a good life, good health, relationships, hobbies and not letting work consume everything.
For those who’ve been in a similar position, how did you think about the next step? Did you keep working for optionality, downshift, take a break, move to something less intense, or set a firm "one more year/one more vest" type target?
Would be grateful for perspectives, especially from people who hit a point where the numbers were objectively strong but the question became more about life design than maximising NW.