r/govfire

Hi All,

I'm reflecting on my career, I graduated from MIT (bachelors and masters) 21 years ago and have 11 years of working as an engineer in the federal gov. I'm 45 now, and live in a high cost location (San Diego). I'm a topped out GS-13 and after breaking my back doing so many additional collateral duties for the last 6 years, I was recently told I can't be promoted without taking on bigger projects and they don't just appear out of thin air. I'm at the burnt out stage now and taking a break isn't the answer, I'll be coming back to frustrations (traffic, parking nightmares, office BS politics, stupid micromanagement, turmoil from the administration, etc).

I estimate FEHB in retirement being worth $600k but maybe I'm off (I don't know how to estimate this). I also don't know if I want to stay another 12 years to reach MRA and keep FEHB. Each year longer I stay, the less it makes sense to leave though if I start to consider the FERS pension/FEHB together!

I could cash out (sell house etc) and have $1.3M plus the $441k that's in my TSP, plus ~$45k FERS contributions I should get back and ~$30k in comp/vacation time (after taxes).

I'm single, chances of starting a family and getting married seem shot... I could buy a house in areas like Melbourne Florida for $350k cash and still get to surf (a big passion of mine) and have decent leftover, but the health insurance worries me. I should be able to work as a contractor from anywhere since I have a connection that works with my current gov org that said to reach out if I want to leave fed service but not sure if my frustrations will just follow me. I could also maybe day trade stock with some of my nest and avoid having any actual job or start a surf school 😄

If I was earlier in my career I'd just bail when I find something else. If I was closer to retirement the answer is obvious, stay to retain FEHB but I'm right damn in the middle and not quite at the typical $2M number most say is needed to reach financial independence! I also feel time passing quick and I don't want to be unhappy frequently either.

Does anyone have advice? I don't really think leaving and coming back 5 years before MRA is easy.. also I left gov service in 2008 and came back in 2016 and that may make it harder. If I leave San Diego I'm not returning unless I'm really rich but I don't want to live anywhere I can't surf.

Hi All,

I'm reflecting on my career, I graduated from MIT (bachelors and masters) 21 years ago and have 11 years of working as an engineer in the federal gov. I'm 45 now, and live in a high cost location (San Diego). I'm a topped out GS-13 and after breaking my back doing so many additional collateral duties for the last 6 years, I was recently told I can't be promoted without taking on bigger projects and they don't just appear out of thin air. I'm at the burnt out stage now and taking a break isn't the answer, I'll be coming back to frustrations (traffic, parking nightmares, office BS politics, stupid micromanagement, turmoil from the administration, etc).

I estimate FEHB in retirement being worth $600k but maybe I'm off (I don't know how to estimate this). I also don't know if I want to stay another 12 years to reach MRA and keep FEHB. Each year longer I stay, the less it makes sense to leave though if I start to consider the FERS pension/FEHB together!

I could cash out (sell house etc) and have $1.3M plus the $441k that's in my TSP, plus ~$45k FERS contributions I should get back and ~$30k in comp/vacation time (after taxes).

I'm single, chances of starting a family and getting married seem shot... I could buy a house in areas like Melbourne Florida for $350k cash and still get to surf (a big passion of mine) and have decent leftover, but the health insurance worries me. I should be able to work as a contractor from anywhere since I have a connection that works with my current gov org that said to reach out if I want to leave fed service but not sure if my frustrations will just follow me. I could also maybe day trade stock with some of my nest and avoid having any actual job or start a surf school 😄

If I was earlier in my career I'd just bail when I find something else. If I was closer to retirement the answer is obvious, stay to retain FEHB but I'm right damn in the middle and not quite at the typical $2M number most say is needed to reach financial independence! I also feel time passing quick and I don't want to be unhappy frequently either.

Does anyone have advice? I don't really think leaving and coming back 5 years before MRA is easy.. also I left gov service in 2008 and came back in 2016 and that may make it harder. If I leave San Diego I'm not returning unless I'm really rich but I don't want to live anywhere I can't surf.

A significant portion of my TSP balance now comes from growth rather than contributions.

I have about $750,000 in TSP, and while maxing out contributions will always make a difference, I’m wondering if I should reduce them by 50% in exchange for a heftier paycheck. That way I can enjoy life a bit more in the present.

Anyone else in this fortunate position? If so, how did you make that decision to reduce TSP? I know I’ll be footing a larger tax bill, but at the same time, an extra $600-650 per month could mean spending it more on entertainment, travel, hobbies, etc.

Considering pulling the plug soon. Curious to know some opinions from others about my numbers/situation.

52/M/divorced/no kids. No family, no real friends. Just a few people I talk to now and then. Pretty much just sitting in my house everyday alone. I’m a current fed, GS12 step 10. I’m well beyond burnout. Have around 19 years of service right now.

TSP: $505k 70% C, 30% I.

Brokerage: $720k

Cash: $30k

Crypto: $10k

Gold/silver: $60k

I’m medically retired from the military so I’m 100% P&T rated ($4k monthly.)

Only debt is my house ($400k…$2800 monthly.)

I own another property outright that’s currently worth around $400k. It isn’t a rental. It’s just land. It will be sold at some point just not sure when yet.

Monthly expenses are about $6k average.

Healthcare is covered since I’m medically retired from the military.

My thought is; I can live on my 100% and brokerage for seven years until I’m 59.5, then have access to my TSP. By then, it should be around $800k or so. Between now and then, I anticipate selling my land. That will add a nice cushion. I’ve already had several offers for the land even though it isn’t advertised for sale. There’s a lot of interest so I’m confident it will sell. It’s zoned commercial and the development in the area is exploding. It will likely sell for more than what it’s worth right now, depending on how long I wait. Then at 62, I have social security and fers. According to ssa, my SS at 62 will be around $1900 per month and fers will be around $2200 if I stop working this year. The only thing I want to do is focus on maintaining my health (I have a home gym so I want to really step up my workouts) want to focus more on what I eat, and I want to travel. I want to stop buying the wine, stop buying the occasional junk that I eat, start hitting the treadmill a couple times each day rather than 3-4 times per week…just want to focus on being healthy.

My financial advisor says I’m good to go. AI says I’m good to go. What do you think?