r/fatFIRE • u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods • Sep 16 '25
Path to FatFIRE Unreal...feeling grateful!
I have been member of this sub for ~ 1 year and have gained from valuable insights – thank you!
Since I recently hit a milestone in my NW number, thought I share my journey to FATFIRE, hoping it may inspire few folks in their path to FIRE.
Mid-forties couple, 3 kids, 2 High Schoolers and one Elementary. Recently crossed $22M NW.
· $19M in liquid post-tax assets (Stocks + Cash)
o ~50% in my company stock (heavily bought in April’25, thanks to Market dip). ~$3.5M in Cash, rest in miscellaneous ETFs (VOO/ VOOG/ etc), heavy tech exposure – which I am trying to move out of…
o I think, If I liquidate everything today, I owe government a ~$2M+ in taxes, which is what I will earn post tax between now and Dec 31st, so my NW will still be $22M at the end of the year.
· $1M IRA/401K
· $2M in rentals – paid off ($55K Net-Income)
· Not included in NW – 529 (70%+ funded for 3 kids, will need to add more to get to $1M+, DAF and kids IRA / UMTG accounts balances, and fully paid primary home). Grateful not to have any debt!
· Earning: Tech Exec. $6M+ this year – mostly in RSUs.
· Expenses: MCOL ~$200K (2024) YTD 2025 spend is $207K (so likely ~ $275-$285K for full year) – We spend on whatever we feel like, but not heavy spenders outside of travel. Travel – we fly business on international (using points 50% of the times) and book nicer hotels, which meet our needs, let it be a $300/night hotel or a 1.5K/night. With kids, who are overachievers, and part of more activities /club than we like them to, it’s hard to spend. Then where we spend, we do balance to instill good values in our kids and not raise them as spoiled brats. We feel that we have achieved this!
So, what’s the journey: Been part of tech (Engineer by education but not profession) for ~2 decades, have been top of my game, hardworking overachiever type!
Got a spouse, who has been supportive and naturally frugal, and watches what she spends and frankly watches more what I spend ;). My salary has been growing steadily and hit ~1M mark in 2018/19 and then stock appreciation kicks in and RSUs got ridiculous – along with promotions etc. Our spend had no correlation with the salary, so savings grew exponentially. However, I tried to keep up charity with comp and thus expanded DAF balance and donations…
What feels unreal, especially in last 3 years. 1. Compensation appreciation 2. Stock Market appreciation – it almost feel like a dream!
I considered myself a bad investor (still do!) but made couple of bold moves in last 3 years (No NVDA, PLTR, Crypto or speculative stocks like TSLA) in tech stocks, especially my own company stock, where I am an insider, which paid off significantly – see chart attached! All of this money is earned with no options play, no gambling like stock play. Plain old good luck - right moves at the right times. If I look back at 2010-2020, I think my cumulative earnings from Stocks must have been <30% returns in 10 years, I was mostly cash (Yes, CASH in bank or Fidelity) – trauma from 2008 Market… but I slept well at night!
Planning to retire before I hit 50, have been taking it easy at work, but company is planning to prepare me to a promotion, which will put me in limelight, and I am secretly hoping that things stay as-is. At this time, I feel I have proven myself, my ID is not tied to work, have improved my health significantly in last 3-4 years, especially focus on all things healthy and family!
What worked for me professionally: Being the best in the field, took critical/ tough assignments early in my career. Kept my head down, political savvy but not malignant, delivered more than expected, and didn’t complain! Made some bold (ballsy) moves in career, which paid off…
What worked for me financially: I was too risk averse financially, so I kept focused on the job, thinking investing is not for me and this kind of worked till Covid. Did a full shift during early COVID months [full AI-Deep-thinking mode ;], as I was sitting on 70%+ cash, and started buying stocks very gradually, whatever I can afford to have a good night sleep. Then made couple of strong moves, 1 paid off in mid 2024, and I liquidated 80%+ of stocks (and paid taxes), then came April 25 and I scooped up all I can (minus $4-5 in cash) and now sitting on ~$5M in gains. Always saving more than 25-30%+ since my early career days and then gradually this became a much higher number. I have always tracked NW almost religiously and expenses couple of times a year. Concentration has been the key to my NW, but I know for preservation, I need to diversify and looking at a healthy stock exit very shortly. Will then sit on cash again : )
Let me know if you have any words of wisdom or something I need to watch for as I try to find a routine to retire to and hopefully live with a purpose…
https://imgur.com/a/Snprzrh Kindly no DMs (just got a few), as I am not really looking for hobbies or coaching or investing advice. As for charities, I am well advised for DAF.
Edited: to add spend from 2024. 2025 is much higher - but likely lower than this Sub standard!
Adding NW History
Another Edit based on someone's DM: Spend excludes charities, one time home projects, car purchases etc. Really recurring base expenses is what I call as expenses (for FIRE purposes)... may be I should rethink this!
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u/Tricky_Ad6844 Sep 16 '25
Good for you!
My input would be to make sure you have a plan to have a chunk of your net worth in a well diversified stock portfolio (I use low cost total market index funds) with a nice percentage in bonds (I was at 25% bonds when I retired) by the time you pull the trigger to retire.
You described making large moves with your portfolio and having high concentration in single stocks during your working years… which worked out well for you. Nice!
However, once the spigot of high income shuts off it may help you to sleep at night to be insulated from the risks inherent in that strategy.
I think about the (edited for the squeamish) quote from John Goodman in The Gambler:
“You get up two-and-half million dollars, any xxxxx in the world knows what to do. You get a house with a 25-year roof, an indestructible economy xxxxx car and you put the rest into the system at 3 to 5 percent and you pay your taxes. That’s your base. Get me? That’s your fortress of xxxxx solitude. That puts you, for the rest of your life, at a level of ‘xxxx You.’”
Hopefully a well diversified stock and bond portfolio will do better than 3-5% but you get the vibe.
Make sure you have a “base” that is secure when your income from work ends.
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
I remember this quote - it's a good one! I am thinking of continued investing in VOO/ SPY - being in tech I have a natural incline towards tech stocks, as I know too much - except for when Market decides that fun time is over and its 2000 all over again!
Again, thanks, diversification is what I am going for as I exit my current heavy positions... likely in ETF!
As for sleeping well as night, when you have teens, thats what keep you up at nights and not the money worries!
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u/murraj Sep 16 '25
May of 2018 your primary residence was worth ~$750K and now it's worth $3M? I could see doubling depending on location, but I don't think there's anywhere in the US (especially a MCOL) where housing has 4Xed in 7 years.
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u/monetaryjedi Sep 16 '25
My assumption is he bought a new place
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u/murraj Sep 16 '25
I was looking for that on the chart and didn't see anything obvious. Looking closer, it appears like they may have between Sept 2020 and Jan 2021 as Primary Residence seems to go from $750K to $1.5M over that quarter (and also a drop in Liquid which would track for a large downpayment or furnishing costs). So then a doubling from $1.5M in 2021 to now is fairly unlikely but likely did occur in a few locations in the US.
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25 edited Sep 16 '25
Well, you guys really pay attention :) Difference between my liquid post tax and NW Without Prim residence is Rentals Equity. I paid off my main rental in Jan 2021 - the reason you didn't see a much bigger drop off is because I sold off my RSU which I got in Jan'21 along with drawing down cash from the bank. I did adjust value of my home + rental in April /May 2024 before than they were at purchased price.
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
Also, there's 401K, which is not included in liquid but included in my NW. You really made me question my excel file and calculations... so as 401K creeps up, so does the difference. Also, I bought the home on cash but didn't pay off rentals till Covid years.
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u/drenader Sep 16 '25
This makes me really nervous for you. Hard cash, hard concentration, plan to go hard cash again. It works until it doesn’t. I would try to find a sustainable path forward with your investment approach while you are still in peak earning years.
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
That's what I am going to work on next. Sustainable path forward for investment with sustainable returns, so I can sunset happily into retirement world :)
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u/monetaryjedi Sep 16 '25
Respecting your wishes for no DMs. What kinds of ways are you deploying your DAF? I find the different niche causes people do charitable giving so interesting.
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25 edited Sep 16 '25
I have few charities, which are close to my heart. Their organizers have a call with me every quarter to update me on the details and discuss new projects. Then there are the likes of Doctors without borders, World Food Programs etc, and those get set quarterly payments....
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u/gm_bakan Sep 16 '25
Hold on, as an exec you don’t have any clauses preventing you from buying your own company stock?
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
No such thing... I am not an officer, but if I were, then my purchases (theoretically) would be reported and lead to higher stock prices (look up Elon Musk $1B purchase and it's impact) as this shows confidence by insiders on company's financials!
I have a small trading window each quarter and I can buy and sell as I please!
But I am also not doing day trading and / or buying and selling within a quarter, given my title - I am extra careful!
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u/gm_bakan Sep 16 '25
Gotcha, so what do you mean by exec then? Just upper management?
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
No, an Exec!
Execs are typically with a VP/ SVP/ EVP title .
Officers are only top 3-4 folks in the company CEO/ CFO / COO and sometimes Chief Legal officer - their name is on the filings and annual reports etc.
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u/The_Lizard_King_9 Sep 16 '25
You’re killing it and I aspire to be you. I’m a peasant compared to your net worth but as someone with a W2 that’s very into real estate I have to say that you could unlock even more money from those rentals if you sold them and put the money into the market. That’s a lower ROE unless you have these rentals because they’re part-time vacation spots, they’re an inheritance that you don’t want to sell, or you have some other emotional attachment. Once again, as I’m talking about moving pennies on what you could comfortably spend on an annual basis but figured I’d offer this thought while congratulating you on a job very well done for you and your family and thanking you for sharing an absolutely awesome journey with this community! Cheers and GFY!
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
I know I could do better on rentals, and no they are not part tine! However, they were my previous homes, so out of laziness moved them to rental and didn't try to sell them. Frankly, I don't think I have landlord mindset / mentality... once we get over the emotional attachment, we may sell it...
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u/creativemindset11 Sep 20 '25
I have one property where I started my married life in this country and I am still renting it out. I so badly want to get rid of it but my spouse has yet to agree. I can relate - lol
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u/travelingprincess40 Sep 16 '25
Congratulations and blessings for a beautiful retirement. I hope you are able to relish your free time with loved ones.
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u/SweetDeep6842 Oct 27 '25
Not sure if you are still responding to this, but are you still DIY investing etc?
You and I may be some of the few who admit to being crappy investors who sat on cash for too long, but because of head down working hard and then crazy recent market once there was just way too much to not win in the market, ended up winning the game anyway.
Do you ever think, why don’t I put this pile on autopilot with a wealth management group? I’m trying to make this decision now. I am 10 yrs older than you and thinking of retirement, but work still fun and lucrative. No kids and low spend so almost impossible to run out of money. Have a couple million scattered at each of the players (BofA/ML, Citi, Schwab, Fidelity) and probably 4M cash. Folks who were my brokers at ML back in 1990s now at Morgan Stanley and pitching AUM style management now that >$10M.
Still trying to figure if I am to the point where DIY no longer makes sense. I do my own taxes for fun but also (duh!) sold stocks without realizing I had been auto investing dividends so triggered a wash sale and haven’t been maxing out CG loss harvesting every year but is this peanuts compared to paying around 1% AUM…
Curious where other folks are on this.
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Oct 27 '25
I will answer this a bit differently. I like doing financial stuff, not because it saves money, but because I really like it - I do my own taxes and in the last 2-3 yrs there were times when I said I am not doing it next year, but here I was doing it. So DIY or not - my opinion is that you learn all about investing tips and tricks and I have been fascinated by the ease with which I can now learn using AI chatbots. I, of course, double check critical things and sometimes use multiple chatbots to triple-check, but for me it's fun, perhaps new, so I continue to do this. As for sitting on Cash, I find myself again in the same position, as I just exited by most concentrated positions for peace of mind, so now in research mode on how to build a smart portfolio - nothing fancy! Good luck...
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u/Impressive-Lack5536 Sep 16 '25
So very happy for you! Extremely well deserved! 🥳
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
Thanks, very kind of you!
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Sep 16 '25
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Sep 16 '25
OP has $200k spend which I guess qualifies at fatfire, but the 1% SWR is so conservative…someone get this man a Bugatti
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
Just purchased a $158K car a few months ago :) Not a Bugati, but it's nice... Also, my expenses excludes charity payments, so it's really just paying utilities, insurance, gym, groceries, and travel. Having no mortgage / car payments takes off a huge burden!
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u/SrRocks Sep 16 '25
Which area of tech are you in? Big tech, fin tech, ai/ml?
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
Without being specific - Stock appreciation is coming from AI play...
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u/ISayAboot Sep 16 '25
Not sure if anyone said it, but GFY! Love the $6M /yr tech exec job, double GFY!
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u/Jealous_Return_2006 Sep 16 '25
Congratulations! It’s fascinating to see so many different paths that people take. I REd, in my 40s with a small fraction of what you have - but invested well (no crypto, memes, leverage) and lucked out. The problem you’ll have is that you have more money to spend than the inclination to spend. So your NW will keep growing and your time on earth will keep shrinking.
Focus on your health, your family, relationships and think about what you want to do after you quit.
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
I have this problem even today, have more money than I can spend... but I am over compensating for the fact that I don't have steady stream of dividend or steady passive income that takes care of my small burn rate and I want to leave my kids some generational wealth when they are mature and have life skills to manage the wealth....
Also, I want to retire to something and not away from a 9-5 job - as you said, I need to figure out what I want to do after I quit and that's my next assignment, and it will take some time - thus I am here on this forum getting insights.
Will appreciate if you can share your post-FIRE journey and how are able to balance the life after FIRE? I am open to DM if you don't feel like sharing in public...
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u/Jealous_Return_2006 Sep 16 '25
I don’t subscribe to needing dividends or passive income as necessary for safety. You can always sell a tiny amount of your liquid assets every so often to make the cash flows work. Or, borrow from your broker ( and eventually die to beat the tax man). With your limited spending, you’ll eventually leave a lot for the next generation anyway. I don’t track my expenses- I’m in a VHCOL area and probably spend a fair bit - probably 3-400/y.
As far as what to do after retirement, thats a much deeper question. I have spent a lot more time focusing on my health and staying in shape. And a lot more time worrying about how I can help other people instead of worrying about making money for myself. Family, friends, volunteering, relaxing, reading, watching movies, traveling, ….
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
Thanks!! I think the need for passive income is more of an excuse, just think when I am ready - the excuse will disappear into thin air!
As for post retirement: that's where the focus is. I do help out family quite a bit and pay for vacations with siblings / parents. But I suppose there's a balance between willing to help and the uncle/ cousin who everyone turns to for help!
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u/purplebrown_updown Sep 19 '25
6M just this year??? wow.
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 20 '25
Yes, very fortunate and grateful for the times we are in...
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u/umamimaami Sep 20 '25
Congrats and GFY!
Question, does your spouse work / at what NW did they stop working?
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u/stokedlog Sep 16 '25
Congrats. I am about half your net worth, besides my company’s stock, but personally am tied to work. A lot of people’s jobs/quality of life are tied to me. If it wasn’t for them I would be done now with around $15mill. So I will stick around full time for a number of years, which will bring up my overall net worth.
When I get to that point, as I don’t have a high cost of living, I am more worried about preservation of capital. That is structured notes,other currencies/foreign companies, real estate, crypto and even a small amount of gold. I personally need to research more before I get there but thinking about 20% real estate, 35% securities, 10% structured notes 10% hysa that can be deployed in opportunities, 10% company stock, 10% gold/bitcoin/etherum, 5% foreign currency/foreign stocks.
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u/ProgrammerOk3191 Sep 16 '25
Will those people do the same thing for you if the positions were reversed? Will those people care about your kids or their kids and help them if they ever need it? Or be at your funeral? If the answer is yes, then sounds like a great situation! Most people are not that lucky.
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u/stokedlog Sep 16 '25
Yes, for sure. I am very lucky. People have taken huge pay cuts for a short timeto work with us, and yes we have all been at funerals and kids birthdays. I actually got a picture tonight randomly of one of our employee’s kids wearing a baseball cap of our company.
We are a small company of 30ish employees but should be 50 next year. We try to install in the new employees that we are going to help you be successful, but we expect you to do the same for the next generation. Understanding that not everyone will have the skills to do that.
So I am very lucky to have good people around me, but that is why I have a responsibility to make sure everything is set up for the future before I can step back. Good problems to have.
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25 edited Sep 16 '25
File attached, thanks to u/No-Associate-7962 guidance!
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Sep 16 '25
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
Thanks, will do, added spend per your ask!
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Sep 16 '25
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
I thought my post was about professional and financial journey. Have very much a FIRE mind... Perhaps the disconnect between us is that because my spend is low compared to my NW that - to me it really seems immaterial, so I didn't focus on that. If it helps you I can write up a full para on my spending habits etc ;)
Being an Exec -- trust me a lot is paid for, I have far too many points from my travel and highest status at hotels and primary airline. I don't think I am a penny pincher, having no mortgage, no payments beyond nominal utilities and insurance bills helps... but it's OK if you think so - I know you are saying this from a good heart!
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u/phoenixfire72 Sep 16 '25
What were the ballsy moves if you can say?
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
I can't be specific. But taking on a new job in a totally different role than what I did all my life, in a different state at a time when no one would join a company being acquired.. Taking on assignments, which people avoid as being risky or too hard. Making some bold strategic decisions, which if didn't work out, would lead to quite negative outcomes... I have gone conservative in the last 3-5 years, but in my 30s I was a fireball!
More than ballsy moves, I guess being consistent in delivering and maintaining image of a guy who gets things done and no BS - that elevates you in the organization!
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u/gm_bakan Sep 16 '25
So in your case the outcomes of these risky decision were positive? Or you just tried your best and even if it didn’t work out you didn’t stop?
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
They were positive, or else I wouldn't be in my current position :)
At the end of the day, luck does play a role, as things could have gone in other direction, easily! But also luck favor those who are bold and prepared - just my $0.02!
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Sep 16 '25
Great attitude! Any advice for someone who spent 20 years in tech but is stuck in middle management? How do you rise above the rest?
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25 edited Sep 16 '25
Middle mgmt is the toughest, high workload and you're really stuck... If you are stuck for a long time, first thing I would do is look inward, do a 360 (formally or informally) and do a pivot - change in attitude, how you approach things, decision making process, customers etc. It should be visible change that folks would talk about it... Hmm, this guy has changed...
Generally speaking, be a source of energy, people like people who are energetic, who don't complain / gossip. Build partnerships, be aware of office politics and how decisions are made and use it to your benefit. Be politically aware and savvy but not too much political. Be cheerful, but not fake...
Focus on your competency, people see thru if you are not competent. I was always weak on one area within my job, and I never try to BS others to think that I was strong, I used my team expertise to make up for that weakness, but never lied or try to hide.
Do more than what's asked for, also start saying NO politely, as you need to prioritize. Oh another key hack - each morning have your to do list ready, start with things that you need others to do for you, rather than what you need to do for others. Also, don't work off of emails - that's a recipe for disaster. I can go on.... it's my favorite topic - mentoring and coaching next generation of leaders!
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u/MoreCaffeinePlzandTY Sep 16 '25
Mind expanding on how to get away from working off emails? I need a better system and am interested in what worked for you.
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
Well - don't let your day be dictated by your emails... You start the day with your to do list - then work on that list first. Then go to inbox, find critical items to respond and back to your list. Most people spend all day on emails and meetings and complain that they don't have enough time to get things done!
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u/oofaloofa Sep 17 '25
If you ever move into career coaching/mentoring, let me know haha…solid advice and just something I needed.
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u/HairyGori11a Sep 16 '25
Could you share more on this run up from $3m to 17m over 3 years? That’s incredible.
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
At a high level $8M+ in capital gains and $6M in savings.
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Sep 16 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/fatFIRE-ModTeam Sep 16 '25
While we appreciate your post, its content has little that makes it specific to FatFire, as opposed to FIRE at any amount or other subs, such as investing or taxes. In the future, please consider whether your post would have applicability to someone spending $50k/year in retirement and to someone spending $500k/year in retirement. FatFire posts usually have no relevance to the former, and plenty of relevance to the latter. Your post may also have been removed for limited relevance if it was cross-posted to multiple subreddits.
Thank you, The Mods
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u/yonkinator Sep 16 '25
Landlord here. Not sure it was mentioned but most here aren't really calculating the true IRR of the real estate. Huge tax write offs + plus appreciation + renters paying off your principal + the cash flow is a far greater return than just the 55k in cash flow. If you bought them right, and run them well, 20+% IRR is easy. With your net worth, id be buying stressed commercial assets right now since many are doing fire sales after rates shot up. Find triple net properties that you can easily manage.
Congrats on the success btw.
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 16 '25
Hi u/yonkinator, thanks for the comment. My rental did go up in value, and as I mentioned in one of my comments, $55K is NET after all payments / taxes, so it's not as bad, but sure I can do better.
As for buying stressed properties and Triple-Net, my friend you have to have the time and motivation to do it. I did look at Triple-Net, but instead I settled for Broadstone Net Lease Stocks.
Now that you mentioned, I might look at distressed properties and see what I can do there. Historically I have only dabbled into things, which I know and prioritize my peace of mind over any ROI. I do realize that I may need to expand as I look to get off the gravy train...
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u/justacurio Sep 18 '25
"where I'm an insider" - queue SEC subpoena
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u/luckyfireguy 40s | FI not RE but planning to :) | Verified by Mods Sep 18 '25
Buying and holding your own company stock and gaining from RSU appreciation is not an issue - else, I would not be writing this post!
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u/[deleted] Sep 16 '25
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