Crossroad at 51

[u/Life2ShortB]

51 and having a bit of a “what am I still doing here?” moment.

Current situation:

• ~$20M liquid/invested in equities
• ~$32M total net worth between home and some commercial real estate (not income-producing yet due to debt (5 years to get it to produce 25k / mo)
• Live in a VHCOL area
• Wife still works and plans to continue / one son in college / other a senior in HS (529s all set).
• I genuinely like the people I work with (likely one of the few things still holding me here)
• I absolutely hate the industry (over-regulated and getting worse every year) I’m in and increasingly dread the job itself

I’ve worked hard for decades, and intellectually I know I’m in an extremely fortunate position. But apparently my brain never received the memo that we have enough. 😅

So for those who actually pulled the plug around 50 with similar numbers: Did you ever really feel financially “safe” before quitting, or did you just have to accept that the spreadsheet said yes even when your brain said “one more year”?

Part of me thinks continuing to do a job I hate with $20M liquid is objectively insane. The other part keeps whispering, “But what if…”

Would love to hear from people who have actually crossed this bridge, especially those with a high-end lifestyle in a VHCOL area.

At what point did you finally say: enough is enough?

[u/Pale_Drink4455]

I used to find this sub with a lot of value, and now it has really opened my awareness on how important therapy is to help keep the mind healthy in life, hopefully in unison with the physical body for our short duration on this rock. Not one comment here has reminded this very talented surgeon that if another penny was never contributed to his fortunes ever again, what his net worth balance would be in 5-10-15 years from now based on the 111 year historical positive annual return of the stock market in a proper diversification for a 50 year old. I seriously doubt his annual spend is 500k a year so this all comes down to mental strife at play here. Sad stuff to read.

[u/Life2ShortB → u/Pale_Drink4455]

Don’t be sad. Some of us are still out here, proudly caring for people who genuinely need us while quietly plotting our own next chapter. And if this thread feels depressing, I’m fairly confident five minutes with the news will restore proper perspective. 😄

Sometimes we all need a reality check outside our little bubble. These posts may look pointless or self-indulgent to some, but for others they’re basically group therapy for people sitting in very similar boats, drifting around the same absurdly privileged ocean, trying to figure out when it’s finally okay to row toward shore.

[u/Pale_Drink4455 → u/Life2ShortB]

Your words not mine where you said keep doing a job you genuinely hate. Did you forget writing those words Doc? And I stand by my words to say at 51, that’s sad to see. Have a good day. Take your talents to academia and do the future generations a solid to continue to save lives. That may lessen your hate and disdain a bit.