So where do you stand in terms of your retirement plan? If you are already retired, are things working out as planned? If you have not retired yet, are you on track?

I think I'm in good shape financially, but I still have the big house and have not even come close to starting the downsizing process. Also, I still have not picked a retirement date. Maybe the end of this year? Maybe the end of next year? I don't think there is much chance that I'll go to 65.

So how is your plan?

 

Still saving, wishing and a hopin'.

Rick will likely continue to 66, maybe 66 1/2. Once he retires, I'm hoping to cut my hours a bit without losing health insurance, we'll see if that can work for a while.

 

I'm a a year off my plan. My plan from my first day of work was to retire at 55. I turned 55 in December and I'm still working. My wife was laid off in 2008 and has been bouncing around from contract to contract since then, so our retirement accounts aren't quite where we had hoped they would be. By working an extra year, we will have 1 more year of savings, 1 more year of income, 1 more year before drawing on our investments. In addition, the house will be paid for at the end of the year. I've been at the same job for 33 years and the company I work for is having some difficulties and are making cut backs. There are rumors of a voluntary separation. If a package is offered, I just may retire this year!

 

What about health insurance if you retire this young?

 

My plan was to work until at least 66 but with having gone through heart surgery I decided to go a year early. I was able to go on the +1's insurance until this summer then I need to get my Medicare part B and a supplement. Financially between the +1's and my savings we will be comfortable. With her retirement (coming this summer), my SS and the interest off our investments we should be just fine.

 

Heading into Year 6 of retirement and loving every minute Do not know I found time to work all those years

 

^^^Come May it will be 6 yrs. for me too.
Levi

 

Time flies. I remember when you were talking about retirement.

 

would you say retirement has gone as expected or are you surprised by anything?

 

The mortgage payment becomes the health insurance payment.