Today’s first article is one that I really enjoyed because of how “real” and “honest” it was.
So many times we hear retrospectives that tell a story that fits a nice clean timeline.
“I planned this, then it happened exactly as I mapped out decades earlier, and now here’s what I learned.” — BOO. Those are not only fake narratives but teach terrible lessons.
The one shared by Chris is real and something we should all read, regardless of what financial stage you’re in:
Reader Case Study: The Best Laid Plans… [Can I Retire Yet?] – “Today I bring you a case study of a reader that planned diligently for early retirement. Life played out much differently from those plans. Still the process of saving and planning combined with the ability and willingness to adapt put him in position to live a rewarding early retirement. Ken Lindsay retired 14 years ago at age 50. Today he generously shares lessons he’s learned in over a decade of early retirement and his plans as he enters traditional retirement years.”
A quick PSA for couples with different 401(k) plans… make sure you coordinate contributions!
Many Couples Do Not Coordinate 401(k) Matches [Center for Retirement Research at Boston College] – “Imagine a married couple. Both work, and their earnings are identical. But one spouse’s employer is matching every dollar of her 401(k) contributions up to a cap. The other spouse’s 401(k) match is only 50 percent. They could increase how much they are saving for retirement by contributing first to the 401(k) with the full match in this simple version of the myriad situations married couples face. But, according to a new study, one in four couples do not prioritize the more generous employer’s 401(k) matching funds.”
I never thought about this (in part because I’m a U.S. citizens) but how do you leave the British House of Lords?
How to Leave the House of Lords [History Today] – “Members of the House of Lords are traditionally prohibited from giving up their seats. What if a move to the Commons becomes a political necessity?”