micha8st t1_j6oidi0 wrote
Congratulations.
First of all, I'd encourage you to do your best to keep your lifestyle as-is...at least for the short term. By that I mean keep your expenses as if you're still making 65k
There are 4 things I'd recommend:
- increase 401k dramatically. At least take the match, but if you put 22,500 into the 401k, that eats 2/3rds of the increase.
- Save for a house / other expenses
- Invest in a taxable investment account
- invest in an IRA.
The only problem I see with so much going into an IRA or 401k is that it's money that in all likelyhood you will not be able to access for 30+ years. Plan for that, in any case. Both are intended for retirement, so assume that's a hard and fast rule.
A taxable investment account is a great option. Yeah, you lose some to taxes, but you also aren't stuck with the governments rules around your age. Plan to keep any money you put into a taxable investment account for 5 years.
I'm assuming you're "average" in that eventually you'd like a spouse and kids. Most people like having a house for raising kids. But that's not a necessity (I actually lived most of my childhood in apartments). My Aunt is still single and has no kids in her 80s, so married and kids isn't for everybody. She still owns her Condo but has effectively moved into the home she inherited from my Grandmother.
Even if you don't want that life and don't want a house, a savings fund for future spending is a good idea...
Now...how you decide to allocate between those 4 above is up to you!
fraidycat t1_j6p80j4 wrote
There are ways to access retirement funds even if you retire early.
micha8st t1_j6peg5w wrote
There are, today. If I remember correctly, OP-age + 30 came out to be 56. So yeah, might be able to retire at 55 and access the 401k without problem. Or, Congress could intervene and change the rules.
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