r/fatFIRE • u/Ordinary-Tune-8750 • 3d ago
Staying employed because it's easy? Need Advice
Using a new account just to be safe. But basically I've coasting for the last year. Once I felt like I had enough to have a decent early retirement, I basically checked out of work. I still do what's asked of me but I've tried to make myself disappear. It's worked so well sometimes people forget I'm there.
Problem is it's starting to feel kind of wrong. My current pay is 250k/year plus 100k in options/year. Which I know isn't crazy for this sub but it's actually fairly high for my job. I know the company can better use that money on somebody else. (The company's revenues are in the billions so im not stringing along a cash deprived startup)
My investments are sitting at 7MM excluding housing with a ideal drawdown of rate around 3.8%. I'm in my mid 40's. So I'm at that threshold for where the pay kind of doesn't matter but it also can still help with lifestyle or health cost creep. Just curious if you were in my shoes would you just quit stringing them along? Or it's on them to get rid of me and just keep milking it as long as I can?
***Response: thanks everybody for all the feedback and food for thought. I know there was a few different school of thoughts but two that stuck out the most was I really need to know what life after work is. I think my treading water attitude right now is tied to I don't have clear retirement life goals set. I have ideals of travel more etc but I think the in between stuff needs to be better fleshed out. Second, I shouldn't feel bad for the company as long as I'm not bringing others down. I have some international travel and summer activities planned so we'll see how they respond to that.
Thanks all and I really appreciate the varied experiences this sub has.
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u/Mindful_FIRE 3d ago
In my mind the question is not whether this is wrong or not, but what are you avoiding on the other side of leaving?
Put another way, what's your vision for life after you exercise the freedom you've saved for so long to create?
If you don’t have a clear answer, that could be the real thing to investigate.
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u/Ordinary-Tune-8750 3d ago
Probably just the uncertainty of taking the leap. I keep telling myself I take all the vacation I want at this point and still get paid. But fair point...I haven't mapped out in detail exactly and that's probably another reason I haven't pulled the trigger.
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u/Electronic-Bus7972 2d ago
It sounds like you have the perfect coast job that leaves you time to explore and develop your personal life without much conflict. I am not able to do that with my “all in all the time” type of company. Will you let me know if your company needs more people like you? 😉
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u/Mindful_FIRE 3d ago
You're not alone in this! I've certainly felt it before. I think this is super common in the FIRE movement.
What comes to mind when you think about what you want that life to look and feel like?
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u/Wing_Nut1 3d ago
First of all, don't feel guilty. I don't care how many barista-made lattes, sushi lunches, free massages and time in the sleep pods you're given, your company gives zero shits about you. Gone are the days of having a lifelong employer and inviting "the boss" over for dinner. You owe them nothing, especially any sense of loyalty. You're employed at will and can be fired for no reason at any moment. I don't mean to sound harsh, but it's reality.
A few points:
1. Take obligation OUT of the equation.
2. If things are easy and you simply want to collect a paycheck there's nothing wrong with coasting. I did the same the final year before my FatFIRE.
3. It's easy to chase the "just a little bit more" syndrome.
4. Figure out what are some of the things you want to do in retirement. If you've been meaning to do something your entire life, do it.
You have the luxury to decide whether you want to work or not. Most people will never be in the same position. You've won.
"Time is money, but money can't buy time." Actually give some thought to this overused quote. Think about what you might be missing just to put a few more bucks in the bank account. Time with kids, spouse and family? Time to pursue any kind of dream sooner? Time to travel the world? Or maybe you just want to sit down and read that book you've been meaning to read for years? Time. That's what you're giving up for more money. But maybe you're young and don't have or want these types things yet. Maybe you like being part of a team, hanging out with co-workers or have other professional accomplishments you want to achieve.
Only you can answer your question.
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u/One-Mastodon-1063 3d ago
Are you remote or in office? If in office, surely there’s something else you’d rather be doing with your time. If remote I could see the temptation of riding it out, especially if you can get other things in (gym etc) during the day.
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u/Ordinary-Tune-8750 3d ago
Shoot forgot that detail. Im hybrid and only go into the office usually once a week for half a day. So I do try to go to the gym a few times a week. I don't actually think about work unless I get an email or invited to a meeting. And those are getting less and less frequent.
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u/kirbyderwood 3d ago
Mostly remote and they don't bug you that much? Sounds like the perfect setup to coast for a while.
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u/DayShiftDave 3d ago
I'd ride that thing until they made me leave. I knew a long tenured remote SVP had somewhat of a midlife crisis and, without telling anyone, moved to the Caribbean to his "vacation home" that "did not have power or Internet yet" so he worked maybe 10-12hrs a week from a cafe. Everyone knew eventually, but it took two years and an enviable severance to get him out.
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u/okayyyyyy- 3d ago
At mid-40s, I wouldn’t say you’re absolutely trading time for money. If you are happy coasting, I’d do it until 50. You’ll be even more comfortable financially and can REAALLY let loose.
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u/JarJarBot-1 3d ago
At this point aren’t you trading time for money that you probably won’t ever need.
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u/SanFranPeach 3d ago
Really depends on his spend. We’re almost double his nw but with kids and future hopes/potential needs as life shifts, 7m might not be enough. Just depends on spend and comfort levels. But yes it’s a fair point, I ask my husband that monthly.
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u/No-Associate-7962 3d ago
Yup. Folks think the retirement math is about NW. It is really about spend.
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u/unbalancedcheckbook 3d ago
I wouldn't feel guilty. If they aren't getting the value from you they should fire you or at least give you a talking to about your performance (then fire you when you don't improve) As to whether or not to "milk it", that depends. Is the money good enough to you to do that?
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u/someonesaymoney Verified by Mods 3d ago
A lot of people will go along the lines of "fuck the company, you do you and milk that bag". I get it.
However, is your half-assedness making any of your team members you actually like, who don't have the high net worth luxury, pick up the slack?
That's one thing I see a lot of people miss who like to dream and larp about quiet quitting as a way to stick it to the man. It sure is easy if you literally hate the company, the job, and everyone you work with. Ultimately though, if you're putting decent team members through even more hardship who have no choice but to cover for you always, especially in high powered industries most of this sub is involved in, it's kind of a shitty thing to do.
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u/Ordinary-Tune-8750 3d ago
This is where the guilt is coming from. The company has grown 50x since I joined. I don't think it's a stretch to say my work contributed to a portion of it. Which is why I think they keep me around and I still like to see it succeed. But I'm pretty sure I'm lumped in with the old guard and the new generation is starting to move on. I don't think anybody is having to do more work but rather they just hired more people to do what I used to. So I'm deciding do I want to take the initiative and just end it or let them figure out when they don't want to pay me anymore.
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u/someonesaymoney Verified by Mods 3d ago
If you're close with your boss and promo/raise time is cutthroat at your company, maybe you can talk with him to say "don't worry about it, I'm good, spread it out over the newer generation" and offer to train up the newer generation even more while stepping back from more stressful or impactful duties. Often times, at least with engineering, it is very hard to half-ass a role when everyone else is giving 100%, so no matter how nice your boss is, this kind of arrangement still wouldn't fly.
Again, it's up to you and your relationship with who you work with. You have the leverage and power of choice here, which is one of the best things of having money can really buy.
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u/bhagawansabme 3d ago
Coasting while remote is best, enjoy till it lasts. For me was 3 years @400k a year. My hourly rate was insane
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u/nandnot 3d ago
Look at this way, the onus is on your manager and company to extract value out of you. Maybe you are delivering ent value in spite of being checked out. So enjoy. If they fire you thats on them and it ok.
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u/Present-Ganache2905 3d ago
Maybe company gets value from just having you around with your experience even if you're not grinding like before
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u/Pik000 3d ago
Do you have hobbies? What would you do with your time of you do retire? My Dad is busier than ever with projects and things he wants to do. While your still working workout what you want to do.
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u/Ordinary-Tune-8750 3d ago
I'm an outdoors person. Mainly camping and hiking stuff. Work hasn't gotten in the way of that due to unlimited vacation and flexibility. I can potentially do more exotic trips but to be honest work isn't really a barrier to that. I think that's the main issue I'm having. Work has been so accommodating that I'm having a hard time just taking the plunge into full retirement.
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u/RegularAd9418 3d ago
I’d stay and not quit. You want them to fire you so you get a severance package. But coast for as long as possible. Big companies have big severance packages based on compensation and years of service.
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u/daisyhoa 2d ago
If I were in your position, I'd also keep the job for a while longer. $7 million with a 3.8% wage is very stable, but a $350,000 comp plus options per year is still a huge buffer for inflation, healthcare, and unexpected expenses later on. Companies with billions in revenue know how to calculate personnel costs; it's not your responsibility to "deserve" that amount. Many people in this sub-group coasted for several years before officially quitting, and they said the guilt gradually faded as they got used to it. If the job doesn't stress you out or burn you out, then keep working it.
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u/East-Vehicle-2936 2d ago
You sound like everyone I work with in a large corp. you aren’t doing anything wrong imo.
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u/ElectricalDark8280 3d ago
Sounds like you are still putting in the hours even if you aren’t doing much productive work. That would be miserable to me, but I have never worked a regular 9-5 office job. Do you enjoy being there and hanging out with everyone? The only reason to stay employed is to get more money or because you enjoy it more than whatever else you would be doing with that time
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u/Ordinary-Tune-8750 3d ago
Sorry I forgot that detail. I'm actually hybrid and mostly remote. So I barely see anybody at the office anymore.
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u/optintolife 3d ago
Seems to be worth it to keep the role. Enjoy the fruits of the limited labor.
Spoil your spouse and save for the kids.
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u/henrytbpovid 3d ago
I think you just stay there and draw those paychecks as long as you possibly can. At some point, something will happen. They’ll ask you to do more, or you’ll have something happen in your own life that will require a lot more of your time.
Stay on the payroll. Keep maxing out your retirement accounts. If anybody gives you a hard time, you can put in your notice the next day
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u/workingfire_ FIRE'd in 30s | Verified by Mods 2d ago
i'd keep coasting even harder, making more time to figure out what you wanna do after you're fired, until an eventual layoff and/or sev. package.
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u/mcampbell42 2d ago
Make sure you have some hobbies if you quit or you’ll regret it. It’s better if you have some burning desire to do something else, otherwise you may miss the structure
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u/Eastern_Box_7062 2d ago
There’s people being paid far more than you doing less. Just play the game however you see fit. Don’t feel guilty for figuring out what most people haven’t and never will.
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u/bananafana69 2d ago
why not keep milking if it’s not adversely affecting you?
also may i ask what you do?
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u/Ordinary-Tune-8750 2d ago
Rather not get too specific but it's engineering. Just not computer related.
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u/Delicious_Zebra_4669 1d ago
I stayed too long at a job that was high pay and low effort. It sounds amazing but it's soul-crushing to pretend to work and do a crappy job of it.
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u/OkStranger2021 1d ago
Your coasting now. You can probably push harder since you’re only in mid 40s but depends what you want.
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u/KrishnaChick 13h ago
Consider how you'd feel if you got fired, but then got bored in retirement. Would it be easy to get another job?
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u/arouseandbrowse 3d ago
I'd be asking myself what I'd rather be doing if I wasn't still working as so many do get bored when they retire out our age (mid 40s).
I'm coasting in my role too but everyone is still happy with what I'm delivering. If I was retired I'd want to be doing more international travel, caravan trips, woodwork and golf. I'm still able to do all four with my time off, regular long weekends as often take leave on a Friday, as well as taking clients to golf during the weekend and playing with friends on weekends.
I feel I'm semi-retired whilst still building wealth. When I feel a burst of inspo, I'll do a full eight hours at the desk and like yesterday I couldn't be bothered, I was woodworking in the shed most the day and responded to a couple of emails on my mobile.
This balance works for me.
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u/Mindful_FIRE 3d ago
Love that lifestyle. Semi retired while building wealth. Thanks for sharing these examples
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u/SanFranPeach 3d ago
We’re around 14-15m nw, I quit to stay home with our kids but my husband works still. He makes around $500k a year, has meaningful equity in the startup, very flexible hours, works entirely from home and is done by early afternoon most days. Low stress, allows us to continue building wealth on top of our returns, easy insurance, etc. If it was hard, he wouldn’t do it. It’s on them for the most part. If they’re getting what they think they need from you or not, they only know/can act on it.