• 667@lemmy.radioEnglish
    59·
    21 hours ago

    Some quick math on what this looks like:

    Assume $70k median income, this means passive income would need to be $140k. In order to get $140k/yr one would need $4M to draw down at 3.5%/yr and meet that goal.

    To get to $4M, using the following assumptions: 20% savings rate (not accounting for inflation, raises, bonuses, etc) per year and a 10%ROR on the index funds would take a little more than 35y.

    It takes a substantial amount of discipline to do this. If one could make $70k/y starting the year they turn 18, it could be done by the time they’re 53.

    • jrs100000@lemmy.worldEnglish
      37·
      18 hours ago

      Your forgetting inflation. You have to target the amount of saving you need at the end, not at the beginning. Double or triple the amount you are aiming for, if your lucky.

      • Ava@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        20·
        17 hours ago

        A lot of these calculations solve this by using a lower expected growth rate, to offset the expected inflation. It lets you have the more simple conversations in today’s currency values, which are easier to reason about.

        That’s not the case in this particular example, and you’ve correctly identified a deficiency. I raise the point for the benefit of any curious readers who look into other conversations on the topic.

        • jrs100000@lemmy.worldEnglish
          8·
          17 hours ago

          Thats true, but its also inserting some big assumptions into your retirement plans. For example, if you looked at 1955 - 1990 instead of 1990 to 2025 for your historical rate, youd need to double the target again to keep up with inflation. If you went back another 35 years the whole thing implodes on asset yields.

    • Nolvamia@lemmy.worldEnglish
      10·
      19 hours ago

      These sorts of calculations always do my head in.

      It’s likely that the $4M has some rate of return, meaning that you could do this on a bit less. Well, as long as the return exceeded the increase in median income each year. You don’t want the capital to run out before you.

      • 667@lemmy.radioEnglish
        10·
        18 hours ago

        You’re spot on. It also assumes one wants to maintain a particular lifestyle. If those interested in living on passive income can adjust their lifestyle more simply, or choose lower CoL locations (SE Asia, for example) dollars can go quite far.

  • WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.todayEnglish
    231·
    21 hours ago

    Thid is exactly it. You can’t do much as a slave. You need some form of passive income, be it growing cash crops, an index fund, or being a landlord. Yes I know, questionable.

    However, once you have passive income, you can actually participwte in movements, volunteer, contribute in meaningful ways.

  • chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    17·
    21 hours ago

    Index funds have been considered safe for a long time, but it relies on market prices being an accurate source of information about how profitable companies are, because you are blindly buying everything. If too much money is invested that way, the signal becomes weaker and more irrational, it may not be guaranteed to always be a good long term bet. If all the biggest companies end up with valuations that are entirely fake, you’re pretty screwed. I have money in an index fund because I think it’s probably going to be fine and safer than other options, but it isn’t right to think of it as a sure thing.

    • grue@lemmy.world
      17·
      21 hours ago

      Index funds are also still vulnerable to risks that affect the economy as a whole, like – just off the top of my head, for no reason in particular – total collapse caused by mismanagement by fascists.

      On a totally unrelated note, my portfolio has always been mostly index funds and still is, but I’ve decreased the percentage of US stock market in favor of international stocks in recent years.

      • Shayeta@feddit.orgEnglish
        8·
        20 hours ago

        Well, this is why you go for global index funds. And if they actually DO fail, you’ve got bigger problems on your hands.