Kerim's Portfolio

[hendi_alex]

Advisors that I've heard seem to direct individuals toward replacing 70% of gross. To me that number is both difficult to achieve and unnecessary. I think that around 70%-80% of net take home pay is probably adequate to maintain one's lifestyle. That would be net of taxes as well as savings. My pension is about 52% of previous gross. Since the pension has no social security, no medicare, no retirement system payment, and no 401k savings deductions, the pension actually gives me greater net than my previous salary gave. This year SS kicked in and my net is now much, much larger than when working. And at the same time debt has been paid off so demands are lower. That situation leaves investment income free and clear for discretionary spending.