How much do you know about financial independence?

But doesn't having half your money in only one company scare the pants off you? Maybe I'm in the wrong company, but things are guaranteed to not be guaranteed.

In a way, I suppose yes. But on the other hand, I've been paid out in total profit share over the last 10 years more than 3 times what the shares cost me over that same period. So if it went to shit today I'd still be comfortably ahead.

That said, it is a big chunk to lose if it did tank and that does in some small way influence the decision to retire sooner rather than later. Part of the rules means those shares can't be sold without leaving the company. Company has grown a lot in 10 years and I've benefited for sure - that said, I'm just short of the maximum ownership for my level (would have to be a senior manager or veep to buy more), so I'm not pushing more cash into ownership so not increasing my investment.

I am cutting back on life by not getting a trials bike on top of my dirtbike. And I've avoided sleds because I don't need two trailers. I occasionally walk up a hill with my skis. Tough life, I know.

If I get the big C, at least I'll have some funds that won't put me onto the street if I can't work. If I get hit by a bus, I'll know my loved ones don't loose the house.

Life tips from Rat

-if that's your concern (leaving a loved one without dough) buy disability/life insurance
-and sell your dirtbike and buy a trials bike. really trust me
-sleds cost a fucking fortune and are fun. my best guess is 200 -300 per day. buy if you want one and can afford it. just dont think it will be cheap.
-Saving money is great but I only have X amount of hours on earth. somtimes you have to say let er burn
-having a job you actually like doing, I cant imagine life hating a job i spent half my life doing. thats crazy shiz

Good tips mr rat

I'd also say,if one is a thrifty shopper they can likely make money owning a trials bike. Buy low sell high. Buddy just sold his $2700 trials bike for $3500 after 3 yrs of light use(no tires,brake pads, engine rebuilds, just a new fender) Crazy.

No, that's just my own savings. Wife does her own tracking separately.

About half of my investment is in my own company. As an employee owned private company, only employees can be shareholders, so I can't offer it as an investment tip for others. Historically, it's shown annual asset appreciation of 15% +/- in addition to annual profit share in the area of 25%. I didn't include the profit share in the above gains, as I'm just tracking asset growth.

Another 15% or so is in company pension, portable to my own accounts when I leave the company. I sit on the pension committee, so I know that our pension fund's annualized rate of return over 5 years has been 9.7%.

Remaining 35ish % is in personal investing accounts, self-directed. About 50/50 split between high dividend payers (6% and higher) and equities that I think are poised to grow quickly. The latter is my "high risk" portfolio. The dividend portion just stays steady and pumps money into the accounts every month. The high risk is up and down - up over 26% last year, break-even this year.

interesting stuff and thanks for sharing. did you envision the company you work for having those types of results when you went to work for them and was that part of your plan or was it more you got lcuky with the company's growth?

2015 is going to be stupid busy for me. Three major construction start-ups, including the new drinking water treatment plant for City of Nanaimo, a large sewage pump station in Victoria and the largest water booster pump station in BC. If I survive that without flinging myself off of a bridge, then 2016 I'm going to go for reduced hours -[HTML_REMOVED] four day weeks. I'll do that for a couple more years, then probably retire and work on a contract basis, maximum 50% (about 1000 hours) a year. I have a lot of skiing, biking, hiking, snowshoeing, travel and just plain relaxation to catch up with!

Alcoholism is still an attractive option, tho.

that last bit really holds true to needing to put in the time and effort to reach the level of comfort you've achieved. some people do get lucky with a lottery ticket of sorts, but for most it comes down to a combo of smart and hard work.

*edit

one thing i'm not doing is including my pension contributions into my retirement portfolio. as i don't any control over how that money is invested and it's only 10% of my gross i simply treat it as money i never had and focus on other avenues to give me (hopefully) what i feel i'll need when i retire in 40 years.

and on the flipside - does anyone have experience with the Home Depot consumer credit card?

0% for 6 months as long as you pay minimums monthly, and pay it off in full by 6 months - no problem.

Are there any hidden fees?

yep no fees and as long as you are dilligent with making the payments and unsuring the balance is paid off by the due date it's a great waty to split up the cost of larger home improvement purchases without have to pay any interest or carrying charges. the catch is if you don't pay the balance in full you are charged interest for the full purchase over the course of that six months at 28%.

i've used it dilligently a few times and it works well. the only other drawback though is you don't get to earn air miles or points on your regular cc. every once in a while they'll mail you special offers to extend that 0% to 12 or 18 months.

did you envision the company you work for having those types of results when you went to work for them and was that part of your plan or was it more you got lcuky with the company's growth?

Pretty much entirely luck. When I was invited to buy in, I was given reports showing the last 10 years of the company's performance and it was a LOT more modest than what I described. The company's rapid growth (and corresponding explosion in share returns) pretty much corresponded with the year I bought in. I doubt anyone at the company anticipated that, even up to the level of the president/ceo. I mean, they probably expected and planned for some portion of that increased growth, but I think they too were surprised - when compared to the plans that I've seen in annual reports.

Pretty much entirely luck. When I was invited to buy in, I was given reports showing the last 10 years of the company's performance and it was a LOT more modest than what I described. The company's rapid growth (and corresponding explosion in share returns) pretty much corresponded with the year I bought in. I doubt anyone at the company anticipated that, even up to the level of the president/ceo. I mean, they probably expected and planned for some portion of that increased growth, but I think they too were surprised - when compared to the plans that I've seen in annual reports.

well, i bet you're happy you made that decision.

what do you figure has been the impetus for the company's significant growth, simply being in the right sector?

This is a great thread with lots of info for anyone who is just starting out.

A few times I have seen the "do what you love and it will never be a job" comment. I really wish that this was possible for everyone.

But what if the thing you love the most has almost no market because it is being done for very little or free already. The chance to make any decent living is almost impossible even when this should be a great paying job considering how many industries benefit.

I guess that's why it will always be my hobby and never something to make a living with.

Change your market outlook Ken.

Not quite sure what you're getting at … I didn't think I'd put down any thoughts that revealed any specific market outlook!

But what if the thing you love the most has almost no market because it is being done for very little or free already. The chance to make any decent living is almost impossible even when this should be a great paying job considering how many industries benefit.

I guess that's why it will always be my hobby and never something to make a living with.

I meant: Silk, there are semi pro trailer building positions available.

I meant: Silk, there are semi pro trailer building positions available.

somehow i don't see Silk wanting to while away his day building trailers.

This is a great thread with lots of info for anyone who is just starting out.

A few times I have seen the "do what you love and it will never be a job" comment. I really wish that this was possible for everyone.

I don't know about that.

Once what you love becomes your job it's likely you won't love it anymore.

somehow i don't see Silk wanting to while away his day building trailers.

Top secret code. Or autocorrects attic autocorrect-o-matic.