2023 was our second full year back in the US where we were subject to the 3 overlapping tax systems – Federal, State, and ACA.
In theory this could mean that we would have a high tax burden.
But in practice we paid practically zero, with more opportunities to save next year.
At age 59.5, all access restrictions to 401ks and IRAs are removed.
Sometimes people want to retire before then. (Hard to believe, I know.)
But what if most/all of your savings and investments happen to be in a retirement account? Or you prefer to hang on to the investments in your taxable account?
Fortunately there are a few options to tap retirement accounts early and penalty-free.
I have been a staunch defender of YOUR rights to pay the least amount of taxes possible.
The bureaucrats and swamp creatures in DC don’t like it and have taken steps to shut down my free speech.
The IRS has been running a totally ILLEGAL WITCH HUNT and trying to stop this blog, threatening me with HUGE fines and jail time.
But I won’t STOP fighting for YOU!
As highlighted in our recent spending report, we spent a great deal of moola in 2023.
In fact, we spent at a level significantly higher than our income.
Which led many people to ask… how does that work? Where exactly does the money come from?
We have been living off our portfolio since late 2012 (~12 years.)
In that time the market has gone up and down (mostly up.) Our spending has also gone up and down (mostly up.)
Throughout it all the portfolio has remained much the same… heavy on equities, heavy on US based assets, and heavy on simplicity.
Here are some charts that explain it all.
