Congratulations on impending retirement and successful career and savings -
I was drawn to the bucket strategy for several years but have been convinced by several posts here and other reading that the buckets make things more convoluted than necessary and have gone to a more simplistic view.
With all due respect - you have pensions with COLA, SS, LTCI, a paid off home with no debt, and well funded 529 for your children (and their children ??). Plus 9 MM. So - you don’t need to worry about SORR or an emergency fund at this point. I think a good estate planning session and consultation with a tax advisor would be the best approach.
Maybe buy your kids their first homes and get them started.
Rent in HI for a while and see if you like it. Then maybe buy a family compound…
Your accounts and planned investments seem overall complex to me and the various small tilts at too small a % to make a big difference. Why not just put all your tax deferred accounts in a single total bond index fund. Then create your desired asset allocation by investing other accounts in total market or US market and international.
I am surprised that you need as much in expense per year (even taking into account big tax hit), especially with no debt or mortgage, but you can afford it.
I was drawn to the bucket strategy for several years but have been convinced by several posts here and other reading that the buckets make things more convoluted than necessary and have gone to a more simplistic view.
With all due respect - you have pensions with COLA, SS, LTCI, a paid off home with no debt, and well funded 529 for your children (and their children ??). Plus 9 MM. So - you don’t need to worry about SORR or an emergency fund at this point. I think a good estate planning session and consultation with a tax advisor would be the best approach.
Maybe buy your kids their first homes and get them started.
Rent in HI for a while and see if you like it. Then maybe buy a family compound…
Your accounts and planned investments seem overall complex to me and the various small tilts at too small a % to make a big difference. Why not just put all your tax deferred accounts in a single total bond index fund. Then create your desired asset allocation by investing other accounts in total market or US market and international.
I am surprised that you need as much in expense per year (even taking into account big tax hit), especially with no debt or mortgage, but you can afford it.
Statistics: Posted by Coastfical — Sun Feb 15, 2026 3:58 pm — Replies 1 — Views 58