In my post Reflections I noted at the end of it that I would put together a list of sites that you might enjoy. Well, here it is.
Over the past several years, there are several websites, blogs and calculators that I’ve come across that I’ve found very helpful in our journey to financial independence. Each blog comes with its own perspective and I encourage you to explore and find not only those that you identify with but those you may not to expand your horizons. As I come along new ones I’ll add to the listing so check back every once in awhile for new leads for your journey.
Reference
https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/ My Account at Social Security Administration – If you haven’t already, create your own online account with Social Security and download your Social Security Statement. I review mine once each year to ensure the correct earnings for the previous year were recorded correctly. It will provide you with a projection of your benefits for early, full, and late retirement and is really helpful for Mike Piper’s social security calculator detailed below.
https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin Visit this IRS website to get information about establishing an Identity Protection PIN for your tax return. The additional authentication will protect you from others filing fraudulent returns and claiming refunds with your identity.
Calculators
https://opensocialsecurity.com/ Mike Piper made this social security optimization site available to all to review potential payments. Highly recommend that you create your My Account at SSA (above) first.
https://www.firecalc.com/ A free retirement projection calculator that uses Monte Carlo simulations to test your plans and provide you a probability of success.
https://www.kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator/ The Kaiser Family Foundation provides this tool to help project health care subsidies and give you a sense of your health care contributions.
https://www.personalcapital.com/ An asset aggregation tool to track your net worth in one place. You can use their site without using their advisory services. I found it helpful in analyzing my portfolio costs.
Blogs and Websites that I enjoy
https://www.caniretireyet.com/ Darrow Kirkpatrick and Chris Mamula share their experiences and knowledge of early retirement. One of my favorites. Darrow’s Blueprint Series is a great place to start working through various retirement and investment questions.
https://www.theretirementmanifesto.com/ Another of my favorites, Fritz Gilbert shares his own journey to and now through retirement in an easy style that’s fun to read. Many of the posts go beyond just the numbers and get me thinking about other aspects of retirement.
https://earlyretirementnow.com/ One the most comprehensive (if not the most comprehensive) series posted by Karsten on Safe Withdrawal Rates. May take you awhile to get through (32 posts) but well worth it.
Update: The SWR Series is up to 37. In #37, Karsten explores the impact on SWR from the market slide of March 2020.
https://www.getrichslowly.org/ This is one of the originals going back over a decade. J.D. Roth, while stepping away from the site for awhile, is back with his insight toward financial independence.
https://retireby40.org/ Joe Udo’s site is an interesting read. Blogging about leaving the corporate world and new found time with family. An added plus are his dishes and recipes…
http://freedomisgroovy.com/ Mr. and Mrs. Groovy. Need I say more? Names and blog say it all.
https://www.madfientist.com/ One the first sights I began reading. Brandon was a year or two ahead of me toward leaving the corporate world.
https://jlcollinsnh.com/ J L Collins is legendary for the Stock Series posts. Again lots of them – 35 as I recall great for folks just starting out as well as those well into their financial independence jouney.