I may pay $0 for OC - see question here.
http://www.mutualfundobserver.com/discuss/discussion/20854/obamacar-aca-can-anyone-explain-the-income-rules-for-me

Retiring on June 1 at age 59....getting COBRA for about $1K a month and will figure out what the ACA has in store for me at the end of the year since I am not insurable otherwise.
The week after I retire, I'm headed to Italy for 3 weeks.
There are perks for living below your means during your working career.

>> If OC was the law before my retiring I may have had second thoughts.
Dex, when you were running the numbers at 51 for healthcare costs until Medicare, what did you plug in and what did you base them on? Was your nonjob private insurance inexpensive somehow?

In 2008, I paid $205.83/month from BC/BS I was able to keep it in the 240 range until OC. Then it went to 335 same BC/BS policy but OC adds increased it. Next year they are canceling the policy so I have to go full OC. Which will be close to $600/mo the last time l looked.
I'm still very OK financially. Part of this is because I'll get Medicaid in 5 years and Georgia does not tax retires' dividends/interest/SS/Pensions after 62(?). However, I am feeling less flush due to OC. I won't be changing my spending habits.
However, if I knew about the OC costs, I may have not stopped working or delayed it for a couple of years. It is just too much of an unknown for 14 years. Spending $2,400 Vs $7,200 and an unknown future is disconcerting.
This is just another reason why I don't think many will be able to do what I did in the future.

“The REIT market is very volatile, down 75% between 2007 and 2009 — which was terrific if you were in a re-balancing situation — and then up 400% from that bottom,”
I wanted to create a picture of the above quote using a personal investment ( I experienced this with VGSIX). I wanted to highlight the recover time (shown in the form of a triangle).
It is this the period of time (recovery from maximum Draw Down or MAXDD) an investor wants to shorten if possible. Six years was a long time to wait in my opinion.

I think a 50/50 split makes a lot of sense. I think so for a couple of reasons:
1) The USD has probably made a good portion of its move already so from a tactical perspective, it makes sense to take some of this bet off the table.
2) Longer-term, I like the 50/50 split because it removes (at least most of) the emotion when it comes to what will happen in the shorter-term. If USD continues to rise, you won't have to go back and think "man, I wish I had hedged" because you did (50% of it) and vice versa.

Related RE article:

"In a rising market, REITs also have some of the same challenges as directly owned property. “The REIT market is very volatile, down 75% between 2007 and 2009 — which was terrific if you were in a rebalancing situation — and then up 400% from that bottom,” Haraway says. “I handle REITs as maybe 10% of a portfolio. REITs tend to lead the other indexes and provide some diversification.”
Along with volatility, REITs also carry interest rate risk, Altfest points out, and aren’t always available at favorable prices. “We’re value investors, and a lot of money is chasing REITs. Valuations are high and yields are low,” he says.
Instead of (or in addition to) REITs and direct real estate ownership, Altfest suggests private partnerships, in which a group of people pool money to make a real estate buy and pay for its professional management."
real-estates-new-rules

I traded VGK for the hedged HEDJ in November and have been rewarded for doing so as the Euro became more devalued as compared to the dollar. Although the European market closed down today the EURO continued to rise.
It would seem that somewhere along the way HEDJ will reflect the rising EURO and I may want to return all or a portion to VGK.
Because the Euro-Dollar is unpredictable and depends on the US interest rates, Greece financial improvement, ECB quantitative easing etc., I am thinking of diversifying my European funds in 50% VGK and 50% HEDJ.
Would appreciate other opinions on their approach to European funds with regard to current situations.
prinx

FYI: The managers of Phocas Real Estate buy property companies that should do well even in a declining market.
Regards,
Ted
http://www.kiplinger.com/printstory.php?pid=13514
M* Snapshot PHREX: http://www.morningstar.com/funds/XNAS/PHREX/quote.html
Lipper Snapshot PHREX: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/Fund/PHREX?countrycode=US
PHREX Is Unranked In The (RE) Fund Category By U.S. News & World Report:
http://money.usnews.com/funds/mutual-funds/real-estate/phocas-real-estate-fund/phrex

I'm 50 years old with more than $100,000 sitting in banks and credit unions earning about 0.50 % in interest.

While you are considering the many options in the various posts to this thread, you can easily double your interest from the 0.50% you are getting in "banks and credit unions".....by going with an internet only FDIC insured bank that pays about 1% interest on a savings account.
Just for example, Ally bank pays 0.99%, FDIC insured, savings acct, without locking your money up at all, and several others pay 1% or even very slightly higher. These are name banks (well known), also FDIC insured
You can also get 2.25% in FDIC insured 5-year CD's at several internet banks (e.g., Synchrony Bank).
One strategy several Bogleheads are using is to do this at a bank with a low early withdrawal fee. I believe there is an FDIC insured internet bank with only a 90 day interest early withdrawal penalty, so many Bogleheads are going that route, figuring that paying a 90 day interest rate penalty in the event that rates rise significantly and they want out of their 5-year 2.25% interest CD is not too bad.

FYI:
Regards,
Ted
http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2015/05/the-qe-era/print/

>> If OC was the law before my retiring I may have had second thoughts.
Dex, when you were running the numbers at 51 for healthcare costs until Medicare, what did you plug in and what did you base them on? Was your nonjob private insurance inexpensive somehow?
Lots of impressive early retirees here! Way to go. I am delaying taking SS until 70, two years off, chiefly on principle, but have shaky confidence of living to wherever the lines cross, like 82 or whatever. Hope so. The best way to think of reduced vs max benefits is to look at the lines, as msf implies; see here, halfway down the page:
http://www.schwab.com/public/schwab/nn/articles/When-Should-You-Take-Social-Security
I have had a lot of arthritis surgeries under Medicare with supplement, also an umbrella managed Medicare plan w rx (forget what this is called, Preferred maybe), so it seems (seemed) like a wise idea to me, though I have not run the numbers. I am now cash at the dentist, though. Maybe I should look into going without supp.

Edit: I am paying then around $3600 annually for health insurance. But that is still far cheaper than the close to $7000 I was paying before Medicare kicked in. And that private policy had a $2500 deductible.

Thanks, I currently have $8,500 budgeted for Health Insurance in 5 years when I'm 65. I might be able to reduce that some - maybe down to 6,000. But, I have to update my budget for years 61 - 64.

Many thanks msf. I read and then bookmarked that on supplemental insurance. I may have to rethink and will do more research. I had my first surgery as an adult as soon as I tuned 65 and thought (may have to review that closer) that the supplemental saved me over $10,000 of out of pocket.

Edit: Wait till you get to 65 and Medicare. In my opinion the greatest thing since sliced bread. But you have to get the supplemental policy that covers 100% of what Medicare doesn't pay.

How much does medicare cost for a single person and the supplementals? At this point I'm just growing my health ins costs for budgeting.
Blue Cross/ blue shield just notified me that the non OC plan I have will end in Dec. So, the only option is OC plans. My state does not supplement OC - I agree with that - OC costs will bankrupt states in the future. So from this year to next year I'm guessing on a $3,000 health insurance increase or 12,000+ until I'm 65.

Dex, $104.90 is deducted from my SS check each month for Medicare (Part B) Part A is free. My supplemental through Anthem which covers 100% of the 20% that Medicare doesn't cover for doctor visits, surgeries, and the like is $2400 annually. My Medicare drug coverage is under $200 annually through Humana. It's not the most comprehensive but I take no medications.
Edit: I am paying then around $3600 annually for health insurance. But that is still far cheaper than the close to $7000 I was paying before Medicare kicked in. And that private policy had a $2500 deductible.

Edit: Wait till you get to 65 and Medicare. In my opinion the greatest thing since sliced bread. But you have to get the supplemental policy that covers 100% of what Medicare doesn't pay.

How much does medicare cost for a single person and the supplementals? At this point I'm just growing my health ins costs for budgeting.
Blue Cross/ blue shield just notified me that the non OC plan I have will end in Dec. So, the only option is OC plans. My state does not supplement OC - I agree with that - OC costs will bankrupt states in the future. So from this year to next year I'm guessing on a $3,000 health insurance increase or 12,000+ until I'm 65.

I didn't add in the COLAs.
I retired at 52. I also started work at age 15. For a lot of people, 35-40 years of work is enough. If you have saved all your life it is time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Dex, everyone here enjoys your retirement articles including your personal journey. Did I miss it or have you written why you retired at such a young age? I took early SS at 62 (4/09) and have not regretted it in the least. That was money I didn't have to take from my trading accounts. I was *lucky* the markets were so vigorous after that time.

I did not write about it. I had a very easy office job, watched TV and read the internet, people worked for me and made good money. I worked since I was 15 and it just felt like the right time. I have a travel trailer and like to travel. Right now I'm at home getting dental work, check ups and soon a colonoscopy. I'm 60 now and might like to find some work during the winter months Nov - Jan. Other then that life is good.

Dex, everyone here enjoys your retirement articles including your personal journey. Did I miss it or have you written why you retired at such a young age? I took early SS at 62 (4/09) and have not regretted it in the least. That was money I didn't have to take from my trading accounts. I was *lucky* the markets were so vigorous after that time.
Edit: Wait till you get to 65 and Medicare. In my opinion the greatest thing since sliced bread. But you have to get the supplemental policy that covers 100% of what Medicare doesn't pay.

I wonder if the impact of 0-Care on people is forcing them in taking SS early?
Another thought is that by taking SS early, one does not have to use their tax deferred retirement savings, in the hope they will experience gains. In my calculations, if I take SS at FRA ,my break even age is 70 figuring the total amount received if I took it at 62.

Did you include COLA in your calculation? Remember, you will often receive COLA increases most years and they are cumulative. Also, this lower income may qualify you for programs that are income dependent.
The hardest nut seems to be covering healthcare costs yourself during these early retirement years prior to qualifying for Medicare at age 65.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/3-out-of-4-retirees-receiving-reduced-social-security-benefits-2015-05-05
"Of course, the best way to maximize Social Security is to delay claiming benefits until “full retirement age,” which is climbing gradually to 67, or beyond. A person due to receive a benefit of $1,000 at a full retirement age of 66 would receive only $750 at age 62 (the earliest age at which most people can claim benefits) – and $1,320 at age 70."
Note that underlined part. People will still need to take it earlier but (I'm guessing) when they do take it earlier and the full amount is 67 or later they will receive even less at 62.
This adds to my "give up hope of retiring early" thread.
From what I not see about my finances (having been retired for 9 years, starting at 51) I am feeling less flush. A the major change in that feeling is Obamacare. I was paying $3,000/year before OC. I will be paying $7,200 under OC. If, OC was the law before my retiring I may have had second thoughts.