[USER]

Single 27M, turning 28 in few months
Assets:
143K cash, in HYSA – want to save for condo/townhouse, currently live at home with parents

Investments:
– 50k brokerage VTI
– 41K 401k
– 33k Roth IRA VTI
– 5k TSP

Debt:
– 62K student loan all federal ranging 3-6% which I make minimum payments on

Investment strategy:
– investing 500$ a week ($250 in Roth IRA, and $250 in brokerage) to VTI and adding VXUS slowly for international exposure

Current salary $120K supply chain job. After contributions to 401K, taxes, and insurance, take home is around $6300.

Have been slowly searching for something new for a job since I know job hopping can pay more

How long till FIRE?

[Jule]

Why are you only making minimum payments on your loans? Pay them off and then save the down payment for a home.

[Raba]

Pay the loans that are higher than 4% before you move out of your parents home.

Once you leave their homes, your expenses will be much higher.

Mortgage, utilities, insurance, repairs, etc.

Have you thought about house hacking to start?

[Anna]

What’s your supply chain gig? For a big corp or small? Are you taking full advantage of employer match? Everyone’s #s differ for what they need in retirement. Some say min of 5mil to retire.

Some say they could do it today on 1 mil.. but how much time do you want in retirement?

What will be your expenses in retirement (trips, house costs, medical costs, gifts or donating etc).

Everyone story is completely different. You have solid foundation but pay off student loans asap.

Don’t stop investing, do it in addition to your investing.

[Alicia]

Counter to others’ thoughts – I wouldn’t pay off your loans, especially as you are also able to save for a down payment given you live at home.

How long to fire really is going to also depend on what your expenses will be once you have a town house / condo.

[Summer]

To figure out when you can retire, we need a better idea of your long-term goals.

Remember, a house isn’t really an asset unless it’s generating income.

Buying a 2–4 unit multifamily property is a smart way to build wealth—especially at 28, you’re doing good and off to a great start thinking ahead.

Make sure you’ve got 3–6 months of expenses saved, then max out your 401(k), Roth IRA, and HSA, if you have one. After that, a brokerage account is a good next step.

I recommend the books Quit Like a Millionaire and The Simple Path to Wealth—both helped me get clarity on how to build toward retirement.
I’ve house-hacked twice and always recommend it.

If roommates aren’t your thing, buy a multi-unit. You can upgrade later!

[Rob]

Why keep waiting? You have more than enough for downpayment. House hack a 2-4 unit at 5% down (or even 10+% with how much cash you have), eliminate most of what will be your biggest expense and then start paying off the student loans

[Author]

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