[Eva]

Curious when you hit FI do you intend to be open about it like mentioning to anyone in your family / friends? Or do you stay in the closet.

What motivates your choice? Some people openly discuss their journey to inspire or connect with others, while others prefer privacy to avoid judgment or maintain discretion.

What are your thoughts?

Reasoning welcome.

[Chris]

I have pondered, but not having a day job will be kind of obvious.

[Meme]

I am command financial specialist in the military- kinda like a financial advisor, I always tell my coworkers they can retire with military pensions at the age of 40, and I show them my numbers, if they’re interested

[Rick]

It’s a little obvious when you leave work and board a plane to tailand/malaysia/colombia/guatemala/vietnam.

[Eric]

Why would you tell anyone, no one cares…. Just my opinion, not directed towards anyone

[Tony]

I’ve been very forward and outgoing about it and it has taught me a lot. Now that we are there I’ve learned some people will be very happy for you…

Others will make excuses how you did it like somebody gave you something purely from a jealousy standpoint…

And others will think you are bragging when all that’s happened is your life has changed and bears has not so when you try to talk to them they don’t have a talk about cuz they’re doing the same thing every day and making no effort to change so essentially no new stories no new things they’re getting into so when they talk to you they feel like you’re just bragging and showing off when in fact these are the changes that have happened in your life and you’re trying to share that with others….

I’ve learned that the people I want to be around are the ones that don’t get upset when we talk about it

[Jasmine]

We never made a big announcement about it.
We both left our jobs and started traveling a LOT (32 weeks over the first 12 months).

Posted pics of our adventures on FB… then a few folks asked us how we were able to get so much time off from work (employed at Fortune 15 company)…

It opened the conversation about FI and several of our friends have made changes to their finances because of our conversations.

[David]

I want to change the discussions and narratives about money and finances so I scream about it all day everyday. It’s a big accomplishment I’m proud to share that I retired at age 38.

I love sharing information about the path to FI/FIRE and how it’s very accessible for people and it will change your life even when not yet at FI.

By doing this I have helped teach a lot of people about PF. But remarkably over the years only 5% maybe less have taken action.

I have found most people rather stay in debt traps, jobs they hate than to own up to they messed up with money and need to improve.

Imagine if no one mentioned it ChooseFI and many other blogs, YT channels, and groups would not exist and many of us would never have found this path.

[Brad]

I expect me not having a job will make it obvious. But then I’m slow FI and will likely be early 50s so not too unusual.

[David]

Along my FI journey I found that most people did not care.
You become a bit of a FI-evangelist when you are on your way and realize that anyone can do it.

I eventually stopped blabbing about it as much. I learned that the majority of people are happy with debt and their collection of $300 sneakers.

They do not realized the mental freedom that comes with FI. That is okay and their choice.

Early retired a year ago and not a single person asked details on the how.

[Barbara]

Oh, I imagine there will be signs… Like me sitting in the parking lot cackling and then going to the airport as my former coworkers head in to opening meetings for the new school year

Seriously, though, we do intend to stop working when we hit FI, and that will be hard to hide from friends and family.

[Christina]

People are on a need to know basis and nobody needs to know about our finances.

[Jin]

I wouldn’t really mention it. I’d worry they’d take it as bragging. If they ask me what I do for a job, I’d just say that I’m not working right now.

If they are nosy enough to ask how I’m paying the bills I’d say my investments are getting me by.

[Dion]

I scream it from the mountain tops. Letting people know there is another way.

We don’t have to work until we are too old to enjoy retirement.

[Jenna]

I share my journey openly, mainly because I’m a teacher and I want my students to understand the time value of money and to realize the long term effects of lifestyle choices.

They know I’m there because I want to be and not because I have to be.

[Scott]

When you go to Bora Bora, and drive 20 year old Hondas/Acuras, your family will know.

[Ellen]

Are you asking if a person who is FI brags??? Or are you asking if a person who has RE explains themselves???
My finances are nobody’s business but mine.

So, “no” is the short answer for each scenario.

Why would you ask? Not being antagonistic, just very curious.

It’s quite alien to me to share financial information liberally.

[Walter]

We share our journey with our parents and a decent amount with our kids, but while I enjoy talking about saving and investing with others, I don’t get into specifics with many folks.

Reasoning with our parents: my Mom taught me the power of compound interest when I was in my teens – they retired “on time” but knew I had plans to retire well before then.

My in laws: mostly retired, with a pension and 401k.

Neither have a need for us to cover their expenses or anything, so we have an open relationship about money. There’s nothing toxic, which is wonderful

[Author]

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