Originally Posted by
TED74
I don't think much about the market. Don't day trade. Have a brokerage account but don't use it. I dollar cost average my money into my 401k, max out the 415c limits / personal limits, have two kids' college half-funded through Post-9/11 GI Bill (plus some 529 money) and have one rental house that generates minimal income (principal still being paid down). I'll also have a little mil retirement at 60 and an even smaller civil service retirement at 62.
Anyone care to quantify what I'm missing by not diving into all this stuff you folks are discussing here? I like to learn new hobbies and new skill sets, but this sounds like a time-suck I'd rather not take on. Am I in for major regrets when I retire in 15 or 20 years, or beyond? The very basic retirement calculators tell me I'm "ahead" when mapping current retirement savings vs age (even without considering any pension funds), and my finance guy says he's happy with my trajectory toward "work optional." What do y'all money home-brewers say?
Much of the Side Hustle discussions lately have centered on investing techniques. The broader discussion includes businesses, side jobs, etc that generate a source of income outside of the airline job. It's all about spending a little bit of time building a safety net or second income stream. As far as retirement goes, I would expect your approach leaves you in good shape. Beating the S&P by investing directly in individual stocks over decades is an oddity more than the norm. The Motley Fool is one of the better routes to take if you are playing that game.
You can spend hours if you really want to get into it, but a set it and forget it approach works well for most pilots. I've spent a fair amount of time with options trading, day trading (in fractions), active and passive real estate investing. The stocks/options are more of a hobby that is about to get replaced with GA flying. Real estate management and investing is the Side Hustle that generates income.
In your situation, with a set it and forget it approach a few passive real estate investments could be a good fit. If you are inclined to take on a more active role, adding a few houses over the next couple years could be a good approach. Depending on the amount of capital you are willing to invest outside of stocks, ETFs and mutual funds, you may even consider buying a storage facility, RV park or apartment community.