I hate debt; It feels like a huge weight youre under and stresses me a bit. From a strict numbers perspective it probably depends on the rates on your loans.

Either way, congrats. It's a lot of money to pay back but seems to have provided you with a great career.
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Those fed loans are a real pain in the ass at 7.2 percent.

I went them a private bank and re did them once I had my office paid for and got the rate a lot lower.
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Congrats Hamas by the way.

And this is basically it. Don't pass up any free money so do the minimum contribution to get all the free money, so 5%.

After that, tackle debt. If you have any credit card debt, I'd start there. After that, work on the student loans and possibly refinancing them to a lower rate if you're able (not sure what you're paying).

I had $60k debt after my schooling so I only contributed 4-6% to my 401k (to get the entire free match) until I paid off my student loans last year. Now I do 12% to my 401k and it's barely noticeable out of my take-home with the loans now gone, even leaving money left over to contribute to a ROTH IRA each month.

Hopefully your employer offers cost effective index funds for your retirement plan. I am invested in only Index funds alone in my 401k (Large, small and foreign). Many companies finally offer low cost index funds, but there are still some hold-overs of employers who offer expensive and less than ideal retirement funds. Let us know your choices when you get that info.
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Ugh. Definitely a Bear market.

I feel bad for the folks who are about to be retiring. Thank god my father retired just in time.
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I wish every day could be like today.

If we had 26 straight days like today, I could retire at my current quality of life. If we has 40 straight days like today, I'd live a life of leisure and semi-luxury. If we had a year of days like this, I'd buy the Chiefs and make fun of Bill Gates' cheap wardrobe.
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This.

I just checked my Roth IRA account, and it's the biggest single day increase I've ever had!

Makes me feel better after getting hosed the past couple weeks.
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Wouldn't that be great! and I could buy a bigger boat.
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You enjoy this and give pretty solid advice. Ever think of taking CPA classes and hanging up a shingle on the weekends as a CFP? :-)
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Hey not a bad thought!

For now if I want to make extra money, I'm doing the hourly therapy gig at a different building if they need help. Since it's PRN work, the pay is very good and I just tell them how many hours I can help on that day. Like tomorrow I'll go down the road to a different facility for about 90 minutes of work after my normal job. For me right now, time is money, so if I am going to do something outside of work, I want it to pay well.

But I do understand the thought of doing something totally unrelated for a second job and how that can be rewarding as well. You never know what the future may bring!
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FWIW, CPA and CFP have virtually nothing to do with each other.

CPA = Certified Public Accountant
CFP = Certified Financial Planner

The similarities end with requiring certification and continuing education, the similarities pretty much end there.

Becoming a full on CFP would be a massive undertaking. Meaning He would have to take a fuckload of courses, the exam, and work under a CFP for a really long time.

This would be a full on career change.

That being said, many "financial planners" aren't certified. Most fucknuts Series 5, 6, or 7 certifications so they can sell bullshit ass products for bullshit ass companies.

I don't know if there are any other certifications out there, but I wouldn't recommend going the full CFP route.

https://www.cfp.net/become-a-cfp-pro...n-requirements
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Fuck your man.

Crushing my dreams!

Yea, no more school for me ever. Spent too many years there to go back for anything.
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anyone buy weed?
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Initiated my IRA transfer tonight. Thanks for the heads up Cook about Apple before I deposited. I might DCA in this year a bit.
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Well, I ended that year down 5.8 percent. But before you laugh at me, I apparently beat the S&P 500.
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Can always do the Accredited Financial Counselor thing..
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