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Have we reached the bottom of the recession and are things improving?
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Started this discussion. Last reply by Dick Slackman May 6.

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AT&T Employees & Forme...

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Don Biehle joined Dick Slackman's group

AT&T Employees & Former Employees

October 23

David H. Young joined Dick Slackman's group

AT&T Employees & Former Employees

October 22

Dick Slackman added a discussion

Making a Little Extra Money

Here are some ideas for making a little extra spending money... Amazon Mechanical Turk AMT is a marketplace for businesses who need work done (tasks that people can do better than computers) and for people who have some extra time & access to the...

September 30

Dick Slackman left a comment for Tony Cyphert

September 9

Dick Slackman added a discussion

Preparing for Inflation

It's just my opinion, but it feels like the economy is getting better, albeit slowly. Home sales in my area are improving and some factories are calling people back to work. It might take quite a while before we see a full recovery, but it seems l...

June 20

Comment Wall (19 comments)

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At 7:03pm on April 23, 2009, Chad Fratto said…: I'm doing well

At 6:46pm on April 23, 2009, Chad Fratto said…: Thank you Dick. How are you?

At 11:42am on January 19, 2009, Barbara Hart Mitchell said…: Dick thanks for your comment. Can you give me the web address for the company's benefit site. I have found it extremely difficult to find AT&T sites intended for employees or former employees. Thanks Barbara

At 9:04pm on November 29, 2008, Rodger said…: Well maybe I am taking on a challenge. As I view it, there is a lot of VALUE in the RE market. Buyers in Northwest Arkansas are looking for signs that we are at the bottom. Home sellers are beginning to understand that a house on the market for 180 to 250 days may have challenges with the price, especially since there are a number of banks that are offering homes below appraisal value right now. I am really looking to tap into the investor RE market because there is so much uncertainty in the equity markets now. Real estate is probably the best value per dollar invested in good or bad stock market times. But it all has to do with the old addage "Make money the easy way...BUY RIGHT. That will be my mantra in business.

By the way...how did you get the job as an instructor at the University?

Thanks for the clarification on the health programs.

I will be asking questions from time to time...if you do not mind.

At 7:09pm on November 29, 2008, Rodger said…: Dick:
Thanks for this forum. I finished out all requirements and have completed all passed all tests for an agent license in the state of Arkansas (2 months ago). I have placed my license with one of my customers over the past 5 years. Weichert Realtors, Clark, Long and Associates (a franchise of the national brand Weichert Realtors). I plan starting the effort with residential although most of the listings that I have are investment (duplexes) and commercial (office/retail space with a restaurant in the parking lot). I do have a couple of houses listed. Although I know that I need to "cut my teeth" on the process in the residentail market; I intend to develop a commercial and industrial business. One or two big hits a year will do just fine.

I do have a question about the Post retirement Health Plan changes.
I noticed on one of your early posting. You mentioned that the COBRA health plan costs were about $600/mo. I suspect that that cost is for the period of transition from the company plan to the ultimate retiree plan...is that a correct assumption? I am a bit confused about how long for the transition and what the program looks like post Cobra period. Can you help me with that?

I have a few other questions but will deliver one at a time. Thanks for starting this BLOG....one of the most positive ones I have ever seen.

At 2:21pm on November 28, 2008, lee said…: Is there a common opinion of the practices of the The Retirement Group? ie; encouraging people to withdraw from their 401k to buy expensive A share mutual funds and then conceal the exit charges. They are quoting a friend a close out fee of $20 for ea of 12 funds plus a $75 wire fee and an addition 35 for SSN the brokerage company. But if you call as a new prospective client; they claim no knowledge of these high fees.

At 1:11pm on November 10, 2008, Mitch Wieldt said…: I rolled my 401k into a IRA 6 months ago. I thought the economy might tank, so I put it all in government backed securities. I guessed right for a change. My account has only gone up about $5k since then, but compared to my friends, I'm doing well in this area.

'

At 12:09pm on November 10, 2008, Herb DuPlant said…: I wanted to retire in March,08;with 35yrs AT&T,but my 401 has lost 40%;Don't think I can now; It is with fidelity, of course; I have a small Roth IRA and will get a half pension ( divorsee gets 1/2of 19yrs);

At 1:42pm on August 12, 2008, Mitch Wieldt said…: Dick;
Thanks for asking. I'm doing well.
I truly miss interacting with you!
In addition to you just being an all around cool dude, I sure would like to bounce a few financial ideas off of you. I also bailed out of the stock market about a year ago and bought gold and bonds. I think I cashed in on my gold too soon ($810) and now I'm worried about my bonds. I have mostly federal notes (2-5 years). Scottrade doesn't provide a means to buy TIPS. I'm afraid the interest rates will really start to pick up after the election and my bonds will get hammered. I don't think the market has hit bottom yet, so I guess I'll park my $ in CDs.
Mitch

At 10:27pm on July 17, 2008, Fred Goodwin said…: Dick: thanx for the welcome, and thanx for putting this group together.

I've already learned a lot by reading your posts and the discussion here.

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When do you plan to retire?

July 15, 2007

Welcome

June 23, 2007

Hi my name is Dick Slackman and I started this social network to help people retire early. I'm not an expert. I'm not a financial planner or stock guru. I'm just a regular guy, but I was able to do it. As of this writing I am 52 year old and I will retire next month.

About a year ago I formed a group where I work. We called it the "retirees-in-waiting" group. This group acted as a support team helping ourselves and co-workers make the transition into retirement. We filled a gap that our Human Resources department had backed away from and that financial planners were not geared to handle. Retiring early takes a lot of financial planning, but it also takes emotional, family and other types of planning. Maybe we can do that planning together.

I hope that others who have made the transition will share their experiences, both good and bad, with those who hope to retire early.

Thanks,
Dick

Dick Slackman's Blog

Four Months and Counting

It has been about four months now since I retired and things are settling into a more stable and discernible pattern. I'm still working out pretty diligently and teaching, although the semester is almost done. For some reason the University has asked me to teach again next semester. I guess they want to give me it another chance to see if I can get it right this time. I do feel sorry for the students this semester with such a rookie instructor. You can check out one of their recent… Continue

Posted on November 24, 2007 at 8:44pm —

I've been Simpsonized

I Simpsonized myself at http://simpsonizeme.com/

I think it bears a vague resemblance

Posted on September 2, 2007 at 6:47pm — 1 Comment

One Month and Counting

Hello all,

It has been about a month since I retired so I thought I would post a general update on how things are going.

I am still working on getting my retirement financials in order. The health benefits portion is done, the 401k portion should be done this week, but I expect the pension issues to take another 3-5 weeks. The whole process is nothing, if not tedious.

I've been working out fairly regularly, walking, jogging and lifting. I do feel a whole lot better. I hav

… Continue

Posted on August 20, 2007 at 4:29pm —

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