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He was senior director of risk management, so I assume more than 100k+ salary a year.

you guys can retire at FIFTY FOUR?

My cousin retired 2 years ago at 48.

Stock market whiz? Nah: union.

He started working at a local mechanic in high-school, as engines were interesting; just sweeping up. He asked questions. He applied for his apprenticeship and the school district moved him to the 'trade' oriented school where the rough kids seemed to end up completely randomly when catchment overlapped. Did metal shop in his final year and found a funding programme to get through his first courses. Displayed a natural talent for adequate work and straightforward math that was apparently everything people needed when paired with his indomitable spirit and happier-than-sadder mood profile. In short: he hustled, he did his fucking work and he was a net-positive to work with.

Now we fast-forward. The union was good to him, and he moved into jobs where his 5'8 size, nimble fingers and "yeah, I'll crawl in the slushy muck" attitude got him as many opportunities as his quick wit got him out of shitty politics. He went to a place we call Fort McMoney and was able to exercise his options when bosses were dinks; and he did so very quickly and openly, explaining what's happening on the way out -- "We agreed on this vacation time, but you broke that agreement. I'm still getting on the plane tonight. I got a job with the guy down the road, so that's why I'm clearing out. I'm sorry it went this way, but we both get to learn from this. Good luck, and have a great weekend."

At 48 he'd done his 25-plus years at one career and many shops, and the half-pay-for-life union retirement kicked in.

He now rides his donorcycle with his adorable wife or they take the little car on trips to climb mountains or see a lake or something. He got a shitty place in a nice place, made some friends and some of them knew how to fix up his place and needed his own skills, and his easygoing attitude provided the glue to get everything fixed everywhere, and he's kinda set.

He touches grass and trees a lot, and the pics he posts on his cell phone show some great locations and his beaming face in the dawn light. He's fucking winning so hard and I'm half jealous and intensely proud of him because he is actually an absolute sweetie and a great and caring guy.

Guys, build better unions or build better labour code. Focus on getting into a work arrangement with a group that pretends to like you better than at-will dot-com fat-cat "we're a family" pizza-party dickheads think they're pretending.

There was a time when people were dependent on defined benefit pensions. Then the U.S. pivoted to defined contribution plans, 401Ks. This of course put retirees at risk of a situation like the present one.

Could they have diversified their portfolio better? Sure. Should you blame them for Trump being an evil asshole? Only if you are one, too. The system itself was redesigned to fuck over the elderly, my friend. Then it did.