A1. Do you consent to your answers being released individually? Selecting yes means that ALL of your answers will be released to /r/financialindependence as one row in a spreadsheet. Selecting no will end the survey. The survey does not ask for any identifying information such as your location or username.

A2. How many individuals contribute to your household income? For all subsequent questions, use the combined financial information for all people included in this answer (e.g. if you put 2 for yourself and your spouse, in the question about annual earnings include your income and your spouse's income).

Y1. As a result of the pandemic, did your earned income increase, decrease, or remain the same?

Y2. By how much did your earned income change?

Y3. As a result of the pandemic, did your expenses increase, decrease, or remain the same?

Y4. By how much did your expenses change?

Y5. As a result of the pandemic, did your FI number...

Y6. As a result of the pandemic, did your planned RE date...

Y7. As a result of the pandemic, which of the following did you experience? Select all that apply.

Y8. Overall, how would you characterize the pandemic's impact on your finances?

Y9. Are you in the United States?

B1. With which political party do you most closely identify? You do not need to be registered with a party to select it, answer based on your personal views. [Myself]

B1. With which political party do you most closely identify? You do not need to be registered with a party to select it, answer based on your personal views. [Contributor 2]

B1. With which political party do you most closely identify? You do not need to be registered with a party to select it, answer based on your personal views. [Contributor 3]

B2. What is your race/ethnicity? Select all that apply. [Myself]

B2. What is your race/ethnicity? Select all that apply. [Contributor 2]

B2. What is your race/ethnicity? Select all that apply. [Contributor 3]

B3. What is your gender? [Myself]

B3. What is your gender? [Contributor 2]

B3. What is your gender? [Contributor 3]

B4. What is your age? [Myself]

B4. What is your age? [Contributor 2]

B4. What is your age? [Contributor 3]

B5. What is the highest level of education you have completed? [Myself]

B5. What is the highest level of education you have completed? [Contributor 2]

B5. What is the highest level of education you have completed? [Contributor 3]

B6. What is your relationship status? [Myself]

B6. What is your relationship status? [Contributor 2]

B6. What is your relationship status? [Contributor 3]

B7. Do you... [Contributor 2]

B7. Do you... [Contributor 3]

C1. What country are you in? Enter ALL your remaining answers in the appropriate currency for your country. Where questions refer to "dollars" enter answers in your native currency.

C2. What is your race/ethnicity? Select all that apply. [Myself]

C2. What is your race/ethnicity? Select all that apply. [Contributor 2]

C2. What is your race/ethnicity? Select all that apply. [Contributor 3]

C3. What is your gender? [Myself]

C3. What is your gender? [Contributor 2]

C3. What is your gender? [Contributor 3]

C4. What is your age? [Myself]

C4. What is your age? [Contributor 2]

C4. What is your age? [Contributor 3]

C5. What is the highest level of education you have completed? [Myself]

C5. What is the highest level of education you have completed? [Contributor 2]

C5. What is the highest level of education you have completed? [Contributor 3]

C6. What is your relationship status? [Myself]

C6. What is your relationship status? [Contributor 2]

C6. What is your relationship status? [Contributor 3]

C7. Do you... [Contributor 2]

C7. Do you... [Contributor 3]

D1. Are you financially independent? Meaning you do not need to work for money, regardless of whether you work for money.

T1. At what amount invested will you consider yourself Financially Independent? (What is your FI number?)

T2. What percent FI are you? (What percent of your FI number do you currently have?)

T3. At what amount invested do you intend to retire? (What is your RE number)

T4. What is your target safe withdrawal rate? (If your answer is 3.5%, enter it as 3.5)

T5. Do you expect your retirement savings to be supplemented by additional sources, and if yes, when? [Government Retirement Program ]

T5. Do you expect your retirement savings to be supplemented by additional sources, and if yes, when? [Private Pension]

T5. Do you expect your retirement savings to be supplemented by additional sources, and if yes, when? [Income from rental properties]

T5. Do you expect your retirement savings to be supplemented by additional sources, and if yes, when? [Income from a business I own]

T6. How much annual income do you expect to have from the sources you selected in question T5 at the point where you are utilizing all of them (or a majority if you do not intend to use all at the same time)? Enter your answer as a dollar amount.

T7. How much money (from your savings and other sources) do you intend to spend each year once you are retired? Enter your answer as a dollar amount.

F1. At what amount invested did you consider yourself Financially Independent? (AKA what was your "FI number")

F2. Which of the following would you have considered yourself at the time you reached Financial Independence:

F3. Are you retired? Meaning you do not work for money.

E1. By your own definition, which of the following are you seeking?

E2. At what age do you intend to retire?

E3. Do you intend to stop working for money when you reach financial independence?

G1. At what amount invested did you retire (aka what was your RE number)?

G2. What is your annual withdrawal rate? (Enter your answer as a number, if your rate is 3.5%, enter 3.5)

G3. What is your annual withdrawal dollar amount? (Enter your answer as a number)

G4. What misconceptions about retirement have you encountered?

G5. What mistakes or misconceptions do you see in r/FI?

H1. Which of the following best describes the industry in which you currently or most recently work(ed)? [Myself]

H1. Which of the following best describes the industry in which you currently or most recently work(ed)? [Contributor 2]

H1. Which of the following best describes the industry in which you currently or most recently work(ed)? [Contributor 3]

H2. Which of the following best describes your current or most recent employer? [Myself]

H2. Which of the following best describes your current or most recent employer? [Contributor 2]

H2. Which of the following best describes your current or most recent employer? [Contributor 3]

H3. Which of the following best describes your current or most recent job role? [Myself]

H3. Which of the following best describes your current or most recent job role? [Contributor 2]

H3. Which of the following best describes your current or most recent job role? [Contributor 3]

H4. What is your current employment status? [Full Time]

H4. What is your current employment status? [Part Time, Regular ]

H4. What is your current employment status? [Side Gig, Intermittent]

H4. What is your current employment status? [Not Employed]

H5. What is Contributor 2's current employment status? [Full Time]

H5. What is Contributor 2's current employment status? [Part Time, Regular ]

H5. What is Contributor 2's current employment status? [Side Gig, Intermittent]

H5. What is Contributor 2's current employment status? [Not Employed]

H6. What is Contributor 3's current employment status? [Full Time]

H6. What is Contributor 3's current employment status? [Part Time, Regular ]

H6. What is Contributor 3's current employment status? [Side Gig, Intermittent]

H6. What is Contributor 3's current employment status? [Not Employed]

H7. What is your current educational status? [Myself]

H7. What is your current educational status? [Contributor 2]

H7. What is your current educational status? [Contributor 3]

J1. What is your current housing situation?

J2. Using the cost of living index (the third column of the table / first column of numbers, with the title Cost of Living Index) at the following link, what is the cost of living in your location? If your city is not listed, use the closest approximation in your opinion. https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings_current.jsp

Reduction in bonus, commission or other non-wage pay, Decrease in spending due to newly working from home, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market, Refinanced a mortgage for a better rate

At some point after retirement

Professional (non-licensed, certified)

Professional (licensed / certificated)

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

Reduction in bonus, commission or other non-wage pay, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Purchased crypto or other speculative investments

For an Organization (Employed)

For Myself (Self-Employed)

Decrease in spending due to newly working from home, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market

In a relationship, but not married

Do not have children, and do not intend to

For an Organization (Employed)

Reduction in bonus, commission or other non-wage pay, Decrease in spending due to newly working from home, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market

In a relationship, but not married

Do not have children, and do not intend to

Immediately on retirement

Professional (non-licensed, certified)

For an Organization (Employed)

Increase in my rate of pay (higher hourly rate or salary), Temporary layoff / furlough (temporarily not working), Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Moved to less expensive housing / added roommates, Got a new primary job

In a relationship, but not married

Do not have children, but intend to

At some point after retirement

Management - Middle / Lower

For an Organization (Employed)

Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market

Do not have children, and do not intend to

At some point after retirement

Immediately on retirement

For an Organization (Employed)

For Myself (Self-Employed)

Do not have children, and do not intend to

Unknown, only retired in 2020

% withdraw (2020 - 1.6%-Feb (when RE), 2.1%-Mar low, 1.4%-Dec 31. Withdraw rate varies greatly with portfolio size. Thinking you are FIRE at 4% isn't really true, glad I have a large buffer.

Professional & Business Services

Professional (licensed / certificated)

For Myself (Self-Employed)

Decrease in spending due to newly working from home, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market, Purchased crypto or other speculative investments, Moved to less expensive housing / added roommates, Moved to an area with lower cost of living, Got a new primary job

Do not have children, but intend to

Do not have children, but intend to

At some point after retirement

At some point after retirement

Professional (licensed / certificated)

For an Organization (Employed)

For Myself (Self-Employed)

Increase in my rate of pay (higher hourly rate or salary), Increase in bonus, commission, or other non-wage pay, Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market, Purchased crypto or other speculative investments

In a relationship, but not married

In a relationship, but not married

Do not have children, but intend to

Do not have children, but intend to

At some point after retirement

Professional & Business Services

Professional & Business Services

Professional (licensed / certificated)

Professional (licensed / certificated)

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

In a relationship, but not married

Do not have children, but intend to

For an Organization (Employed)

Reduction in my rate of pay (lower hourly rate or salary), Reduction in bonus, commission or other non-wage pay

United States Pirate Party

United States Pirate Party

Doctorate / Post-Graduate

Doctorate / Post-Graduate

Professional (non-licensed, certified)

Professional (non-licensed, certified)

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

Reduction in my hours worked (fewer hours worked), Temporary layoff / furlough (temporarily not working), Refinanced a mortgage for a better rate

At some point after retirement

Professional (licensed / certificated)

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

Increase in my hours worked (more hours worked), Decrease in spending due to newly working from home, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Moved to an area with higher cost of living, Got a new primary job

Do not have children, but intend to

Do not have children, but intend to

At some point after retirement

Public Administration (Civilian Government)

Public Administration (Civilian Government)

Management - Middle / Lower

Management - Middle / Lower

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

Provided by employer or school

Refinanced a mortgage for a better rate, Got a new primary job

Do not have children, but intend to

Do not have children, but intend to

At some point after retirement

Public Administration (Civilian Government)

Professional (non-licensed, certified)

Professional (non-licensed, certified)

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

Increase in my hours worked (more hours worked), Reduction in bonus, commission or other non-wage pay, Increase in bonus, commission, or other non-wage pay, Temporary layoff / furlough (temporarily not working), Decrease in spending due to newly working from home, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market, Moved to less expensive housing / added roommates, Moved to an area with lower cost of living

Doctorate / Post-Graduate

Do not have children, and do not intend to

Do not have children, and do not intend to

At some point after retirement

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing

Professional (non-licensed, certified)

For an Organization (Employed)

For Myself (Self-Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

For Myself (Self-Employed)

Reduction in my rate of pay (lower hourly rate or salary)

In a relationship, but not married

In a relationship, but not married

Do not have children, but intend to

Do not have children, but intend to

At some point after retirement

At some point after retirement

Professional (licensed / certificated)

Professional (non-licensed, certified)

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

Increase in my hours worked (more hours worked), Reduction in bonus, commission or other non-wage pay

Do not have children, but intend to

Do not have children, but intend to

At some point after retirement

Management - Middle / Lower

Management - Middle / Lower

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

Increase in bonus, commission, or other non-wage pay, Decrease in spending due to newly working from home, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market

Do not have children, but intend to

Do not have children, but intend to

Professional (non-licensed, certified)

Professional (non-licensed, certified)

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc)

In a relationship, but not married

Do not have children, but intend to

Immediately on retirement

Professional (non-licensed, certified)

For an Organization (Employed)

Increase in bonus, commission, or other non-wage pay, Permanent layoff (job loss), Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc)

Some college, no degree

Some college, no degree

Skilled Laborer / Skilled Trade

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed), For Myself (Self-Employed)

Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc)

Do not have children, but intend to

For an Organization (Employed)

Increase in my rate of pay (higher hourly rate or salary), Reduction in my hours worked (fewer hours worked), Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market

Some college, no degree

Do not have children, and do not intend to

Do not have children, and do not intend to

Immediately on retirement

Immediately on retirement

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

Increase in my rate of pay (higher hourly rate or salary), Reduction in bonus, commission or other non-wage pay, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market

In a relationship, but not married

Do not have children, and do not intend to

At some point after retirement

At some point after retirement

For Myself (Self-Employed)

Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market

Some college, no degree

At some point after retirement

Immediately on retirement

Skilled Laborer / Skilled Trade

For an Organization (Employed)

Decrease in spending due to newly working from home, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market, Moved to less expensive housing / added roommates

Do not have children, but intend to

For an Organization (Employed)

Immediately on retirement

Public Administration (Civilian Government)

Professional & Business Services

Professional (licensed / certificated)

For an Organization (Employed)

For Myself (Self-Employed)

Reduction in my rate of pay (lower hourly rate or salary), Increase in my hours worked (more hours worked), Decrease in spending due to newly working from home, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc)

In a relationship, but not married

Do not have children, but intend to

Professional (licensed / certificated)

For an Organization (Employed)

Increase in my rate of pay (higher hourly rate or salary), Increase in bonus, commission, or other non-wage pay, Permanent layoff (job loss), Decrease in spending due to decrease in income, Decrease in spending due to newly working from home, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market, Got a new primary job

Do not have children, and do not intend to

For an Organization (Employed)

Decreased the amount I am investing in the stock market, Sold existing stock holdings due to fear of / actual market crash (timing the market)

Do not have children, but intend to

Do not have children, but intend to

At some point after retirement

Management - Middle / Lower

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

Decrease in spending due to newly working from home, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc)

High School diploma / GED

Do not have children, and do not intend to

At some point after retirement

For an Organization (Employed)

Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc)

Do not have children, and do not intend to

At some point after retirement

At some point after retirement

For an Organization (Employed)

Increase in my rate of pay (higher hourly rate or salary), Reduction in my hours worked (fewer hours worked), Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market, Purchased crypto or other speculative investments, Refinanced a mortgage for a better rate, Got a new primary job, Got a new secondary job

Immediately on retirement

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing

Public Administration (Civilian Government)

Professional (non-licensed, certified)

For an Organization (Employed), For Myself (Self-Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

Reduction in bonus, commission or other non-wage pay, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market

Do not have children, and do not intend to

At some point after retirement

For Myself (Self-Employed)

Increase in my hours worked (more hours worked), Temporary layoff / furlough (temporarily not working)

In a relationship, but not married

Do not have children, but intend to

For an Organization (Employed)

Reduction in my rate of pay (lower hourly rate or salary), Reduction in bonus, commission or other non-wage pay, Decrease in spending due to newly working from home, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc)

Do not have children, but intend to

Do not have children, but intend to

At some point after retirement

Professional (non-licensed, certified)

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

Reduction in bonus, commission or other non-wage pay, Decrease in spending due to newly working from home

Immediately on retirement

Professional & Business Services

Professional (licensed / certificated)

Professional (licensed / certificated)

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

At some point after retirement

Management - Middle / Lower

For an Organization (Employed)

Reduction in bonus, commission or other non-wage pay, Temporary layoff / furlough (temporarily not working), Decrease in spending due to newly working from home, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Refinanced a mortgage for a better rate

Doctorate / Post-Graduate

High School diploma / GED

Do not have children, and do not intend to

Do not have children, and do not intend to

At some point after retirement

At some point after retirement

Immediately on retirement

Professional (licensed / certificated)

For an Organization (Employed)

For Myself (Self-Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

For Myself (Self-Employed)

Reduction in bonus, commission or other non-wage pay, Temporary layoff / furlough (temporarily not working), Decrease in spending due to newly working from home, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Refinanced a mortgage for a better rate

Doctorate / Post-Graduate

High School diploma / GED

Do not have children, and do not intend to

Do not have children, and do not intend to

At some point after retirement

At some point after retirement

Immediately on retirement

Professional (licensed / certificated)

For an Organization (Employed)

For Myself (Self-Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

For Myself (Self-Employed)

Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market

Do not have children, and do not intend to

At some point after retirement

Professional (non-licensed, certified)

For an Organization (Employed)

Increase in my hours worked (more hours worked)

Doctorate / Post-Graduate

In a relationship, but not married

Do not have children, but intend to

At some point after retirement

At some point after retirement

Professional & Business Services

Professional (licensed / certificated)

For an Organization (Employed)

For Myself (Self-Employed)

Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market

At some point after retirement

Professional (licensed / certificated)

Professional (licensed / certificated)

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

Increase in my hours worked (more hours worked), Reduction in bonus, commission or other non-wage pay, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Moved to less expensive housing / added roommates, Moved to an area with lower cost of living

Do not have children, but intend to

Professional (non-licensed, certified)

For an Organization (Employed)

For Myself (Self-Employed)

Houseless/nomadic - living in a car voluntarily

Increase in my rate of pay (higher hourly rate or salary), Increase in my hours worked (more hours worked)

Do not have children, but intend to

At some point after retirement

Immediately on retirement

For Myself (Self-Employed)

Do not have children, and do not intend to

Do not have children, and do not intend to

That junk bonds actually exist.

That bonds are for pussies. That dividends are for losers.

Public Administration (Civilian Government)

Public Administration (Civilian Government)

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

Reduction in my hours worked (fewer hours worked), Decrease in spending due to newly working from home

In a relationship, but not married

In a relationship, but not married

Do not have children, but intend to

Do not have children, but intend to

At some point after retirement

At some point after retirement

Immediately on retirement

Immediately on retirement

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

Increase in my hours worked (more hours worked), Increase in bonus, commission, or other non-wage pay, Temporary layoff / furlough (temporarily not working)

Some college, no degree

Some college, no degree

Do not have children, but intend to

Do not have children, but intend to

At some point after retirement

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

Reduction in my hours worked (fewer hours worked), Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market, Purchased crypto or other speculative investments, Refinanced a mortgage for a better rate

Some college, no degree

Do not have children, but intend to

At some point after retirement

At some point after retirement

For an Organization (Employed)

Sold existing stock holdings to meet my needs

In a relationship, but not married

In a relationship, but not married

Do not have children, and do not intend to

Do not have children, and do not intend to

At some point after retirement

Professional (licensed / certificated)

For an Organization (Employed)

For an Organization (Employed)

Reduction in bonus, commission or other non-wage pay, Decrease in spending due to newly working from home, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Increased the amount I am investing in the stock market, Purchased crypto or other speculative investments

In a relationship, but not married

Do not have children, but intend to

For an Organization (Employed)

For Myself (Self-Employed)

Reduction in my rate of pay (lower hourly rate or salary), Decrease in spending due to newly working from home, Decrease in spending due to closures (not eating out, cancelled vacations, etc), Moved to an area with lower cost of living

In a relationship, but not married

Do not have children, and do not intend to

At some point after retirement

For an Organization (Employed)

Rent my apartment, but own a home I rent out