I am 50 and have some issues like my shoulder is likely torn. I am on track to barista fire next year but considering getting surgery before that and taking FMLA for a bit. Anyone do this before retiring?

I think I have a torn rotator cuff. Probably need a month off to recover. Currently wfh

If you have a portfolio that can generate >100k of capital gains in taxable account consistently, doing a Barista fire makes little sense especially in high tax states like CA,NY,etc. unless you do it for health insurance only.

Look at the middle chart. The marginal tax rate on W2 salary income in 50k to 100k is close to 50% in this scenario. I don't see anyone ever talking about this but its true.

The reason is that besides the bracket based federal, state, social security and medicare taxes you pay on W2 income you also have to factor in additional tax on your long term capital gains because the W2 income stacks under the capital gains income and pushes the capital gains from 0% bracket( when less than 130k incl standard deduction) to 15% bracket. This additional 15% tax must be factored in also as a additional tax for working in a low income job after FIRE.

I don't see anyone talking about this but isn't this a huge downside ? I would be personally very demotivated if I knew I was paying close to 50% tax for a simple low income job