Retire Early Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler

In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

Our Updated Interview with Kim Hurt

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

We met Kim in Thailand many years ago, and we did a very informative interview with him at that time. But we want to do an update!

Enjoy this current interview with the amazing Kim Hurt.

Castle in Loreley, Germany

Retire Early Lifestyle: Lots has happened since our last interview with you some years past. We’d like to catch up. How old are you now?

Kim Hurt: I'm currently 68 years old. 

REL: At the time we last interviewed you, your retirement portfolio was built upon real estate and Tenant In Common (TIC) investments. With the housing and real estate bubble in 2008, have you made any changes in your portfolio? 

KH: Fortunately I sold off the majority of my personally held real estate portfolio prior to 2006 so the bubble did not greatly affect me. Since then I have converted some of the TIC investments into stock and bond investments. I did not escape the downturn unscathed though as two of the TIC investments failed but fortunately it was not a significant portion of my portfolio.

REL: We know you love to fly and understand that you obtained your pilot’s license. How has this changed your Retirement Lifestyle?

KH: Flying has changed my life dramatically. The community of privately licensed pilots is a truly wonderful subculture of people who have at least one thing in common – the love of flight. I have met and become good friends with some incredible people who are some of the most generous and giving folks around, much like the two of you. People who you may not have contact with for an extended period of time but when you start communicating again it's as though no gap exists.

A church in Budapest built in the early 1200s

REL: We know your love for travel. Can you mention a few of your favorite places where you traveled in the years since your retirement?

KH: I have a time-share in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and love going there for two weeks every year.

Most recently I went to Europe. A hiking buddy and I went to Germany and did the Rhine River Castle Hike. The hike starts in Rudesheim, about 40 miles northwest of Frankfurt, and ends in Koblenz, Germany.  We hiked about 15 miles, with about 2000 ft of elevation gain, per day. The total distance was about 90 miles. While the hike was somewhat challenging, the scenery was spectacular!!!

From Germany we went to Budapest, Hungary for 4 nights. What a spectacular city. The city is bisected by the beautiful Danube River and has many incredible restaurants and a terrific jazz club. 

I live in the wine region of northern California, Sonoma County, and had heard from friends about the wine region near Budapest. Of course I had to check out their wines and it turned out to be the highlight of the trip to Budapest.

My hiking buddy is originally from London so we went there for 15 days. Stayed 5 days in London and then spent 10 days traveling around the southern part of England. Went to the Cotswolds, where the medieval homes are built of beautiful local yellow limestone. Traveled on to the city of Bath and saw the ancient Roman Baths and then on to Stonehenge and Cornwall.

The "Roman Baths" in the city of Bath, England

REL: Do you still own your home in the States?

KH: Yes.  I have a home in Santa Rosa, California and a home in Camp Verde, Arizona. The Arizona home is about 17 miles south of Sedona and located in an airpark, which means there is a runway within the living community. I have my pilot license and can fly my plane to Montezuma Airpark, land and taxi to my home, park the plane in the hangar and walk into the house. 

REL: How do you manage your finances while on the road?

KH: I have a financial money management company that takes care of my investments and a bookkeeper who handles the monthly bill paying tasks. For anything else, the internet makes taking care of other items pretty easy from anywhere in the world.

REL: What do you average in spending annually?

KH: I have very little debt which helps reduce my annual spending substantially. On average I spend between between $55,000 and $60,000 per year.

Stonehenge, England

REL: Do you have health insurance? Are you open to Medical Tourism?

KH: I have health insurance through Kaiser Permanente Medical.  I do not have dental coverage through Kaiser and am open to Medical Tourism. 

Last year I needed to have a route canal and crown replaced. I heard form some friends about the small town of Algodones, Mexico, just across the border from Yuma, Arizona. It's a town that specializes in dentistry and other medical procedures. The quality and level of service is equal to that you find in the US.  he estimate from my local dentist for the root canal and crown was $4,500. The cost to me in Algodones was $605. Needless to say, I'm a fan of Medical Tourism.

REL: Do you own a vehicle?

KH: I own two vehicles. One for the home in Arizona and one in Santa Rosa.

REL: What are your greatest passions in life?

KH: My greatest passions are flying and traveling. They are very compatible and I do both extensively.

British Parliament building and Westminster Bridge from inside the "London Eye."

REL: Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?

KH: Hopefully I'll still be flying and traveling. Currently I spend most of my time in California. In the coming years I plan to spend at least half the year in Arizona.

REL: What has been your greatest challenge in Early Retirement? Your biggest lesson?

KH: My greatest challenge was finally letting go of my work. I was a real estate broker and owned my own company. It took me a few years of backing out of the business to finally be comfortable not getting up every day and going to work. 

The biggest lesson was that I learned that I needed to find something to fill the void left by no longer working. I already new that I loved to travel but it wasn't until I discovered my passion for flying that I found the void could be successfully filled.

REL: Tell us about your greatest personal success, not necessarily finance related.

KH: I have many long term friends, dating as far back as to when I was in grade school. Over the years, we have remained in close contact and I have either taken council from them or given council to them. I would count these relationships as a very rewarding success.

The fishing village of Port Issac in Cornwall, England

REL: How do you contribute to the world?

KH: Most of humanity depends greatly on the company of true friends. I think I contribute to the world by being one. 

REL: What’s the worst thing you deal with in your chosen lifestyle? Your biggest challenge?

KH: I think the worst thing I have to deal with and my biggest challenge is keeping myself from becoming mentally and physically lazy. It is easy to overindulge in over eating and drinking. It's also not difficult to fall out of the habit of keeping physically fit and in reasonably good shape. I work hard to limit my intake and to get physical exercise to stay in shape. 

REL: What is exhilarating beyond words? Something you would never trade about your lifestyle to obtain “security?”

KH: As long as I am mentally and physically capable, I will never give up the exhilaration of flying to be more secure. There are risks in just about everything worthwhile in life and while flying has its risks, the rewards far outweigh the risks.

REL: What would you say to someone who is considering tossing the conventional lifestyle and living one of travel? What advice would you give?

KH: I would say go for it!!! If you have a cash net worth of $800,000 to $900,000 you should be able to generate $40,000 to $50,000 of unearned income per year. This is subject to Capital Gains Tax, which in most cases, is less than Earned Income Tax. If you watch for the airline deals to Mexico, Central and South America, or Asia it's possible to travel to and maintain a very nice lifestyle in these areas with the above income. 

The "Green Bridge" over the Danube River in Budapest, Hungry

REL: What is a secret fact about you?

KH: A secret fact about me is that I'm an avid movie fan. I really enjoy going to the big screen theater. The secret is that I can't resist the “movie theater” popcorn. I always get the small size to limit the caloric intake, but it's something I just can't resist.

REL: How do you contribute to the world?

KH: I donate to charities, try my best to be a good citizen to my country, and a good friend to those close to me.

REL: What is your biggest splurge?

KH: My biggest splurge was buying an airplane.

REL: Where are you going next?

KH: My next domestic trip is to Arizona for Christmas and internationally to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in May of 2019.

We at Retire Early Lifestyle would like to thank Kim for taking the time to answer all of our questions, and for his willingness to share his life with our Readers. Thanks Kim!

To read more about other Captivating Characters and Early Retirees, Click Here

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