Can you prove that $10,000 is all I ever earned because I made between $40,000 and 50,000 when I was working which was invested in a 401K that does very well. Seeing as how you are just a maintenance man who claims to.be a scientist, you never made more than $10,000 your whole life.
You told me that you nearly earned 5 figures at the height of your career. IOW you never earned 10k.
I'd be surprised if doing maintenance work wouldn't push someone well into 6 figures.