Let me say this upfront:
Retiring early doesn’t mean you stop working.
It doesn’t mean you quit something you love.
It doesn’t mean you “get out of the game.”
Retiring early is a mindset, not a destination.
And for many people, it’s the clearest path to real success — not measured by how much money you die with, but by how much life you get to live along the way.
Why “Retire at 65” Is the Default (And Why That’s a Problem)
Ask most people when they plan to retire, and you’ll hear the same answer:
65.
Why?
- That’s when Medicare starts
- Social Security feels more “solid”
- It’s what we’re supposed to do
But “supposed to” is a terrible planning strategy.
Retirement shouldn’t be based on a rule of thumb or a round number.
It should be based on your plan — your goals, your cash flow, your life.
Retiring Early Is About Options, Not Escaping Work
Here’s the shift most people miss.
Retiring early doesn’t mean:
- You never work again
- You stop being productive
- You sit around doing nothing
It means you don’t have to work.
You gain leverage.
You gain choice.
You gain freedom.
You can keep doing what you love — just without needing the paycheck to survive.
That’s a powerful place to be.
A Case Study: Brad and Vicki
Let’s make this real.
Brad and Vicki are both 55.
They’ve saved well — about $2.3 million across retirement accounts and investments.
Like many people, their initial assumption was retiring at 65.
But instead of starting with age, we started with a better question:
What do you want life to look like?
Not numbers.
Not projections.
Life.
Step One: Understand Cash Flow First
Before talking investments, taxes, or probabilities, everything starts with cash flow.
- What income will you have?
- What expenses will you need to cover?
- What comes from Social Security?
- What needs to come from your portfolio?
Cash flow is the lifeblood of retirement planning.
Once we understand that gap — what your portfolio actually needs to provide — everything else becomes clearer.
Why Net Worth Alone Doesn’t Mean Much
If I tell you someone needs to pull $215,000 per year from their portfolio, is that good or bad?
It depends.
- On a $215,000 portfolio, it’s disastrous
- On a multi-million-dollar portfolio, it may be perfectly reasonable
Context matters.
That’s why retirement planning isn’t about hitting a magic number.
It’s about understanding percentages, timing, and tradeoffs.
The “Problem” With Doing Everything Right
When Brad and Vicki projected their plan out to age 90, something surprising showed up.
Their portfolio didn’t run out.
It exploded.
They were on track to die with close to $20 million.
Now here’s the uncomfortable question:
Is that success?
Only if that was the goal.
For most people, it isn’t.
Real Success Is Turning Money Into Life
Money is a tool.
Not the end goal.
Real success looks like:
- More freedom
- More time
- More experiences
- More use of good health years
So instead of asking, “How much can I accumulate?”
The better question becomes, “When could I stop?”
What Happens When You Explore Retiring Earlier
When Brad and Vicki explored retiring at 62 instead of 65, their numbers changed.
Yes — the portfolio ended lower.
But they gained three extra years of:
- Energy
- Health
- Choice
- Time
And those years matter more than people realize.
Ages 62–65 tend to look very different from 72–75.
That’s not pessimism — it’s reality.
Retirement as a Mindset Shift
Here’s one of the most powerful moments in planning.
When the numbers showed Brad and Vicki could retire around age 60, something clicked.
At that point:
- They no longer needed to save more
- Their future lifestyle was already funded
- Every extra dollar saved was just piling on
So what changed?
They stopped using money to buy more money later —
and started using money to buy life now.
Travel.
Giving.
Experiences.
Flexibility.
That’s what retirement is meant to support.
Early Retirement Isn’t Binary
This isn’t all-or-nothing.
You don’t just pull one lever.
You can:
- Adjust retirement age
- Adjust spending
- Adjust goals
- Adjust work choices
Planning shows you the tradeoffs — and lets you decide what’s worth it.
That’s empowering.
The Real Takeaway
If you want everything life has to offer, you need a plan to retire early.
Not because you must stop working —
but because having the option changes everything.
You don’t want to wake up at 65 and realize:
“I could’ve done this years ago.”
Final Thought
Money should give you freedom.
Not keep you stuck on autopilot.
Retirement isn’t about hitting a date.
It’s about reaching a point where work is optional and life comes first.
Want to Know When You Could Retire Early?
This kind of planning is personal.
Your numbers will be different.
Your goals will be different.
Your version of success will be different.
If you want help understanding when you could retire, what tradeoffs matter, and how to turn money into more life — you can schedule a call with the Root team.
No pressure.
Just clarity.
👉 Schedule a call and start building a plan that gives you options.
The information presented is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment or financial advice. The content discusses general retirement planning strategies and is not intended to recommend any specific course of action for any individual.
Social Security claiming strategies involve a number of variables, including life expectancy, portfolio returns, tax considerations, and personal circumstances. Decisions regarding Social Security benefits should be made in consultation with your financial advisor, taking into account your full financial picture.
Examples provided are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. They do not reflect any specific client situation and should not be relied upon for investment decision-making. Past performance of investments is not indicative of future results. All investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal.
Root Financial Partners, LLC provides tax planning as part of its financial planning services. However, we do not provide tax preparation services, represent clients before the IRS, or offer legal advice.
Clients should consult their CPA or attorney before implementing any tax or legal strategies discussed. Nothing in this video should be interpreted as a recommendation to take a specific tax position or legal action.
This content may include discussions around advanced financial planning strategies such as Roth conversions, backdoor Roth IRAs, tax loss harvesting, charitable giving, estate planning tactics, or Social Security claiming strategies. These concepts are general in nature and are not personalized advice. Actions related to these strategies may trigger tax consequences or legal implications. Always consult with your CPA or attorney to assess suitability based on your personal financial circumstances.
Suitability for these strategies depends on your individual tax situation, income, age, investment profile, estate plan, and other factors. Actions related to these strategies may trigger tax consequences or legal implications. Always consult with your CPA or attorney to assess suitability based on your personal financial circumstances.