I Retired at 55—How I Knew I Had Enough

Early Retirement Roadmap · Oct 19, 2026 · 14m

I retired at 55. How did I know I had enough to retire early? I looked at whether our retirement plan could pay for the life we wanted, bridge the years before Medicare, and hold up in a bad market.

I started with the retirement we actually wanted, including travel and the things we enjoy—not a budget stripped down to the bills. Then I had to work out where our spending money would come from in the early years. I explain why the Rule of 55 wasn't my bridge, how our taxable brokerage account helped, and why the accounts you draw from can affect ACA health insurance subsidies.

I also share why…