For many people, early retirement sparks visions of leisure, travel, or simply having more time for family and hobbies. But deciding when to stop working isn’t just about age—it’s about lifestyle, health, income, taxes, legacy planning, and how those pieces may fit together.
While there’s no universal answer to when someone should retire, looking at some of the potential outcomes depending on your retirement age may help frame the decision.
What Retiring Early Might Mean
Retiring before the traditional age of 651 offer more time for personal pursuits, but it can also come with financial and lifestyle adjustments. One major consideration is how leaving the workforce early can affect your long-term financial situation. If you retire early, you may spend more years drawing from savings or investments.
Even outside of health and income, some individuals find that the identity, structure, and social interaction that work provides are difficult to replicate in retirement2. Others may thrive with a different routine and new pursuits. These outcomes vary widely and are shaped by personality, community, and available opportunities.
Questions That May Help Frame the Decision
Instead of approaching early retirement as a simple yes or no decision, it can be more insightful to explore what truly matters to you on a personal level. Everyone’s goals, priorities, and circumstances are different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
Taking the time to reflect on your values, lifestyle preferences, and long-term vision may offer a clearer path forward. To help guide your thinking, consider asking yourself the following questions:
- Do I enjoy my current work, or am I ready for something different?
- How do I want to spend my time in the next five to ten years?
- Have I thought about how my income and expenses may shift over time?
- How important is healthcare coverage to me, and what options may be available before Medicare kicks in?
- Am I open to working in a reduced or different capacity if needed?
Each of these questions can highlight different aspects of early retirement that may or may not align with your preferences. While some individuals may prioritize more years of freedom, others may prefer the consistency and financial security that come with working longer.
Understanding how Social Security, healthcare, and personal spending habits interact can help you identify what trade-offs you’re comfortable with. Balancing long-term expenses with current lifestyle goals is part of the broader retirement picture.
Thinking about when to retire isn’t just about leaving work—it’s about deciding what kind of life you may want to lead for the decades ahead. If you’re considering whether early retirement fits into that vision, contact Vantage Point to learn how we can help you live retirement boldly and on your terms.
Citations:
- SSA.gov, https://www.ssa.gov/history/age65.html, June 11, 2025
- HBR.org, https://hbr.org/2024/05/coping-with-the-stress-of-retirement, May 2, 2024
Investment advisory services are offered through Vantage Point Financial, a registered investment adviser. Registration with any regulatory body does not imply any particular level of skill. This material is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, tax, or legal advice. Working with a financial planner does not ensure financial success or prevent loss. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The scenarios presented are hypothetical and are intended for illustrative purposes only. They do not reflect actual client results and are not guarantees of future outcomes. Individual results will vary. Certain financial strategies may offer tax advantages, but outcomes depend on individual circumstances and are subject to change due to tax laws and other external factors. Vantage Point Financial does not provide legal or tax advice. Consult a tax professional. Retirement outcomes depend on a variety of factors, including individual savings behavior, market performance, health events, and other considerations. Certain statements herein may reflect the firm’s current views, expectations, or beliefs, which are subject to change without notice. For additional information about our services, fees, and disclosures, please refer to our Form ADV Part 2A, available at https://vantage-point.mwdevsite.com or upon request at no cost.
