What it takes to retire earlier than planned

When I meet with new clients, one of the most common questions I hear is:

“Do we have enough money to retire early? We think we might be able to, but we’re uncertain.”

That uncertainty is understandable. Retirement is one of life’s biggest financial transitions. And when you're thinking about moving up the timeline, the stakes can feel even higher.

Through the financial planning process, my goal is to replace guesswork with clarity. Retiring early shouldn’t be based on hope or assumptions. It should be based on a thoughtful, personalized plan. Because hope is not a strategy—especially when it comes to your financial future.

The million-dollar question

Another question I hear often: “Is one million dollars enough to retire on?”

The honest answer? It depends.

• It depends on your current and future spending habits.
• It depends on your lifestyle expectations in retirement.
• It depends on whether legacy planning is important to you.
• And it depends on how well your plan accounts for the unexpected, because life has a way of surprising us.

The good news is, all of those factors can be identified, discussed, and planned for. That’s what financial planning is really about: making informed decisions today that can give you more confidence about tomorrow.

What early retirement really takes

Early retirement doesn’t mean dropping everything and walking away. It means building a plan that supports a new phase of life—whether that’s travel, family time, a second-act career, or simply more space to enjoy what you’ve worked for. A well-rounded early retirement plan should address:

• Income and cash flow: How you’ll cover expenses for a longer retirement period
• Healthcare costs: Especially before Medicare eligibility
• Tax strategy: To keep more of what you’ve saved
• Lifestyle goals: What retirement really looks like for you
• Flexibility for the unexpected: Because the only guarantee is that things will change

So, what would early retirement look like for you?

Would you travel more? Spend time with grandkids? Start something new? Or just enjoy a slower pace? Whatever it is, retiring early might be more achievable than you think with a financial plan in place.