Retiring at 55: How a CFP® Is Actually Investing for It

Retiring at the age of 55 comes with unique challenges that do not apply when working until the conventional retirement age of 65 or beyond. One key issue is funding healthcare expenses during the 10-year period before Medicare eligibility kicks in. Moreover, the money required to sustain retirement needs to last an additional decade, and retirees will have to depend solely on their savings during the years prior to claiming Social Security benefits. In some cases, access to certain retirement accounts may be limited or even unavailable.

While the author may not have a strong desire to retire at 55, they do wish to attain the ability to retire at that age. They acknowledge this distinction as crucial. The author is one among the fortunate individuals who genuinely enjoy their profession, and they aspire to continue in this role for many more years ahead. However, as a Certified Financial Planner®, they aim to achieve financial freedom by the time they reach 55.

With this objective in mind, the author outlines their strategy for managing accounts, asset allocation, and other financial aspects in order to reach this milestone a decade earlier than the typical retirement age.