Should you retire the second you hit financial independence, or is there value in working just a little longer? Steven faced this exact decision at 40 and chose to work four more years. The result? He added $1 million to his net worth and entered retirement at 44 with $3.5 million and a bulletproof plan.
In this conversation, Steven shares his complete early retirement strategy, including why he delayed retirement past his FI number, how those extra years set him up for flexible spending of $120K-$180K annually, and the specific withdrawal tactics he uses to optimize taxes and health insurance subsidies.
This Episode Covers:
- Steven's journey from engineer to early retirement at 44
- Why he chose to work four more years after hitting his FI number
- Career transitions and strategic income optimization
- Investment strategy and asset allocation for early retirement
- Planning the transition to early retirement
- Flexible spending strategy: $120K-$180K annual range
- Navigating the ACA subsidy cliff for health insurance
- Strategic Roth conversions and tax optimization
- Safe withdrawal rates and managing inflation
- Starting new business ventures in early retirement
- What daily life actually looks like in early retirement at 44
Steven's story proves that "one more year syndrome" isn't always fear-based procrastination—sometimes it's strategic planning that pays off big. Whether you're close to your FI number or just beginning your journey, his practical approach offers a roadmap for retiring early with confidence.
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