Jill on Money with Jill Schlesinger Can I Retire in Two Years?
12 snips
Dec 15, 2025 Mary, a 61-year-old widow from Northern California, seeks advice on retiring in two years while financially preparing for her twin daughters' college. She shares her impressive financial portfolio, including a $740K brokerage and $2.35M in retirement accounts. They discuss practical strategies for managing monthly expenses, handling health coverage, and optimizing Social Security benefits. Jill advises potential real estate sales to enhance cash flow and emphasizes the importance of estate planning and consulting a financial advisor.
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Plan For Full Undergraduate Funding
- Consider covering most or all undergraduate costs for your children if you prefer they avoid debt.
- Mary plans to pay about $40K per child per year and prefers to fully fund undergraduate costs.
Brokerage Account As Flexible Cushion
- Large taxable brokerage balances can bridge college and retirement needs if used strategically.
- Jill treated $740K in brokerage as a resource to fund college and still leave liquidity for retirement planning.
Tally All Retirement Sources First
- Inventory all liquid savings, retirement accounts, and pensions before deciding to retire.
- Mary listed $2.35M in a traditional 401(k), $130K cash, and a $65K pension as core retirement assets.