Friday, 30 Jul 2010
You are here:
How Much Money Does It Take To Retire?
Written by Gary Pierce   
Monday, 08 February 2010 09:17
How much money to retire is a question many ask...I propose it is the wrong question to be asking.
by GaryPierce


How much money to retire is a question many ask...I propose it is the wrong question to be asking.

A better question to ask might be...how much longer can I afford to wait? As we are accumulating more and more, we are getting older. No surprise here.

When focused on nothing but money, retirement planning overlooks a fact we are all aware of. As we age we are less able to physically do what we could do when we were younger...no surprise to anyone.

I am not talking solely about sex either. As you age do you develop more or less aches, pains, ailments, etc? I thought so...as you age you are slowing down. Aging should be given more weight in retirement planning.

If you think retirement will be spent on the golf course, five to seven days a week ask your self a question...and be honest. How much further do you hit the ball compared to 10 years ago? Hmmm....

If golf, or any activity you enjoy, is your reason for wanting to retire...why wait while you age and can enjoy it less?

How much money to retire? I heard this from friends as I prepared to retire 15 years ago when I retired at 49. The good friends that asked me that question are currently still working, some wealthy, but most in poor health.

I contend there is no correct answer to how much money to retire. We retired to a sailboat in the Caribbean 15 years ago. I doubt I am presently physically capable to perform some of the necessary boat tasks that come up. I am 64, then I was 49...big difference.

If you have seen your IRA's and 401K's tank, (mine sure did). It is not the end of the world. There are ways to retire on less while you can still do the things you want to do. You should explore them now...don't wait. You need to find out how to retire on less...and have more fun. Interested?

About the Author: