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re: Can a person retire at 55 with 750k potfolio?

Posted on 4/23/26 at 6:17 am to
Posted by Golgi Apparatus
Member since Sep 2009
3424 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 6:17 am to
quote:

Only live once boys. Tomorrow is not a given and certainly 20yrs isnt. I can take 3 months off without pay but keep insurance. I may do that next spring and if all goes well just hang it up after that. That is what I want to do. But do I have the balls to do it.


Quit and go live.

I’ve seen so many people slow down once they hit 65. If you keep holding out for a better return or safer situation you’ll blink and 5 years will already be gone.
Posted by HeyNow
Member since Apr 2026
3 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 9:42 am to
Yes, you can do it and I hope you do. People are so focused on money and careers, and don't prioritize time. Life is short. We aren't promised tomorrow. You know, and I have felt this out in the Mountains at our cabin, you don't need much to live a simple life. In fact, the more time you spend outside in remote nature, near a creek as you said, you realize you don't really need much at all. I feel the same way. I, too, plan to retire early and will forfeit some money in retirement, because I value time more than money. I actually feel like people were created to live simple lives, and not chase the dollar, but it's become so engrained in us to work, work, work, that we forgot what a simple life looks like. I feel bad for people who work into their 60s and 70s because they have nothing else to look forward to. I wish they could find themselves in the middle of nowhere in a National Forest sitting by themselves next to a crystal clear creek, close their eyes and just listen to the sounds of the water moving downstream. Then, I think they would understand the meaning of life.

I was talking to my neighbors recently in the Ozark Mountains. He told me that most people in our County live on about $36K/year, including him. He has a decent older country log home on top of a mountain, an old flatbed truck, and he's doing just fine. Family of 5. They are happy. Not rich, but happy and content with a simple life. I love that.

So yes, I think you can retire in your situation. And I applaud you for valuing time and life more than the almighty dollar.
This post was edited on 4/23/26 at 10:17 am
Posted by Hawgleg
Member since Jan 2022
687 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 9:47 am to
I’ve seen so many people slow down once they hit 65. If you keep holding out for a better return or safer situation you’ll blink and 5 years will already be gone.


This is the answer. Just takes some balls to do it. I want to go into it with no regrets. Time to enjoy life for a while and not be tied down. Will see how it goes. I was walking in this morning, nice beautiful day. I could be doing so much ouitside. But no, im setting at a fn desk looking outside.
This is not LIVIN.
Posted by redfishfan
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2015
5542 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 11:52 am to
Will you get SS?
Posted by CajunPrairie
Member since Jan 2026
4 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 12:08 pm to
quote:

I live in N Arkansas. I dont travel. My vacas are spent on the Buffalo or creek somewhere. I dont need much. My monthlys, utiities and house/car insurance is 700 month.

Health isurance will be an issue. Will have alot of time on my hands to figue out a way to make a little change. May want to work winters. IDK

But I am tired of setting at a desk all day everyday watching my life fly by. 25yrs on currret job. Divorced 15 ys ago. The next 10 yrs will probably be the best 10 left as far as being able to do anything. Its hitting me hard lately. Burned out,

No reason to rob IRAs or 401k.


I'm going to hold off on my financial advice, but will say good for you for having this realization now and pursuing it!
Posted by Hawgleg
Member since Jan 2022
687 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 1:34 pm to
Yes, you can do it and I hope you do. People are so focused on money and careers, and don't prioritize time. Life is short. We aren't promised tomorrow. You know, and I have felt this out in the Mountains at our cabin, you don't need much to live a simple life. In fact, the more time you spend outside in remote nature, near a creek as you said, you realize you don't really need much at all. I feel the same way. I, too, plan to retire early and will forfeit some money in retirement, because I value time more than money. I actually feel like people were created to live simple lives, and not chase the dollar, but it's become so engrained in us to work, work, work, that we forgot what a simple life looks like. I feel bad for people who work into their 60s and 70s because they have nothing else to look forward to. I wish they could find themselves in the middle of nowhere in a National Forest sitting by themselves next to a crystal clear creek, close their eyes and just listen to the sounds of the water moving downstream. Then, I think they would understand the meaning of life.

I was talking to my neighbors recently in the Ozark Mountains. He told me that most people in our County live on about $36K/year, including him. He has a decent older country log home on top of a mountain, an old flatbed truck, and he's doing just fine. Family of 5. They are happy. Not rich, but happy and content with a simple life. I love that.

So yes, I think you can retire in your situation. And I applaud you for valuing time and life more than the almighty dollar.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I spend my weekends and vacas setting next to a small creek with nice swiming hole. Lots of family around. Grill fired up and unplugged. You are right. Its time to try it.
Posted by lsufan112001
sportsmans paradise
Member since Oct 2006
11217 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 1:48 pm to
You need to be doing some traveling. It reinvigorates me, mostly the planning part of it with intricate details being investigated. Though with no one to travel with it alters the enjoyment. No nephew or family could go ?

Can you use more leave at your workplace ? As to buy more time and add more years.

And no one saying you can’t go back to work if it fails. Figure the $$ gap of starting with a new job vs the old.

Life should be enjoyed but we are kept in the numbers slave system while some freeload their way thru it all



Posted by CajunMexican
Geismar
Member since Oct 2017
107 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 2:11 pm to
Would your employer let you transition to part-time AND keep benefits? Some places will let you keep benefits with as few as 20 hours of work per week.
Posted by Hawgleg
Member since Jan 2022
687 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 2:26 pm to
There are no part time employees at this company. I dont have a real stessful job, or I dont stress it anyway. I have alot of flexibilty really. Could work remote. Winter months is when I would rather be working. Big decision and I am not about change.

I HATE traveling and traffic. Far as I want to go is the Missouri state line. IFYKYK

I am so content with what alot would be bored with., I have garden expansion plans when I have more time. Next year I gotta give it a shot.
If its not what I think it will be I can always go back to work.
Posted by TorchtheFlyingTiger
1st coast
Member since Jan 2008
3151 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 3:34 pm to
You are proposing a 6.66% withdrawal rate. That's 50% greater the 4-4.6% often used as a safe withdrawal rate rule of thumb. The historic average SWR has been 7.1% but if your timing puts you in a below average outcome, you go broke. Your lean lifestyle probably leaves little room for flexible withdrawal in a down market. Also, we have had decades of above average returns so it's feasible that there could be a reversion to mean early in your retirement which would blow up your nest egg at a 6+% withdrawal rate. That said, depending on how much and when you draw SS it could work out.
I think early retirement is great but your situation would be too high risk for my tastes. I'd suggest a transition plan that gives you optionality to pitch back into workforce fully time if needed in first 3-5 yrs. That's what I''ve done and it dramatically reduced financial anxiety and after nearly 4 yrs I no longer need the fall back plan could stop part time work whenever I choose.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
48902 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 4:05 pm to
quote:

I am so content with what alot would be bored with., I have garden expansion plans when I have more time. Next year I gotta give it a shot. If it’s not what I think it will be I can always go back to work.
do it
I sold out last April and while I’ll have a bit more than 750K to work with, I’ll just turn 60 in November. We have been spending freely this past year to do the things we want to do while we can. I’ll start ramping that down over the next few and then I’ll be perfectly content to tend to my garden, smoke weed and be stress free. If I have to, I’ll go work at Home Depot
Posted by Freauxzen
Washington
Member since Feb 2006
38658 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 4:05 pm to
Find something you like doing? Even if it pays low?

Posted by IbalLSUfaninVA
Alexandria
Member since Jul 2008
3544 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 5:36 pm to
Bingo. Look poor to get tge subsidy by pull from the right accounts
Posted by T1gerNate
Member since Feb 2020
3332 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 6:14 pm to
you a lazy mf baw
Posted by Rize
Spring Texas
Member since Sep 2011
19377 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 10:17 pm to
quote:

If I have to, I’ll go work at Home Depot


This is why I will continue to work until I have way more than enough. I may go to work at Home Depot but it won’t be because I have to.

Posted by TigerintheNO
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2004
44896 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 10:29 pm to
quote:

Find something you like doing? Even if it pays low?


My early retirement plan for health insurance was going to be a Wal-Mart greeter.
Posted by FAT SEXY
California
Member since Jun 2020
2127 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 10:54 pm to
Sad state of affairs when 3/4 of a mil is deemed an iffy amount.

Here we are thanks to never ending money printing..
This post was edited on 4/23/26 at 11:08 pm
Posted by 98eagle
Member since Sep 2020
3171 posts
Posted on 4/23/26 at 11:54 pm to
(no message)
This post was edited on 4/24/26 at 2:03 am
Posted by Hawgleg
Member since Jan 2022
687 posts
Posted on 4/24/26 at 8:43 am to

you a lazy mf baw
-----------------------------

can be ----- but hop in a canoe and follow me for three days and see how you make it.
Posted by Everyday Is Saturday
Member since Dec 2025
1532 posts
Posted on 4/24/26 at 9:07 am to
quote:

Sad state of affairs when 3/4 of a mil is deemed an iffy amount.


Hear u.

It’s the financial math that should be taught through high school and why compounding is so critical.

(1+k)^n of investment to beat (1+k)^n of inflation (prices and monetary policy).

4% of $750,000 = $30,000
(The gauge withdrawal rate of not outliving $)

Solving with greater risk is exactly that, riskier (shortening how long it lasts).

Sounds like there is math for OP to take some risk before SS kicks in, and this $ plus SS might be enough. Keeping option to go back to work, part time, if world does not cooperate.

My 2 cents: time is worth more than money. Can get more money. Cannot get more time.

Canoe away, OP!
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