Last week I interviewed an entrepreneur who worked for many years in the travel industry. Before his entrepreneurial journey he held a lucrative job in that sector. Now nearing his 50s he has decided to retire early. His business can continue without him actively leading the day-to-day operations.
An experienced and aggressive investor, he has diversified streams of income. A dedicated father and husband, he manages his financial affairs with prudence. He is also responsible for the welfare of his elderly parents, who are no longer able to take care of themselves due to their failing health.
The total cost of caregiving, health care, and property maintenance services for his parents is over half a million dollars monthly. He admits to living a stressful life and believes that stepping away from major business activities and other related interests will provide the quality time he needs to spend with his family and attend to the welfare of his parents.
He has well-laid-out plans for his children and secured long-term investments in the stock market for their future. Early retirement offers him the work-life balance that he seeks.
Are people retiring early for the right reasons, and are they financially prepared to spend more years in retirement than they did working? The Business Insider shared the story of an Australian, Frank Noble, who retired early at age 55. He had numerous investments and a mortgage-free home before retiring. Apart from receiving a pension, he reinvested dividends from his shares for long-term wealth creation.
This point underscores the importance of investing in the stock market. He understood that stocks are long-term investments, and if he spent many years in retirement his investments would compound exponentially to provide future income that would allow him to maintain his standard of living.
Noble is now 86 years old and living without regrets. He attends the gym at least three times per week, and his gardening is a daily chore. According to the report, if he were to live his life over he would make the same decision to retire early. He attributed his early retirement success to “homeownership and a healthy marriage”.
What are the lessons that we can learn from this senior?
Firstly, early retirement should be carefully planned. Aim to retire debt-free. Invest long term in the stock market. Find a hobby or hobbies that will bring you joy and fulfilment. It’s important to keep active and prioritise health and wellness. Pursue your passion.
A survey conducted by UK-based Liverpool Victoria Financial Services Limited revealed that 6 million retirees (47 per cent) “retired earlier than planned”. At least one in every four said “they retire at least 5 years earlier than planned”. The main reasons given for retiring early were sickness, redundancy, and stress.
Nearly one-third said they retired because they could afford to do so. Thirty per cent said they were not financially stable when they retired early.
Last year, a client informed me that she is a follower of the FIRE Movement. FIRE is the acronym that means Financial Independence, Retire Early. It’s a movement that encourages frugality and motivates and inspires members to be financially free and retire early. The movement encourages followers to save and invest as much as 70 per cent of their income to retire early. It requires living below your means and covering basic needs while saving and investing most of one’s income.
The FIRE Movement endorses long-term investments such as pension plans and stocks rather than keeping funds in low-interest savings accounts. Young people are encouraged to invest early so they can retire early. The longer funds are invested, the greater the returns on investments. Individuals should have clear timelines for retirement and invest accordingly.
For individuals who choose to retire before the normal retirement age and without accessing their pension, the 4 per cent rule is recommended. This means these early retirees should spend only 4 per cent of their investment annually. There is also the 25X Rule, which speaks to saving 25 times your annual expenses before retiring early.
The FIRE approach is not suitable for everyone, but investing early and reducing consumption by living modestly augurs well for effective retirement planning and financial freedom.
An early retirement trend that is gaining global traction among Generation Z is “micro retirement”. Young employees are taking career breaks or “micro or mini retirement”, citing work-life balance as the reason for extended time away from their 9-5 job. They yearn to travel, pursue their passion, hobbies, and activities that are in alignment with their goals, instead of waiting until normal retirement to find fulfilment.
A performance management study by the US multinational company McKinsey & Company found that only 15 per cent of employees globally reported feeling “engaged at work”. Young employees are emphasising their personal well-being and health by opting for “mini retirement” as they seek opportunities that are attuned to their personal goals.
Some employees have seen their parents living stressful lives for many years and at retirement are not able to enjoy a life of travel and leisure, devoid of vim and vigour. There are other senior retirees who are returning to work and showing that their skills and expertise are still needed in the workplace.
Employers must prioritise life-work balance for mutual success. Retirement planning is crucial at all ages. No one wants to run out of money in retirement. A competent financial advisor can assist in safeguarding your financial goals.

Grace G McLean is a financial advisor and retirement specialist at BPM Financial Limited. Contact her at gmclean@bpmfinancial or visit the website: www.bpmfinancial.com. She is also a podcaster for Living Above Self. E-mail her at livingaboveself@gmail.com.