| Early retirement planning should focus more on health, | | | | out 5 days a week, play golf 3 times a week and |
| rather than the size of your investment portfolio. | | | | eat right. |
| I read an uplifting story on retirement in today's | | | | However, in the last few years, my knee makes |
| Arizona Republic. I will not elaborate on the | | | | noise when I walk, my lower back hurts more and |
| specifics...my eye was drawn to a quote from the | | | | more, I tire more easily, etc. When I talk with friends |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. | | | | my age, and they talk about their aches and pains, I |
| "Eighty percent of the 65 plus population has at least | | | | realize I am very lucky...I am not a part of the 80% |
| one chronic medical condition: fifty percent have at | | | | mentioned above with a chronic illness. |
| least two." | | | | My friends have mostly retired in their 60's..."normal |
| I do not know about you but this makes me first | | | | retirement age." Heart problems, diabetes, arthritis, |
| glad that I retired at 49 and second why more | | | | insomnia and stomach problems are just some of the |
| people do not retire early while they have their | | | | chronic conditions of friends I know and love. |
| health? | | | | So the next time you sit down and contemplate |
| When deciding when to retire. Why isn't the reality of | | | | when you are retiring...stop and think. Would you |
| declining health as we age discussed more openly? | | | | rather have less cash, spend less and retire: or wait |
| Why is financial planning focused solely on | | | | until 65, be rich and be in the 80% of folks in that |
| accumulating wealth as the sole determinant as to | | | | age group? |
| when you can afford to retire. | | | | Early retirement planning...put your health and the |
| I retired at 49 I am now 64 and most would | | | | above statistics into the mix. |
| consider me to be in good health, and I am. I work | | | | |