You Planned for College… But Did You Forget About Retirement?

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Empty Nest, Closer Retirement: Turning Investment Advice into a Real Retirement Plan

Hunter Kelly introduces the Retire Early Retire Now podcast and shares the story of Mike and Sarah, high-income healthcare professionals whose daughter leaving for college made retirement feel suddenly close. Despite years with an advisor and strong habits like maxing 401(k)s and consistently investing, they had never built a full retirement plan beyond investment management and lacked clarity on whether they were on track. By modeling savings, contributions, spending, taxes, healthcare, and longevity, they learned they were in good shape and could become “retirement optional” around 58, reframing retirement as freedom to choose. Kelly explains retirement spending often follows go-go, slow-go, and no-go phases, and encourages listeners to define a timeline, estimate spending by category, organize and consolidate accounts, and ensure their advisor addresses planning, withdrawal, and tax strategy—not just investments.

00:00 Welcome and Resources
00:45 Empty Nest Wake Up Call
01:56 Investment Only Advisor Gap
05:34 Planning Starts With Life
06:13 Are We On Track
07:16 Have We Done Enough
08:26 Retirement Optional Timeline
09:45 Go Go Slow Go No Go
11:43 Clarity Over Numbers
12:58 Steps to Start Now
14:21 Organize Accounts
15:47 Questions Your Advisor Should Answer
16:42 Wrap Up and Disclaimer

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