Congratulations. "I'd like to have a beer and some pretzels.". That's a great answer for "what are you doing next?"

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+1 for watching every video on your channel for the psychological side! Haven't commented in a while. Thanks for continuing to make these, guys 🍻

Merci !

Very true Laura! I liked “You won’t get that minute back.” Closer I come to retirement, the more this true. As one of the above comments states, time becomes more valuable as you age. Thanks for sharing this Eric.

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Respectfully, isn't "purpose anxiety" the ultimate luxury problem? Go to Kongo or numerous other challenged corners of the world. Ask 100 people whether or not they feel "purpose anxiety". Chances are, you would get many incredulous blank stares. It seems like we at times create new terms and consequently new problems. Life is short. Is it not baffling that some find it so difficult to fill this precious life with meaning? - Love your videos - especially the earnest discussions between the two of you two. Please continue. - Thanks! :)

Congratulations on this episode. This information has been one of the most useful and actionable items that I can take as I am in my journey to financial independence within the next five years. You may get more views for the financial stuff but to me, this is golden. Keep up the great work.

What an incredible discussion!! Thought provoking and very helpful. Thank you so much for sharing this discussion. Thinking from this point of view is extremely helpful. Your definitions of purpose are very helpful.

I think that it isn't just society as a whole saying we should have big P purpose, but also, when friends and former colleagues hear about me FIRE'ing, they ask what I'm up to and then seem disappointed when I give them little p answers (maybe because it is different from their hopes of what they'd be accomplishing if they hit that point? idk, it would be an interesting research project along with the dismissive 'must be nice' comments). There is an active governing of the reward cycle if you aren't doing something shiny.

Hi I’m guilty I’ve only focussed on the ‘tool’ ( FI) I’m here now but keep working as the ‘what next’ blows my mind….its SO much harder than getting to FI. Love this episode TY💕

Good episode. I’m sure hospice work can provide people with a very different perspective on life and what really matters. I’m guilty of setting goals, reaching them at times and then setting another one. It’s really a hamster wheel of highs & lows. Tapping into what you liked as a child is helpful, it does take work remembering because of all the societal and life BS that has accumulated over the years.

This has been a very helpful episode. I really liked "Taking Stock" and am looking forward to reading his new book.

Is that an Evangelion T-Shirt? It's definitely something that lights me up and yes, working on my hobbies is my small 'p's!

As always, relevant and thought provoking.... time to get some spaghetti 😊

Great episode and will definitely check out his book. I definitely have purpose anxiety and have struggled with what I hope to do if/when I retire. Unfortunately, I think i'm one of those people who fall into that last bucket he decribed of "so burned out from your job and that you just need to quit and then start my purpose journey in 6 months when i start to get antsy". The things that I enjoy doing now seem to mostly revolve around trying to "refill my tank" after work drains me like going to the gym or going on a nice vacation. Probably not enough to serve as the basis of a "purpose anchor". Likewise all the research and reading I do about FIRE.

Thank you for this episode, which I found to be very thought provoking. I am wrestling with these issues. I will be sure to follow up on the book and resources. Please keep making episodes on these themes.

I am two years into early retirement and still experimenting with what lights me up and how I want to spend my time so this conversation is so timely, thanks guys!

Thank you. This came at a very good time for me. Purpose anxiety is a real thing, especially when you realise that Fire is a tool rather than a goal as he says. Figuring out what are the processes we enjoy and then reverse engineering what could be a good goal they could drive towards (even if the goal is actually the process) is very helpful. Your questions were also absolutely on point, which made the conversation very rich!

Thanks for all of the effort you put into these episodes, as they are greatly appreciated! My hubby and I are going to use this episode as part of our date night this week, as we are 12 months from him retiring and our approach and thoughts about it are quite different. I plan on keeping my business going, as I really enjoy what I do and I can turn in on/off whenever I want. For him, after 30+ years in law enforcement, he wants to tinker and just figure it out as it goes. Your "softer" discussions about retirement are excellent, and I especially enjoy hearing men share their thoughts. That's rare (perhaps sexist comment), but it's enlightening to hear two friends navigate this topic. Thanks so much and Happy New Year!

The fact that 'purpose coach' is a thing says a lot. Oi. Every time content comes on about 'you need to retire to something' or 'you have to have a purpose' I chime in about I do not have these things. I don't want them. I look forward to unwinding and then figuring it out. I have great friends, a wonderful family, a couple of regular poker games with said friends, a couple guitars and a garden. As long as i can be fed, have a place to sleep at night and those afore mentioned relationships, i am good. And this is ok. The chat in the middle about 'what are you going to do with that money' and that you can do a lot of what you want to do now, retired or not, is key. Pure friggin' gold. Love this episode Also, happy new year everyone.

Really exceptional interview guys! Thanks.

I 100% love this podcast because of how much it focuses on navigating life post retirement (i.e. the softer stuff)! The finance stuff has been done to death. Keep it up and thank you for sharing!!

Very enlightening, thanks guys

Fantastic disucssion. Love the bit about making making purpose as synonymous with calculating one's FIRE number.

Maybe my view is simplistic: but I always felt my purpose in life is to be happy. So by focusing on the things that I enjoy doing, it invariably becomes a reinforcing aspect of my overall happiness. And as a sidebar, I try to focus on making those around me happy as well. As it also fueled my overall happiness.

I would say that for those of us who are parents, being a provider never really goes away. I still view myself as a provider for my 3 adult kids and I try to fulfill that by being a good steward of the assets I use to live on so that I can help them down the road, and to manage my health so I remain independent later in life. I have other Ps in retirement, but I really take my role as provider seriously and I do get fulfillment from it.

Have you experienced challenges with identifying purpose? Let us know in the comments

Thank Eric, Jason and Laura! This channel is a big reason why I felt more confident in retiring early. Would you consider doing an update on “My Next Phase of Early Retirement…”. Maybe Jason can give an update and Eric/Laura speak of your current phases? Happy New Year!

Thanks for this video and for all your other discussions, I've found all of them to be really helpful. Is the SWR Toolbox appropriate for non-US retirees who are predominantly invested in UK/European stocks or can it only be used if you are heavily invested in US stocks?

Thank you for a brilliant segment. Retiring from a long successful career and the sense of “losing” that identity is something that most successful professionals struggle with. Would love to hear more from Laura specifically on this point. The part on packing up your office and looking at all the data/files kept the resonates with my own experience when I retired from a 30 year high flying legal career this year, it is hard to let go.

What a plot twist! Eric sets out for FIRE and his wife ends up doing it.

Nice segment of honest digesting a major transition. I do love the idea of graduating from work.

Big ERN’s withdrawal strategy is simpler based on his very complex research on the topic. But I have to admit, I have 2 years worth of cash for just in case “shit hits the fan” scenario. I know I shouldn’t worry especially since I follow Big ERN’s 3.25-3.5% safe withdrawal rate, but I can’t help myself.

Looking forward to the next episode in Laura’s update and how she is feeling now.

Get a gown, hat, and scroll, graduations cake. Congratulations to you both. You worked for it, you should enjoy it.

I agree about your two retiring and not helping your kids with every little financial burden, we struggle to think of how to handle that when we finally retire and they come and ask for help.

Great insights, I started making changes at work to begin full exit in 2-4 years. Focusing more time on health and personal growth.

"To what end?" I enjoyed the talk and the insights. My wife will retire on Jan 16, 2025 (25 days, including weekends and holidays). Laura's and my wife's journeys are VERY similar. We don't have a big FI number. In fact, I always think I should do more to reach a higher number. That said, after reams and reams of calculations and even living to 99, we can still make this work. The ultimate question is, "To what end? " This question actually pushed her to decide last January. I appreciate your frank and open discussion, and my wife will appreciate watching you two describe what it's like to take the next step.

Great conversation! I am curious though, why do you not tell each other your numbers? I've watched a few videos now and I'm not sure if I'm mistaken but I don't think you do so was curious as to why not...

Congrats! Based on watching your shows, I know you guys will be just fine in retirement! Great job!

I’m an Aveda girl, too! We reached FI 2 years ago, and I ran through a number of cheaper options as I had trouble justifying the cost. Honestly, there is nothing better. And I just wasted money on all the other options. Stick with what you know and like. There’s value in that, too. Best wishes to you both. You are not alone in all these feelings. We left very high paced jobs in supply chain and aviation. It took us a good year to get settled into our new normal. And we are still adjusting. But the days are great either way.

This is one of the most mature, transparent and genuine conversations I've ever heard. Truly a pleasure to listen to you two talk and be vulnerable to each other.

Thank you so much for sharing, very insightful thoughts on time and value, and holding the 2 thoughts at the same time...(I'm going to start practicing it now!). Thank you.

Great discussion. Love Laura's honesty. Enjoy your graduation and travel without guilt or accountability. Your hard work made this possible. Savour no longer trading your time for money. We've hit our FI numbers. My husband retired at 51 like you two 3 years ago. I'm 8 years his junior and currently planning my graduation date for age 48 or 49. Maybe even earlier. Thanks again for sharing your journey.

I loved the highschool graduation analogy! Congrats Laura!