Retire Early: How We Did It & What to Know about Early Retirement

[@macaccount4315]

I just retired in my early 50s to Portugal. Years of planning and saving and I’m grateful I made the delayed gratification choices.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great job and congrats on your retirement. Portugal is a beautiful place. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@macaccount4315]

@@RetirementTravelers should you visit Porto, I would be happy to show you around. It is a dynamic city and I have multiple apartments, as my long term plan is to house my best friend once he retires. Basically I have an empty apartment in the best part of the city. Happy to host you both.

[@debragifford4926]

Excellent information John. At age 68 married to my husband, aged 75; we are definitely slowing down. But We, too, retired early and were relatively smart with it as well. We have traveled many places in the world and still love it. In fact, we are leaving in a few days to spend 16 days in Ireland. At our age it will not be fast paced but it will be fun and every bit as enjoyable. We are already looking forward to booking our next destination. My only wish is that my husband could get on board with Swedish death cleaning. He has a difficult time letting go. Baby steps John, baby steps but we will get there. Thank you so much for this insight.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed it. As much as world travel has impacted us, the downsizing and Swedish Death Cleaning has done just as much. Good luck with the process. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@fascination2525]

Never a day passes that I am not grateful for our situation. We retired 7 years ago at 62. Similar to your work history, my engineer husband has a 30 year defined benefit pension (long since eliminated for newer hires). Plus we always lived below our means and saved aggressively. But, wow, our health insurance through the company's retirement plan plus Medicare is just under $600 per month total for both of us. I have a new appreciation for that now.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing and congrats on your retirement. Enjoy and hope you are enjoying our content. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@elizaC3024]

We retired under different circumstances. Medical issues forced,and hubby left to be my caretaker. After 5 years of surgeries and therapy I have my mobility back, and we are traveling to see the world, at least as much as we can, and choose to, for as long as possible. We are 63,67. We downsized due to health issues, but unfortunately we built a pole barn to store the boat, trailers, and all of our extra stuff. Now we are selling it, giving it away, or donating it during the months a year that we are home. The hope/plan is to get it to a minimum over the next 3 years. We are saving and investing regularly, and we use our funds from selling things to plan our trips. 😊

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing and hope you have some amazing adventures and good health. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@10aemery]

Wow! Great video! So full of financial gems. I am a HS teacher and teach HS seniors about personal finance. I plan to show your video in class when we get to the savings and retirement unit.

[@RetirementTravelers]

That is awesome. Thank you so much and we hope that they find it helpful. We need to continue to educate and encourage this age group. We would be happy to pop in to your class via zoom if that would be helpful to you. Just contact us by email. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@10aemery]

@@RetirementTravelers Wow! That would be awesome! Thanks! I will definitely reach out!

[@njwebwiz]

John and Bev - I discovered you last year, when my wife (58) and I (60) both retired. I have a similar background as you and also planned carefully for retirement. I'm trying to share my "hindsight wisdom" with our adult children while they're still young so they can retire early and enjoy traveling and other adventures. Thanks for your videos and inspiration!

[@RetirementTravelers]

So glad to hear you are enjoying our channel and sharing wisdom with your children. Perhaps our paths will cross someday. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@RetirewithJulia]

Thanks SO much, John and Bev! We enjoy working with you, and are so impressed by your lust for living a BIG life in retirement! A true example of what TO do if you want to retire early and enjoy your youth! All of your points and tips are spot on, too.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for all you do to support our retirement life. Glad you found the tips and points helpful. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@CAPTex92]

Enjoyed hearing your story John. I'm 6 years behind you & will likely execute my plan at the same age as you (55). Good advice. I've saved so much money over the last 5 years, combination of being fortunate, downsizing, and living a simpler life.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. Great job on your savings and congrats on an early retirement. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@nomadjim]

Thanks for sharing your journey to early retirement. Mirrors mine in many ways. Living below my means instead of being a big spender and becoming debt-free definitely made early retirement easy for me. Buying a big house and filling it with stuff is what you're always told you should do to live a good life. I think we've all bought into that fallacy during our working years. I'm glad that I finally let go of it and sold everything to live the type of life i always wanted as a full-time, slow-traveling nomad. I've never been happier!

[@RetirementTravelers]

That's fantastic and great job. We love hearing your story. There is so much freedom with this lifestyle. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@haroldechevarria6096]

Great info, especially if living within the suggestions you mentions during your working years. I retired at 57, (11 years ago), and was grandfathered with a pension that that company since did not provide for newer employees, (timing & luck). The company however did provide medical (just a few hundred a month for me and my wife). We've traveled a lot, and learned a lot from your tips provided on this channel... hope to stay in go-go mode for at least another ten years or so! Thanks you for the videos.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks and good luck with those go go years. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Retiredtraveler1961]

I'm 63 & retired @ 60. My wife & I live a comfortable Life & travel all over the world. We began saving for retirement @ 27. My wife & I didn't waste money. We drove modest cars & focused on paying off the mortgage! Thankfully my post 911 GI bill payed for my son's education at Perdue. We didn't buy our kids cars, expensive phones, or lavish parties, we lived within our means. You have to commit at 20 something & invest wisely. This sounds more like a UBS plug!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great job and congrats on your travel. We do support URS because they have been so helpful to us and want others to have a great retirement and get good financial advice. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@SoloRetirementwithLydia]

Thank you, John! I'm closing in on it. Just a couple of years to go! Meeting with the work retirement people in a few days and a meeting with a Social Security advisor after that. Thanks for all of the guidance and encouragement from you and Bev!❤

[@RetirementTravelers]

Congrats on your upcoming retirement and glad you are enjoying our channel. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@zeitgeist888]

Important and valuable points to consider. I retired at 46 and haven't looked back. It becomes so much more valuable when you lose friends and former co workers the same age or shortly after retiring. Life is short and health is unknown. I just broke $100k/yr before retiring so it wasn't easy when thinking about leaving but so worth it. Covid made it even more worthwhile.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks and great job retiring so young. Life is way too short. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@mishu3271]

Another superb quality video! Informative, balanced and humble in perspective. Rubbing elbows with you during travelling would be a delight.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. Glad you found it helpful. We love meeting new people on the road, so please stay in touch! Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@patticulver]

What a wonderful, heartfelt video! Thank you for sharing your experience and tips. At this point, I must live vicariously through your and Bev’s travels, but you inspire me to go after my travel dreams. Thanks so much for all you do! Blessings ❤️

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the kind words and thanks for following along with us. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@AUTrageousNomad]

Intelligence, focus, and an appreciation of the little things in life. Sage advice, John🙏🏼

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much for following along with us. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@placesonthelist]

We retired in 2015 at 59, 57. I had a pension with health care ($500/mo) and a SS replacement till 62. We travel about 6 months per year. We did many of the same savings as you. One savings I took on was building my own house which we still live in. In October we are off to Turkey for a month then England for a week, then a TA cruise back to the US.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your insights and story. Enjoy your travels. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@lifeofhern]

John and Bev, Thank you so much for the amazing content that you all keep providing us with. I am currently 36 years old and plan on retiring from the U.S. Military in two years which will put me at the age of 38 years old. Throughout my career my wife and I have always prioritized our future and savings knowing that we would like to retire from the military and then travel the world with our two sons. We have always been really responsible about debt and making sure that we don't keep up with the Jones'. As of right now the plan would be to travel for roughly a year (Europe) and then think about going back into the work force but under my own conditions. Traveling has always been something that my family has always done regardless of our children's age, we have been able to travel most of Europe, Egypt, and the states and can't wait to continue our adventure following retirement. I would love to get in touch with you two and maybe pick your brains a bit. Keep up the great content and thanks again for the inspiration.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for your service and glad you are enjoying our content. Your plans sound great and you are always welcome to contact us through our website. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@johnbuckley8324]

Great video - I've said a couple of times on other videos you've posted on KZbin that I always learn something with your content. Thank you and enjoy your travels! 🙂

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great to hear! So glad you are enjoying our content. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@einstein1102]

I still have 20+ years to go, but I love watching and learning from people who have done it like yourself sharing the good and the bad you've learned along the way so I can better setup myself as well for when the time comes. It's inspiring and maybe I'll even get to do it few years earlier. Thanks for sharing! You gained a new subscriber.

[@RetirementTravelers]

That's great to hear. Thanks for the kind words and good luck with the retirement planning. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@AgingOnYourTerms]

Thank you for sharing. I retired early, after a layoff, but only 4 years ahead of my original yearly retirement goal.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks and great job. Hope you have an amazing retirement. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@jokedog]

Absolutely John. If anyone haven’t been to a low cost country they don’t know what they are missing. Don’t revolve your life around just western and developed countries. Try to visit developing countries like Vietnam. Your dollar goes so much further and you will know what living large feels like. You will see how the other half of the population live. All the problems you thought you have will disappear…when comparing to theirs.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. We loved our visit to Southeast Asia and creates many potential options. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@GreenPaper-p1n]

CIGNA GLOBAL - that's the medical insurance we have and I HIGHLY recommend it. We travel the majority of the year (8-10 months) with our main residence in NYC (we are both 50 years old). Our plan for Cigna Global covers EVERY country in the world - so you are covered no matter where you are. You can include US coverage or decline US coverage (if you include it then technically you are only allowed to spend 6 months of the year in the US - since this insurance is made for those who do extensive travel). Cost? Just for myself, the cost is $2800 for the year. $0 deductible for any outpatient procedure (includes any and all urgent care visits, specialist visits, bloodwork, medication, doctor visits, etc). I opted for a $3K deductible for inpatient (i.e. hospital visits, surgeries). The $2800 a year includes U.S. coverage - if I didn't want U.S. coverage it would be closer to $1900 a year. For both myself and my husband (we just added him to my policy since his U.S. insurance just ran out) it's now costing $4300 a year (for both of us, U.S. coverage included). I have had this insurance now for over a year and have used it many times in Croatia, France and the U,S, - the company is based in Scotland and the customer service is super friendly and fast. If you have to pay for a visit then you simply pay, submit your receipt/claim and they reimburse you in a day or two. It's that easy. Trust me, i know what a nightmare it is dealing with medical insurance - i will recommend Cigna Global to anyone and everyone who will listen!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for this! For us, it isn't an option, since we both have pre-existing medical conditions. This isn't a policy that is part of the Affordable Care Act, and because of that, they can exclude us. We were told that they would reconsider after a year, but there were no guarantees that we'd be accepted after that. On top of this issue is the fact that if we were to get sick, we'd want to return to the US to be near our family and six months wasn't enough for us. If we weren't concerned about our pre-existing conditions, we might take a risk with it, but at this point it isn't worth risking our financial stability for what we know are super costly medications to treat our conditions. We appreciate your contribution to the discussion. Maybe your experience will help someone else. John & Bev

[@peternguyen4202]

Hi John and Bev, my wife and I are 31 and I’m so glad I found your channel. We are hoping to retire around the same time you did. I found myself nodding along in agreement with every point you made. What great advice, thank you.

[@RetirementTravelers]

So glad you enjoyed the video. Good luck with your retirement planning. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Anonymous-One1]

As always, great advice! We learned in our early 30's just how unpredictable life can be when my spouse was diagnosed with cancer. She survived, but it was a wake up call. As a result, we do everything together and value our adventures over material things. Also, when we became empty nesters we downsized to a smaller home that we could easily retire in. Thanks for sharing!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks and you are right on how unpredictable life can be. Health scares are truly wake up calls. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@teraengsf]

Appreciate you sharing your hard earned wisdom and tips. Am turning 54 and planning to retire early around 56 or earlier June 2026 after 55 anytime after is bonus. Happy living!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Awesome. You can do it! Best of luck with your retirement planning. Hope we can inspire you to live your best retirement life. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@travelingexpats]

Great tips! We retired at 52 & 53 almost a year ago thanks to a pension. We wouldn’t have been able to survive on just a pension if we weren’t debt free. That’s a big factor in retiring early. Plus we saved for retirement pretty aggressively the last 20 years. Early retirement was the best decision we’ve made!🎉

[@RetirementTravelers]

That is awesome! Great job and congrats. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@scottneusen9601]

You are a nice young man. Don't let anyone dim your sparkle.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the kind words. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@carlaseier9735]

Such a great video! It really does take two (if you are two) being on board and making the plan work. It's a big, wonderful world out there. You give great perspective and you're talking about it from 'the other side'! Thanks!!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much! 😊 Glad you enjoyed the video and hope all is well. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@cynthiaweiner2960]

One of your best videos ever. Thank you, John.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Wow, thank you! So glad you enjoyed it and thanks for following along. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@sabinamock4799]

Thank you for sharing such an important information!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad it was helpful and thanks for following along with us. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@rusnsc7622]

Retiring in 2 weeks albeit @64 yrs. Looking forward to this next chapter. Your video covered key areas we too have thought about and researched as they pertain to our situation. Thanks for the good work or should I say “hobby with benefits”. $😁 Safe travels!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Congrats on the retirement and glad you found the video helpful. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@nunuvyurbiz123]

I'm 55, same as when you retired. The prospect of abandoning the significant income I receive (top 1.5% of W2 earners) is terrifying - I get paid 11x my expenses, and my dividends are 1.3x my expenses so I save 100% of my after-tax income. The life I want means I have to leave the income though. I have enough - $6M+house - but my lifetime wealth ratio (LWR) is 77%. It should be a lot higher but the high income was only over the last decade or so and I lost a lot of money on some bad investments. Still, time is running out so I'm planning on bailing Q1 next year.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. Those are certainly big decisions to make that impact the rest of your retirement days. Best of luck and great job on your saving. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@aairsick]

Let go and go! Numbers are numbers. Most of America lives on a lot less and have fulfilling lives. Get into a comfort zone with the new you. Enjoy your wealth and go!

[@faithsteele4006]

Thank you, this was very informative and encouraging!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. Glad it was helpful. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@ThatLoganChick000]

My husband and I were both engineers, and we retired when he turned 46. We were able to retire so much younger than most because we were unable to have children. We skipped the 20 or so expensive years of having a family, and that left us able to walk away in our 40s. Except for not having a family of our own, we did what you did, living below our means, saving first, paying down our mortgage, making each vehicle last at least 15 years, etc. Our co-workers gave us side eye for living below our means (they all invested in the bigger salary - bigger life trap), but now they’re all amazed at how early we were able to retire. Now the only question is how to spend our time, and we love that. You guys are an inspiration to get away from owning property and get traveling!

[@nikkik3711]

I have the most seniority at work, going to retire next year after 34 years at age 58, and have the oldest car in the lot. The young folk just don't see the correlation.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Love it. You are doing the wise thing and have so much wisdom. Thanks for watching. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for following along with us. Glad to hear we are inspiring you. All the best! Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@evag5041]

Great video, thank you! Happy Birthday, John! 🎉

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the video. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@maryjoan4128]

Sounds like you did everything right..also very important you choose a wonderful partner/and stayed married... didn't buy a new house every,5 years and had steady work.what a blessing you had..and a blessing of great health

[@maryjoan4128]

Picking a great spouse is a game changer we often realize that way too late

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much for the kind words and we do feel very blessed. Thanks for following along with us. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@craigo2142]

I enjoy following your travels and your thoughtful videos always make me think. I'm retired and travel a lot but not full-time. I know this doesn't apply to y'all, but, as a single, it would be great if you could do a video about that from what you have learned from singles, men and women, you have met that are traveling full-time. I'm 68 and wanting to do at least a few years of full travel before I slow down Thanks

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for following along and thanks for the suggestion. We meet many single travelers around the world. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@anyplaceadventures]

Retired yesterday at 62 after two years of planning and thought. We are lucky to have good superannuation but are still very cautious with our funds. Downsizing will be a large part of our long term plan but that was always our retirement plan, move back to the country and live quieter. Health insurance is not as expensive as yours about $600 a month but still a cost. We leave next month to start slow travel around the world before returning home to sell the home, travel Australia and find our downsized retirement home. Enjoy your retirement

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your story and plans. Hope you have a wonderful retirement. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@jeffrey7830]

One important factor you left out by retiring early...you're missing out on a lot of contributions to social security during your highest earning years which needs to be considered. We are fortunate that we can work anywhere in the world at our primary jobs. We typically spend the winters in Asia then return to the US during the summer. We don't intend to retire until 67 at which point I can do some consulting to stay busy without the social security penalty while collecting the full benefit. But missing out on contributing those 10+ years can be significant. I've calculated that my social security at 67 will be about 1/3 of my current salary which I wouldn't have if I had pulled the plug early.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about social security. Everybody's situation is a little different and you need to understand where your income streams will come from and the implications of an early retirement. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@allisonroorda7937]

Hubby and I are considering early retirement (thankfully with a pension) in 2025 at age 58. He would be allowed to work part-time at his current employer in addition to receiving pension OR to work full-time at another organization. He'd love to be a locum tenem healthcare provider (he's a PA) all over the world. UK has just opened that possibility, and we'd love to live there for part of the year. Exciting times!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Congrats and good luck. Sounds like you have some exciting options. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@georgelee2158]

You are a motivational speaker - keep it up!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the kind words and hope you are enjoying our channel. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@simplifyyourlifewithgwen]

Thanks for sharing your story!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for watching and glad you are enjoying our channel. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@danielodonoghue3529]

WOW US health insurance is insanely expensive! In Australia my wife and I pay the equivalent of $2500 US per YEAR for our hospital, dental and optical insurance.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Yes, it is very expensive! Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Stopit77]

Very helpful, thank you! I am 60 years old, still working full time but want to retire early (in 2 years) but it would make me three years short of the 25 years I would need for the health insurance in pension system. It’s a tough decision because my work is very stressful and I’m afraid I will drive myself into the ground so I will be mentally and physically worse off the longer I continue to work. I have been thinking about retiring early (at 62) , slow travel until I am 65 and then getting Medicare for the health care. Any advice or thoughts on this? Many thanks for all your great videos!!

[@jokedog]

@stopit77 Hmm tough call. Even if you grind it out be careful some co might decide to cut you before your 25th knowing their obligations. There was a “quiet quitting” mentality recently where you just do the bare minimum so you “stress-less”. Hope you survive your next 3 years

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad it was helpful! We love the idea of international slow travel during those transition years. Check out our "flexpat" video for some ideas. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@mississippiapple1078]

"Having no stuff was life altering and made our lives richer " wow!

[@RetirementTravelers]

We love it. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@AintRockitScience]

Another great video. I appreciate the helpful content you are making. I'm inspired to think big and pursue my travel dreams. Thanks for the work you do.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much for following along with us. Absolutely think big!!! Best of luck and stay in touch. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@chridenner7806]

Sounds like a well-planned, very successful life - congratulations!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the kind words and watching. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@barbaram5214]

I’m single and retired at 55 in 2009. Scariest part was that my company eliminated early-retiree health insurance a year after I retired. This was before the ACA. I have a small pension (no COLA) but I’ve always been a super saver even though I never made a large salary. I paid off my house in 9 years, long before retirement. I’m frugal but never do without and travel internationally twice a year. I’ve waited until 70 to collect SS (next month!) and I never worry about money. It can be done.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Congrats and sounds like you have done an amazing job. Well done. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@DrDRE4391]

A military retirement is a way to get health care coverage early.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Absolutely, along with a great way of serving our country. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@mjbalmmac1588]

Really good info. Thanks for sharing

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@saraquips]

My situation is different than most people. I’m living in a U.S. city where my ren

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@ruthrobertson630]

You probably have looked into this, but we like Christian Healthcare Ministries. You can also use them internationally. Not sure about pre-existing conditions though.... Total monthly would be $500-600ish to cover both of you I think. Love the video!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. We have checked into similar programs and pre-existing conditions were an issue. So glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for following along. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

Do you ever think about what you will do when you stop travelling? I mean do you plan on renting or buying property? Do you guys know how long you are going to do this for? I am retired and have been doing slow travelling since June 2021. I don’t know the answers to these questions.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great question! We have given this lots a thought and we are planning an upcoming video on the answer. Thanks for asking. John & Bev

[@chumark54]

Your clip surely got me thinking; some very good points. Appreciate it. I'm 55, and won't be eligible to retire for probably another 12 years (I started quite late). I think I should start enjoying my life NOW instead of 12 or more years later; who knows how many more go-go years I have? Downsizing is a good idea, but I have a question: if I don't have a house, when it's no-go year, where should I go? That thought worries me a bit. What is your idea? Thanks!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Our thoughts are that so much can change in the next 15-20 years. Markets cycle, your needs change, family members move, etc. We love the freedom of no home now and will just figure it our 15 years from now or when an opportunity arises. It really causes us no concern. We currently have "granny pods" set up at 3 of our children's homes and stay with them when we aren't traveling. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@chumark54]

@@RetirementTravelers Got it, thanks for the prompt reply!!

[@travelman677]

Another great video. Thanks!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for watching! Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@jennycrawford6604]

very very good video, I learned a lot, thank you!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@carolynknisely2383]

That was great. Thank you!!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the kind words. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@soulesailor]

I really enjoy and appreciate your channel. I'm hoping to retire in 11 years. If you sold your house what will be your domicile in your no-go years? Seems like an expensive thing, to buy a house at 80, when you've been retired a long time. Thanks!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Still working on long term plans, but certainly never purchase a big home again. We invested the money from our home sale, so we always have options if we ever change our minds. We our no-go years are still many years out. John and Bev

[@adabamas]

You certainly can access retirement funds penalty free @ 55 or even earlier via rule of 55 or 72(t).

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great point. Thanks for sharing. Rule of 55 is a great option for many people. We chose to not touch ours from age 55 to 59 because we had to use some other funds and we able to let the 401k keep growing. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@williamstratton1935]

Would it have been possible for you to do what you did with our a pension?

[@RetirementTravelers]

With a good financial plan, most certainly it would be possible. It’s not possible, if you go through life without a good plan of saving, investing, and being resourceful. That’s the key. John & Bev

[@mississippiapple1078]

Oh quick question Do you have an LLC for your youtube channel and do you deduct travel expenses?

[@RetirementTravelers]

Yes, we have an LLC and yes, we deduct some expenses, but not all. We’re a business and we’re working very hard to achieve our goal of making a little to supplement our savings. 🤞🏻Our website is the drain at this point, as so much of it is very expensive to operate, but we believe we have something to contribute with it and we aren’t ready to stop, even though our operating expenses exceed what we make today. We’re determined that this won’t always be the case. Thanks for hanging in with us! John & Bev ❤️

[@mississippiapple1078]

@RetirementTravelers thank you for sharing and being candid! Surprised at the website costs! In any case yes! Best wishes only for you and Bev

[@carolmartin4413]

I'm retired and trying to downsize...my question...to what? My lovely home has good value...a smaller home is ridiculously expensive today. The housing market is so warped and not skewed to include retirees needs. Just sayin

[@RetirementTravelers]

Some great points. We aren't saying every situation should downsize, but having less has been so liberating for us. Our example included a house with high HOA and golf fees, which made owning a home AND traveling not very feasible. We are currently in no hurry to own a home and can wait on market conditions to get better. Good luck with your downsizing journey at whatever pace makes sense for you. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@midlife_minimalist]

This is me. I don’t want my big house (was too big the day I bought it) but the alternatives are not good/don’t make financial sense. I also love my neighborhood. I’m also going to get hit with Cap Gains on it which will take from what I can spend on next house.

[@mississippiapple1078]

Omg i missed your long form videos!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad you enjoyed it. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@toonertimesfour1158]

There are videos like this all over KZbin and it's a Catch-22. Those of us who retired well and/or early started saving decades ago. The ones who should be watching these videos are the ones who will never be serious about making contributions to IRA's and 401k's, run up their credit cards, and will never live within their means. I know people who spent their entire life investing in beer and cigarettes.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We always try to encourage people to save early so they can live their best retirement lives. It does sadden us to see the high levels of debt and lack of savings for many people. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@ericGT50]

You never speak with any specifics about your actual account structure - qualified vs non qualified. You never discuss if you have incorporated the use of Scorp LLC's in your plan. You have also never really talked even in general about the size of your retirement portfolio. I'm not looking for anything exact, but a realistic range of the nest egg sure would help "define" the picture of early retirement. You also never discuss if you used like a 72T option on your Rollover IRA as a way to bridge the gap. You have done a good job of being quite repetitive about the "how we got here" but it would be greatly beneficial to offer some more specific insight on the "how we actually do it".

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the suggestion on another video. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@lildebscreativecrewldcc8769]

Just curious is your $2,000 a month health insurance policy part of your $5,000 a month travel budget?

[@RetirementTravelers]

We said in our video about our travel costs that we did not include our health insurance in our costs. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHzSeGmYhbtsj7Msi=z7pGOvhmnsPuBdlo Hope this helps. John & Bev

[@mactravel112]

Old people call it retirement. Young people call it working hard at being a digital nomad.... but it's the same job

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@johnfloy]

Were you not able to use the rule of 55?

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the great question.We could have used rule of 55, but consulted with our financial advisors and thought it made more sense to wait sense we had access to some deferred compensation that had to be taken in the first 4 years of retirement after age 55. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@johnfloy]

@@RetirementTravelersinteresting. Yeah I am current 49 and thinking about retiring at 55 is why I ask. And the rule of 55 was one of my motivations to do so.

[@kf434]

interesting video. About how much is your pension, and how much do you make on KZbin videos?

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks and not enough! Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Michaelmontana08]

I might have missed it, how much did you retire with? Without this info, it would be nearly impossible to compare apples to apples. Thx.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We've seen people retire with more and some retire with less, so lesson is good money management principles are fundamental to a successful early retirement. Happy journeys, John and Bev

[@Michaelmontana08]

@@RetirementTravelers ok,lol

[@mski1217]

Thank you for the informative video. Youre right abot the go go years. One of the reason we're planning to retire (God's willing) early. Many early retirees doesn't discuss much about the type of health insurance options as well as the cost, which is the expensive part of early retirement. You mentioned that you and Bev pay $2k a month, is that through private insurance carrier? How about ACA? Thank you.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Private insurance. We both have pre-existing conditions and that doesn't help with pricing. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@mski1217]

​@@RetirementTravelersThank you.

[@TheBryanmauro]

2k a month for two people? Time to move out of the US for retirement health care options. THAT IS A mortgage!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Health care costs have become ridiculous. Even more challenging with pre-existing conditions and world travel. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@ndeckersightseer]

How do you stay close with your kids and grandkids when you live abroad? I have tremendous guilt to even think about it

[@RetirementTravelers]

3 trips back to the US every year, facetime, texting, and actually stay with them when we are in the US. Our time abroad replaces our Florida golf time, not our family time. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Eric-bh7jy]

When a financial advisor thinks they should be paid a % of what I spent my life saving and building without them, I’ll pass. They should get a flat fee consulting fee and that’s it. They don’t pay you back the years you lose money. They still pull their 1% whether your portfolio is up for the year or you lose.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for your feedback. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@charmcrypto824]

Early retirement sounds like the dream, but the planning part is so real. I’ve been thinking about adding crypto into the mix for my long-term strategy, and My Digital Money’s been super helpful for that. Anyone here already using it or something similar for retirement?

[@RetirementTravelers]

Early retirement has been wonderful. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@swtexan6502]

Rule of 55....

[@RetirementTravelers]

That is a great option if you need to use it. Thanks for sharing. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Brockdorf]

You have earned income, its a shame your other income is pushing you past free Obamacare. I feel like pensions and IRAs should not count towards Obamacare income limits.

[@RetirementTravelers]

That would be nice. We wish there were more retirement friendly tax policies. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@purebride8600]

I hate traveling 🤣

[@RetirementTravelers]

Sorry to hear. John and Bev

[@JR-eq6jz]

55 seems pretty normal age to me. Not early.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Actually, the average for men in the US is 65 and women in 63. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@stevepmo]

retired at 62,,, cant afford the life you have.. no pension now medicare, supplement, car ins,, house ins... are keeping me from doing anything 2000 a month is my retirement

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. John and Bev

[@hannathehappynomad]

First 4 mins sound more like advertisement.

[@RetirementTravelers]

ok

[@eugeneteo9664]

financial adviser is there to snake you into buying their product & never there to help you.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Sorry to hear you have had bad experiences. We had a couple at the beginning of our search that weren't good, but fortunately we found a good one. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/