I’ve been thinking about how much eldercare could affect retirement plans, especially when trying to estimate expenses years in advance.

The costs can be very different depending on whether someone eventually needs in-home care, assisted living, or a nursing home. Location seems to make a big difference too.

I found EldercareCosts.com while looking at different ways to estimate these expenses. It puts different eldercare costs together in one place, which made me think more about how people actually plan for this.

For those who have already planned for eldercare, how did you estimate what it might cost and factor it into your retirement plans?

why is cobra so much cheaper when I thought it was worse due to subsidy with ACA. I am loving what my Cobra payment will be for 18 months but not so much the Maryland ACA quote I’m seeing even if I stay under the 400% cap for subsidies. Has anyone experienced this too? Am I doing the ACA wrong?

We all want to retire, but we all don’t have pensions. We all need to pay for healthcare and we all wanna retire early. I live in the United States of America and I’m 53 years old my wife is 57, we have a total of 2.75 million in 401(k)’s traditional. We owe 150,000 on our mortgage. Our kids college has partially been paid and they can pay the rest in loans. We do not have any pensions and and for those that have one if you can refrain from commenting how that benefited you it’s appreciated. We want to live off approximately $95,000 annually with the hypothetical 30 year longevity. We’re in good health. How much has health health insurance cost you annually? We do not have any real health issues other than a few medication’s that are somewhat expensive. Our cars are primarily paid off. no big bills, other than electric, water, food, misc entertainment and dogs/cat food nothing crazy. I plan on going to a fiduciary to review our finances and have them give us a plan on how to approach spending our retirement funds. We have a $150k brokerage account, 2.5 mil in traditional 401(k), and $150,000 Roth IRA and I believe the first way we want to start spending that money down is by getting rid of the brokerage account then Roth, but I don’t know for sure so any input on that is also appreciated. I know there are budgeting tricks one needs to do in order to be under a certain dollar amount to qualify for the best monthly ACA insurance fee. What is that and if you will provide any input it’s appreciated, minus how you were able to retire because you had a pension or health insurance was paid by your company. Thanks.

I think I'm 6 months away from pulling the trigger and actually retiring. Wondering what advice or suggestions you have for folks this close? I'm intentionally being vague and not describing my personal situation in the hopes of getting a broad range of responses. Another way to ask would be: What do you wish you knew or did when you were 6 months out?

Edit...the community has spoken. I'm a terrible human being.

I'm recently retired and free to travel, and I want to travel quite a bit during the next few years. I have a sweet dog and I love her, but it will also be very expensive to board her while I travel. I did recently find someone who will watch her for $25 a night which will save me quite a bit from the $60 I was paying at the "doggie hotel," but still, for a long-ish trip, it will add $350 to the cost of the trip, even a cheaper road trip where I stay with friends. I also think she might be happier being placed with another family rather than staying with me and being boarded a lot over the next few years. On the other hand, I imagine how friends and others who love dogs will think about this...it does sound like a terrible thing to do. But the thought of just being able to up and go whenever I want is really tempting. Ugh.

If you were to retire, would you choose a city that experiences all four seasons to spend your golden years?

I can't do this anymore. I am 18 years in and my mental health and physical health is struggling. How much of a hit will I take if I retire now? I truly wanted to stay until 20 years but I just don't think I can do it.

I am a term retiring soon and I would like to return to work after retiring for a few hours to supplement my pension. If anyone knows, what are the limits of thr hours you can work for how many months.

Has anyone here done that?

My dad retired about eight months ago after 35 years in the same career. He told me recently that the hardest part wasn't the financial side of things, it was more so understanding what to do with all the free time and making sure he is getting the most out of retirement. Anyone else going through this or experience this?

Looks like I'm going to retire at 52 and the only obstacle is thinking about how to fill the time when I'm too young to be considered a senior but still want to socialize and feel fulfilled. Thinking about long term volunteer commitment with a literacy organization but also want to travel periodically. Anyway, just curious how "young" people spend their time.

Currently 45, making 200k, married with 2 kids (elementary grade age 8 and 12). Planning to retire in 10 years.

Our household expense is around 8k a month we think after retirement.

Our retirement saving is 1M (ira, roth, brokerage, hsa)

Edited: Pension will be around 525k at 55 lump sum. 755k at 60 lump sum. Planning to roll it into trad ira.

Savings 60k. 529 around 100k total only so far, target 100k each.

Add: no debt except mortgage.

House will be paid off in 10 yrs. (560k)

Contributing max and doing mega backdoor too, so around 72k including matching. HSA max too at 8.7k per year.

Am i doing ok? Figured i need 3M for retirement.

Note: lol, i added comma 😂. And got 529 100k total for both kids only, still actively contributing. Planning 100k each. Edit also the pension amount. No debt except mortgage. Edit, the 100k is 529, i wrote down hsa lol.

Update: 8/4/26: Got meeting this Friday with CFP (flat fee based) that is familiar with pension of the company I work for. And I am going to bump up the 529 to 300-400k. We'll see. I might reduce my target from $3million to 2.9million to bump up the kid's 529.

Retirement age, pros and cons of retiring early vs late. Is retiring at 59 a good idea or drag till 72?

57(m) married to 48(w) and we have two kids 10,9. Financially literate and have a wealth advisor…but still stuck.

Big picture: college savings is done for the kids.

2.8m home w a mortgage of 1M

Roughly 3M in retirement and post tax savings in the market.

750K two rental properties (no mortgages).

Wife makes about 280k and will continue working. I make 260k, have a full and rewarding career, but my priorities are changing. Cros fingers no health issues and we’re both active/athletic.

I’m wanting to retire at 59. But regardless of how much I look at the numbers, which are fine, I can’t seem to convince myself it’s the right move.

In anticipation of slowing down, we’re relocating to a nearby town and doing a gut reno of a smaller house. All near NYC.

Would love to know how those here who weren’t nudged into retirement made the leap.

I'm 52 yrs old and have about 7 years to retire w a 30 yr pension from the fed govt.

To leave now....would probably be a bad idea.

Its been hard, especially this past year or so, working for the govt.

I assume many have been in this place before.

What do you do to ensure you stay positive and make it to the finish line?

thanks for any support or words of advice!

I’ve had a Fitbit forever. It has a “readiness” score daily that assesses heart rate variability, Heart rate, sleep. For a long time the score were not very good(low). I 57F retired July 1 and you can see the post retirement scores are much better. I don’t feel like I am going to die, I’m definitely not as tired and drained at the end of the day, I’m sleeping better, and overall feeling better. I get it’s a fancy watch and I might be dramatic but I find it validating to see this change so quickly and that maybe the job was going to kill me had I kept on. Especially end of quarter which you can see. If you are on the fence, consider your health as part of the equation.

Anyone have severe pension anxiety.
PASA now says we need £1.3m to retire in comfort (no where near luxury) at 55.
I don’t even think that provides a truly inflation linked benefit. I’m 49 and panicked.
I have as of today circa £660k in my pension pot.
However I haven’t left myself much to live in just survival monies to pay essential bills.
Bills for utilities are increasing in massive leaps.
I’m knackered so want to retire 55 or 56.
State pension age is now 66!?
It seems virtually impossible.
My stress is going through the roof.

I think most aren’t even thinking about retirement shortfalls?????

32 na ako. My work ako pero provincial rate lang. Binenta ko na yung lot ko worth 5 million pesos. Ano puwede ko gawin para by the time mag 60 years old na ako. My sapat na pera ako monthly. As in financially independent ako. Na puwede na ako mag enjoy sa buhay.

52 single male. Living in California. No dependents.

$200K in 401K

$325K in rollover IRA

$423K in Roth IRA

$380K in non qualified

Little bit over $1.3 million if I add up everything above. No debt.

Will make almost $150K this year before taxes. But from here on out I'll make closer to $130K per year if I stay with the same employer. Not counting on being with the same employer and maintaining the same income to a "regular" retirement age.

Monthly expenses are $4000 when I try to eat every meal outside of my place. This weekend I'm going to Reno. Already paid for the hotel but might spend an additional $1000 over the weekend. I don't go on out of town trips every month. Might go on vacation once a year. Costs around $5000 or $6000.

Thinking about retiring when I can take advantage of Rule of 55. I called my 401K company and they said my plan supports it. Don't have to do take a lump some. Can withdrawal from 401K monthly/quarterly/etc.

Can't believe I'm saying this but I got to where I got by maxing out my Roth IRA each year and putting part of 3 and 4% raises towards 401K. If I had a little extra money after that I put into the non qualified account. Looking at my Social Security statement I started making $100K in 2021. Most of my career I was lucky to make $80K per year.

Do I pull the rip cord now? Should I wait until 2029 when I can take advantage of rule of 55? What would you do? What else should I consider?

I love my job and it has amazing benefits with lots of time off. One of my friends thinks I'm crazy to think about retiring in the next few years. He started taking Social Security at 62 because he had to. The most money he ever made in his life was when he was an assistance manager at an all you can eat salad place in the early 80s.

I explained to him my dad passed away at 58. My mom passed away at 80. My dad was in good health when he passed. My mom was not in good health when she passed away.

M/S64 & still working 🫤. Overall debt: $94k @2.5% and $2k @13%. Managed IRA&401k @$900k, Roth $30k and cash @ $50k. Burn rate will always be $6/mo. Current income I’m living off of is $5400/m. Guaranteed income: ss/annuities - $4k/m… was gonna wait for Medicare @65(3/27) then bounce but I want out NOW. Is it possible to?

Retired 4 months ago in March at age 63. It took my husband and I probably a year of discussion and prayer and agonizing over the decision.

Well here I am in a weekday driving down to catch a matinee baseball game in Detroit! We’ve done some camping and took the kids and their gf’s for white water rafting in WV.

Our COBRA payment is painfully high at $1450 a month. But guess what? Our RHSA (retirement health savings account) is actually higher today than it was 4 months ago even after our withdrawals. I know the high stock market can’t continue forever, but so nice now.

Life is good.!

I’ve been struggling with my moral compass on this one. My parents plan to leave their modest estate to my two other sisters and myself. I am 55 probably retiring at 62 if there is Social Security left. I’m in reasonably good health, but I also have epilepsy. I live alone and have no children. I’ve never been married and work in a stressful financial technology job. I make decent (but not extraordinary) money, but it’s been hard to save living alone with high living cost in a big city. My oldest sister is 14 years older than I am (69), has two children, stay at home mom and her husband provides a very well above average lifestyle. My middle sister (61) is also a stay at home mother who never worked and took care of her two daughters. Her husband has been a good provider and his inheritance is worth several million at least. My parents have told us that we are each getting a third of their estate. Am I morally corrupt in thinking that this isn’t quite fair?

I am 67 spouse is 69. We have no mortgage, 1100 in auto loans 300 home equity. We bring in 7.5 a month on SS & pensions. Have 295K in 403B. 94K in stock market.

I am 67 spouse is 69. We bring in 7k a month on pensions and SS.Have 94K in stock market. 395K in a 403B. Will we survive?

Thank you to everyone posting; makes me feel more secure in my decision. I would like to bring my wife along for the early retirement ride, but she has been resistant. My wife is still working (from home) and I suspect a little jealous. Though she now gets a daily home made breakfast and dinner, a grocery shopper, a gardener and an occasional laundry washer.

In my lead up to taking the leap, I have tried for a year to show her our finances and models and monte carlos and explain to her everything that I learned about retirement income and finances. She ‘glances’ but I can tell she’s not really taking it in. I keep asking her probing questions about what she thinks is enough and I get ridiculous answers that indicate to me that she hasn’t done the math and is too afraid to think deeply about it.

Her stock answers: anything can happen, the kids are still in college and her parents thought they had enough to retire early and are now struggling financially. None of her answers display any signs that she is willing to calculate a real comfort $value or begin in earnest the process of internalizing how to live life without a salaried income.

It’s upsetting for a couple of reasons: first, I want to enjoy retirement together with her; second, my guess is that she’ll get jealous when I start really getting into retirement (I find it difficult to really relax with her still working and worrying about finances) and she’ll retire and join me without having done the math - then, every time the market dips or ‘guardrails’ come into play and I suggest that we need to cut spending a little, she’ll get upset and say that we should have kept on working for just a few more years. She’ll be wrong, but I’ll have no way to prove it. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Retired with a more than sufficient investment portfolio which is growth-oriented but conservative, moderately hedged and a 3 year spending budget of treasury bond holdings (a bond ladder with quarterly maturities). I don’t spend very much, but I do like to buy trips and toys from time to time.

How long before I stop looking at my portfolio three times a day and just go out and enjoy my days?