
Do you want to retire early? Many people do — but they’re not always financially prepared. If you’re thinking of taking early retirement, start preparing for it — as early as you can.
To afford early retirement, you’ve got to address at least two key financial concerns. First, by definition, you’ll have more years of retirement to pay for than people who retire later. And second, by retiring early, you’re sacrificing the opportunity to contribute to your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan; also, you need earned income to contribute to an IRA.