afterFI/RE Life after FI/RE
Common Questions · Leaving work

Life after financial independence

Do people wish they had retired sooner?

Some regret extra years at work. Other departures are delayed by identity and attachment even when the financial goal has been reached.

Extra reassurance can cost valued time

Looking back, he regretted additional years spent making sure they were ready. Retirement made room for travel, friends, grandchildren and spontaneous trips.

“I lost valuable time”

ESI Retiree 43 Sep 2022 · Year 5 Read original by ESI Retiree 43 (opens in a new tab)

The hesitation may be about more than money

Guilt and fear of losing skills made leaving difficult. A second startup attempt recreated overwork and burnout before he stopped it.

“grinding for a goal I already reached”

u/h2m3m Aug 2024 · At departure Read original by u/h2m3m (opens in a new tab)

Waiting can become the larger regret

During an indefinite break, he worried more about having stayed too long than about leaving too soon.

“I’m more worried about waiting too long”

ESI Millionaire 417 May 2024 Interview snapshot · published 2024-09 Read original by ESI Millionaire 417 (opens in a new tab)

Different experiences, drawn from the people in our collection. Summaries are ours; quotations are theirs.

Explore all 38 questions

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