As the Retirement Plan Live case study continues, Roger Whitney helps Henry and Lucy move from dreaming to feasibility, organizing the real financial resources available to support an early retirement in their 40s. This episode centers on trade-offs, confidence, and the reality of giving up earned income decades early. Roger and the couple walk through income assumptions, assets, and risk tolerance before closing with listener advice, a Smart Sprint, and words for the year.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

• (00:00) This show is dedicated to helping you not just survive retirement, but to have the confidence and comfort to lean in and rock retirement.
• (00:27) Roger introduces Week 3 of the Retirement Plan Live case study with Henry and Lucy.
• (02:15) What are Henry and Lucy giving up to retire early?

RETIREMENT PLAN LIVE

• (05:00) Roger asks Henry and Lucy if they pick a word of the year.
• (06:05) Henry and Lucy reflect on why retiring even one year earlier feels uncomfortable without proof.
• (10:50) Review of Social Security assumptions and why it’s excluded from their base plan.
• (14:13) Confirmation that the plan assumes no earned income after retirement.
• (20:40) Overview of after-tax assets, cash buckets, and sinking funds.
• (26:20) Review of retirement accounts, savings rates, and long-term strategy.
• (31:30) Home equity, college savings, and inheritance assumptions.
• (33:40) Clarifying the goal for the after-tax bridge bucket.

ADVICE FROM A RETIREE

• (38:39) Listener Bonnie shares an alternative approach using sabbaticals and flexible work.
• (41:10) Roger reflects on optionality, skill relevance, and maintaining professional networks.

SMART SPRINT

• (42:30) Roger encourages listeners to organize or update their net worth statement.

WORD FOR THE YEAR

• (43:40) Listener Alex shares his word for the year: Healing.
• (45:10) Listener Valerie shares her word for the year: Minimize.

REFERENCES

• Sign up for our next webinar!
• Submit a Question for Roger
• Sign up for The Noodle
• The Retirement Answer Man
  

As the Retirement Plan Live case study continues, Roger Whitney helps Henry and Lucy articulate what they want their FIRE retirement to actually look like—starting with values, dreaming without constraint, and then translating that vision into concrete goals. Along the way, Roger shares wisdom from older retirees about purpose, productivity, and flexibility, invites listeners to reflect on their own “magic,” and closes with a Smart Sprint and listener-submitted words for the year.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

• (00:00) This show is dedicated to helping you not just survive retirement, but to have the confidence and clarity to lean in and rock it.
• (00:23) Roger previews today’s focus: Henry and Lucy’s retirement goals, advice from seasoned retirees, a Smart Sprint, and listener words for the year.
• (01:00) Roger explains why retirement planning should begin with dreaming big—starting with “everything” before testing feasibility.

RETIREMENT PLAN LIVE

• (03:25) Henry and Lucy walk through their core values and how those values shape their vision for retirement.
• (05:55) Roger reviews and discusses Lucy’s top ten values.
• (09:29) Henry talks about his top values.
• (11:40) Roger reflects on whether retiring early means “burying” one’s gifts, and considers how purpose and contribution can take many forms beyond traditional work.
• (13:44) Roger talks through Henry and Lucy’s goals for retirement and their budget for a great base life.
• (19:47) Lucy breaks down her thought process on her great base life budget.
• (23:00) Henry weighs in with his thoughts on their great base life.
• (24:05) They review discretionary goals such as travel, a camper van, hobbies, and future family commitments.
• (27:55) Lucy and Henry talk about aspirational wishes.
• (35:00) Lucy talks about how they react during uncertain times.

WISDOM FROM RETIREES FURTHER ALONG

• (41:41) Listener Mike shares why he chose “FILE” (Financially Independent, Living Early) instead of full FIRE, emphasizing purpose and reduced stress.
• (45:10) Listener Renee offers perspective on flexibility, one spouse stepping away from work, and how lower stress improved family life.

SMART SPRINT

• (48:08) Roger encourages listeners to separately write down their own “magic” retirement goals—without self-editing—then share and discuss them with their partner.

WORD FOR THE YEAR

• (50:07) Roger shares listener words for the year.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

• (53:17) Roger previews next week’s episode, where Henry and Lucy’s assets and resources will be evaluated to see what is feasible.

REFERENCES

• Sign up for our next webinar!
• Submit a Question for Roger
• Sign up for The Noodle
• The Retirement Answer Man
  
  

As the new year begins, Roger Whitney launches a new Retirement Plan Live case study, introducing Henry and Lucy, a couple in their mid-40s pursuing Financial Independence and Retire Early (FIRE). Roger revisits the 4% rule as a planning heuristic, explains when it can be helpful, and sets the stage for a live community analysis later this month. The episode closes with a Smart Sprint focused on updating your net worth statement and a listener’s word for 2026.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

• (00:00) This show is dedicated to helping you not just survive retirement, but to have the confidence to lean in and rock it.
• (00:30) Roger introduces a new Retirement Plan Live case study series and previews the upcoming live community meetup on January 29.

RETIREMENT TOOLKIT

• (01:58) Roger revisits the 4% rule, explaining what it is, where it came from, and why it is often misunderstood.
• (04:55) Roger talks about the 25x rule commonly used in the FIRE community.
• (06:38) He discusses the drawbacks of using these heuristics and who they are best used for.
• (11:05) Roger shares how the 4% rule can help overfunded retirees move beyond scarcity and spend more intentionally.
• (13:55) A breakdown of FIRE- Financial Independence, Retire Early.

RETIREMENT PLAN LIVE

• (17:41) Roger introduces Henry and Lucy.
• (20:01) They share how they discovered FIRE and what it means to them.
• (23:10) Lucy reflects on spending habits, saving, and budgeting
• (25:30) Henry talks about the start of their relationship.
• (28:12) Henry and Lucy discuss how saving impacted their lifestyle.
• (31:20) They discuss what drives their desire to retire early.
• (32:55) Roger reflects on his first impression of the FIRE Movement.
• (34:15) What are the obstacles of retiring so early?
• (38:45) Roger talks about the difference between a complicated problem and a complex problem.
• (40:35) Roger asks if they think about landmines that could pop up with such a long retirement.
• (43:57) Roger invites listeners further along the retirement path to share perspective and advice for their 40-something selves.

SMART SPRINT

• (45:20) Roger encourages listeners to update their end-of-year net worth statement and identify trends for the year ahead.

WORD OF THE YEAR

• (47:31) Listener Lindsay shares her word for 2026: Listen, and Roger reflects on the value of deep listening.

REFERENCES

• Submit a Question for Roger
• Sign up for The Noodle
• The Retirement Answer Man
• Livewithroger.com
• The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy- Thomas J Stanley, Ph.D.