The Unspoken Fear Behind the Dream
Have you ever fantasized about retiring early? No more rush-hour commutes, no endless meetings, no sacrificing your time for someone else’s bottom line. Just you—living life on your terms. But behind that dream often lies a quieter, deeper question:
“What if I never get to really enjoy my life?”
That fear is real. We see it all the time. People are so focused on saving for “someday” that they forget about today. Others race toward early retirement as an escape—only to find themselves lost once they get there. No structure, no purpose, no joy. Just time… and confusion about how to fill it.
And then some never get around to planning at all—only to realize too late that time, not money, is the scarcest resource.
What Would Your JOYful Life Actually Look Like?
Now imagine a different path. One where every financial decision you make is rooted in what brings you joy. Where “retirement” isn’t an endpoint—it’s an evolving lifestyle that supports your purpose.
Maybe that does mean retiring early to travel, volunteer, or spend more time with family.
Maybe it means transitioning to part-time work or launching a passion project.
Or maybe, like me, it means never retiring at all—because your work fuels you, connects you, and still brings you joy.
The point is: it’s your version of a JOYful life. But you can’t reach it without clarity and a plan.
Build a Life You Don’t Need a Vacation From
That’s where we come in.
At Mitlin Financial, we believe financial planning isn’t just about accumulating wealth—it’s about unlocking the life you actually want to live. We help you:
- Discover your “why”—the core values and dreams that drive your decisions.
- Design a personalized plan that aligns your money with your meaning.
- Prepare for both opportunity and uncertainty, so you can navigate life with confidence.
And if you do dream of retiring early, we’ll show you what it takes—with real numbers, real scenarios, and a plan that grows with you. For example, as we showed in the book, starting to save $1,000 a year (increasing by $200 per year) starting at 20 (and stopping at 45!) can grow to over $2 million by retirement. Starting at the age of 45 will require you to put significantly more away each year, and you might have less than half that—even with more money invested. That’s the power of time and intention! Feel free to explore the full chart here.
But if retirement isn’t your vision? That’s more than okay. That’s powerful to know—because now you can plan a life you won’t want to walk away from.
Retirement isn’t the goal. Joy is.
Your version of it. On your terms. With the financial clarity to make it real.
What did you do today that brought you joy?®
If that question feels hard to answer, it may be time to create a plan that makes the answer easier—and more frequent.
It would be our privilege to discuss your future and how to plan for a life of purpose, meaning, and JOY!
Please feel free to schedule a 30-minute Zoom Meeting to see how we can assist.
