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Find out if you're ready to retire before your Full Retirement Age (FRA) with our quick quiz.
By
Donna Fuscaldo
published
20 February 2026
in Features
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Signup + An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletterRetiring at 62 is the dream of many Americans, marking the earliest chance to start collecting Social Security benefits. While there’s a three-year gap before Medicare eligibility begins, the trade-off is often worth it: many find themselves healthy enough to truly enjoy their newfound freedom and check off those long-awaited bucket list items.
The average retirement age in America is 62, according to a MassMutual survey. Whether that transition is a choice or a necessity — driven by layoffs, health issues, or caregiving responsibilities — one reality remains: retiring at 62 requires a substantial nest egg to go the distance.
How much? $1.26 million, according to a 2025 study by Northwestern Mutual. That could be less or more depending on your current lifestyle and how you plan to live once you retire.
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Sign upBut retiring at 62 isn't only about dollars and cents. You also have to be emotionally ready to exit the workforce. You'll have a lot of free time on your hands, and without an idea of what you want to do with that newfound freedom, retirement can be downright depressing.
Still feeling undeterred about retiring at 62? Take our quiz and see if you are ready to join the majority of Americans who traded the commute for the golf clubs once they reached this age.
Building a dream retirement shouldn’t feel like a second job. Subscribe to our free newsletter, Retirement Tips.
More on Retirement, from the Kiplinger team:
- Want To Retire at 62? See if You Can Answer These Seven Questions
- Should You Retire Now or Work Five More Years?
- 9 Medicare Changes to Watch in 2026
- QUIZ: What Type Of Retirement Spender Are You?
Donna FuscaldoSocial Links NavigationRetirement Writer, Kiplinger.comDonna Fuscaldo is the retirement writer at Kiplinger.com. A writer and editor focused on retirement savings, planning, travel and lifestyle, Donna brings over two decades of experience working with publications including AARP, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Investopedia and HerMoney.
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