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Find out if you're ready to retire early with our quick quiz.
By
Donna Fuscaldo
published
27 February 2026
in Features
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Signup + An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletterAh, to retire at 55. The freedom, the spare time — it’s what so many of us aspire to. But retiring at the ripe age of 55 takes serious cash, especially if you have no intention of working another day in your life.
Most people planning to retire at age 65 think they need over $1 million to live comfortably; add an extra ten years to that timeline, and you can see why retiring at 55 gets dicey.
Let’s not forget the bridge years. Retiring early at 55 means a full decade of self-funding your health care (until Medicare kicks in at 65) and waiting at least seven years for Social Security to kick in.
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Sign upStill, for millions, the trade-off is worth every penny. It’s exactly why the FIRE movement exists. Whether you’re Lean FIRE or Fat FIRE (this quiz can tell you), those who actually succeed go into it with a rock-solid plan for their money, their health and their time.
Think you’re ready to join the movement and walk away at 55? Take our short quiz to find out.
Subscribe to the Retirement Tips newsletter, your guide to planning and enjoying a financially secure and richly rewarding retirement.
More on Retirement, from the Kiplinger team:
- Divorce Can Feel Amazing. I See the Freedom in My Best Friend’s Late-Life Divorce — Even if He's Still Finding It.
- Should You Retire Now or Work Five More Years?
- Is 2026 Your Year To Retire?
- Dave Ramsey Tells Us the Biggest Retirement Mistake You Can Make
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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