Early retirement, as a concept, means different things to different people. Therefore, the first step on the road to your early retirement is to be clear about what it will look like, starting with:

• Timing: when do you want to retire? 

• Lifestyle: what do you plan to do? Think travel, hobbies, daily activities, etc.

With an understanding of what retirement means to you, you can begin the process of charting a course to achieve it. 

Develop a roadmap to early retirement:

1. Assess your current financial position

Conduct an audit of your income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. Look at where your money is going and identify areas where you can cut back on unnecessary spending. This financial health assessment will help you determine how much money you need to live on weekly, monthly, and yearly. It will form the basis of how much you’ll need to accumulate before you can retire. This is important because, under normal circumstances, you won’t have access to your superannuation savings until you reach your retirement age, as determined by government regulations. 

2. Chart your journey

Having ascertained your retirement goals and current financial position, consider other points such as potential investment returns, tax, inflation, and how much to put aside to build a sufficient nest egg. 

As your financial adviser, we can help you develop a comprehensive financial plan tailored specifically for you, identifying clear financial milestones and outlining a roadmap for reaching them. 

Over time, as goals evolve and circumstances change, we can help you tweak your plan, so you stay on track to achieve your early retirement goal.

3. Address your spending

A crucial step in the journey to early retirement is minimising unnecessary spending. Since you’ve already evaluated your spending habits, you’ve identified areas where you can cut back on spending without sacrificing your quality of life.

Be mindful of the difference between needs and wants, remembering that every dollar saved can be invested towards your early retirement. 

When thinking about a purchase, ask yourself if the item is more important than the freedom of retiring young – keep your eyes on the end goal!

4. Seek out diversification

Whether through real estate, stocks, or other investments that generate passive income, a well-diversified portfolio will better support your retirement lifestyle during periods of economic fluctuation.

As you’ll still be obliged to submit an annual tax return when developing an investment portfolio, opportunities to legally reduce your tax should also be considered.

As your financial adviser, we can assist you in identifying the most appropriate investment vehicles for you and, as your retirement approaches, arrange an income stream that ensures your retirement is adequately funded.

Attaining any financial goal requires discipline. Coach yourself to be mindful of your current spending plan, remembering that with the right roadmap and financial know-how, you can make your dream of early retirement come true.