As I am entering my mid-50’s this year, I have started to seriously look at my exit strategy from work – hopefully sooner than later.  Yes, the pull of retirement is a strong one, and honestly, I’m tired of working.

I’ve tried to do the “right thing” during my working career (now entering its 4^th decade) – keeping my debt down, saving the maximum in my employer-sponsored retirement plans, putting aside an emergency fund, and saving for my kids’ college tuitions.  I’ve always felt that if anyone is going to look out for “number on”, it’s going to have to be me.  Social Security may (or may not) be there when I’m ready, and in any case, it was not designed to replace all of my working income (no matter what anyone tells you).

So that means I have to invest my money in stocks, bonds, and other tradable securities.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve had a good run.  Overall, my returns over the past 35+ years have been slow and steady, but recently, the markets have had a few hiccups.

The “dot com” bubble of the early 2000’s. 

The housing crisis in 2007-2008.

The pandemic of 2020-present.

Now, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict is playing havoc with my savings and investments.  It’s gotten so that I don’t want to look at my portfolio anymore (especially with these almost routine 2-3% market swings).

So, was all of my fiscal responsibility worth it – especially when I feel powerless to do anything while global events and economic policy attack my nest egg?

I’ll still say “yes”, as I consider myself lucky to have taken the steps I did early on in my working life.  While my retirement portfolio may have seen some big fluctuations, I’m still hoping that in the remaining years I have left to toil for someone else’s rewards, the pendulum will swing back into positive territory for my investments.  Believe me, I’m getting out of the rat race ASAP, but until I hit my “magic number” (the amount saved that I don’t think I’ll ever run out of money in my retirement years), the working life continues.

Come on 7% annual returns.  Baby needs new shoes!