Want to pay WAY less for health insurance in early retirement? This follow-up to my previous very popular video (link below in watch next) shows how smart retirees legally slash ACA premiums by strategically managing their income. You'll learn how MAGI impacts subsidies, and see real scenarios using Healthcare.gov. Don’t overpay for healthcare—plan smarter and keep more of your money!

Here is a link to the youtube version of this podcast so you can see the actual demos using the ACA estimator tool on healthcare.gov: https://youtu.be/NXEaYYjQKdI

And here is the link to the youtube video this episode was a follow up to (or listen to my podcast titled "The $12,900 Health Insurance Loophole for Early Retirees!" : https://youtu.be/lxdNnUpdZ-Y

📊 Resources:

• ACA Cost Estimator to run it for yourself: https://www.healthcare.gov/see-plans/#/ 2025
• Federal Poverty Level Guidelines: https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/dd73d4f00d8a819d10b2fdb70d254f7b/detailed-guidelines-2025.pdf

❤️ Like, Subscribe, Follow, Leave a Review or Comment and Share if this episode helped you!

DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational purposes only and is based upon my personal experience and research. Before making any major retirement decisions, please consult with qualified financial, tax, investment and legal professionals.

#earlyretirement #retireearly #healthinsurance #retirementplanning #financialplanning

Is working longer really worth it?

In this episode, I break down 3 retirement stats and insights that could completely change the way you think about work, wealth, and health in retirement. If you're planning for early retirement, these numbers might just shift your whole retirement strategy.

Here's what you'll learn:

• Why 63.9 years is a critical number for your retirement health

• How the average person works 90,000 hours in their lifetime and reclaiming some of that time

• What research says about retirees who never spend their savings

If you're in your 40s, 50s, or early 60s, and you're serious about retirement planning, this video is for you.

👇 Comment Below: What would you do if work became optional tomorrow?

📊 Resources Mentioned: • [World Health Organization (WHO) – Healthy Life Expectancy (HALE) at Birth] (https://data.who.int/countries/840) • [• National Bureau Of Economic Research - Consumption and Saving After Retirement](https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w29826/w29826.pdf) • [Institute for Fiscal Studies Report](https://ifs.org.uk/sites/default/files/output_url_files/BN236.pdf)

❤️ Like, Subscribe, and Share if this helped! 🎧 Listen on the go: *Early Retirement Roadmap Podcast* Available wherever you get your podcasts!

📘 Join us: [Facebook Page](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573959929092)

🌐 Visit: [mikeupland.com](https://mikeupland.com/)

☕ Support: [Buy me a coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/mikeupland.com)

Are you wondering why it feels like everyone else is retiring early — and you're not? In this episode of Early Retirement Roadmap, we uncover the real reasons people delay early retirement, even when they have enough saved. Learn how to avoid the "one more year syndrome," stop chasing unrealistic retirement numbers, and discover 5 proven strategies to retire sooner than you think.

If you want to know how much you really need to retire, how to build financial confidence, and how to create a realistic retirement plan, this episode is for you.

We cover the average 401(k) balance by age, how much guaranteed income like Social Security can help, why stress-testing your retirement plan matters, and how redefining retirement could be your key to freedom.

🔔 If you found this episode helpful, please follow or subscribe & leave a review, or support me with a cup of coffee here.

Episodes to listen to mentioned in this episode:

🎙️Episode 3, How Much Do You REALLY Need to Retire

🎙️Episode 6, The One Retirement Mistake that Could RUIN YOU

🎥 When you’re not on the go, check out my Early Retirement Roadmap YouTube channel for more insights and inspiration.

🌐 Visit mikeupland.com – Connect with me & explore retirement resources including all my videos and blog articles.

What if you could save over $12,000 a year on healthcare—just by choosing the right account to withdraw from to fund your retirement? In this episode, I (early retiree and tax-planning nerd) break down the smartest way to structure your income before age 65 to maximize your ACA subsidy. You’ll learn why your taxable brokerage account might be your biggest retirement superpower, how MAGI works, and how to avoid the dreaded “coverage gap” in non-Medicaid expansion states. Perfect for anyone eyeing early retirement with a sharp eye on healthcare costs.

🔔 If you found this episode helpful, please follow or subscribe & leave a review, or support me with a cup of coffee here.

🎥 When you’re not on the go, check out my Early Retirement Roadmap YouTube channel for more insights and inspiration.

🌐 Visit mikeupland.com – Connect with me & explore retirement resources including all my videos and blog articles.

If you’re planning for retirement — or already enjoying your golden years — this episode is a must-listen. Dive into the five most common financial regrets retirees face, drawing from personal experience, hard-earned lessons, and recent data.

From not saving early enough to underestimating healthcare costs, I break down how you can sidestep these pitfalls and build a retirement that’s not just financially sound, but fulfilling.

Stick around for the final regret — it's one even savvy retirees often miss.

🔔 If you found this episode helpful, please follow or subscribe & leave a review, or support me with a cup of coffee here.

🎥 When you’re not on the go, check out Mike’s Early Retirement Roadmap YouTube channel for more insights and inspiration. And for my real life stories and experience in early retirement, check out my Youtube channel Early Retired & Real.

🌐 Visit MikeUpland.com – Connect with Mike & explore retirement resources

You’ve worked hard, saved diligently, and now retirement is here! But nobody warns you about the six major things that disappear the moment you leave the workforce. If you’re not prepared, these changes can hit harder than expected—but the good news? You can replace them with something even better!

In this episode of Early Retirement Roadmap, I’ll break down: ✅ The six things that vanish when you retire—and why they matter 🏆 ✅ How to rediscover purpose and avoid feeling lost 💡 ✅ Why having structure & routine in retirement is crucial 📅 ✅ How to replace career achievements with new personal goals 🏅 ✅ The surprising impact of losing your work identity—and how to rebuild it 🎭 ✅ How to maintain social connections when your work network disappears 👥

I’ll also share my personal experience transitioning from my 30-year career to early retirement and the lessons I learned along the way!

🔔 If you found this helpful, please subscribe & leave a review, or support me with a cup of coffee here.

🎥 When you’re not on the go, check out Mike’s Early Retirement Roadmap YouTube channel for more insights and inspiration. And for my real life stories and experience in early retirement, check out my Youtube channel Early Retired & Real.

🌐 Visit MikeUpland.com – Connect with Mike & explore retirement resources

🚀 Retirement isn’t the end—it’s a new beginning. Let’s make it amazing!

Planning for early retirement in 2025? Before you hand in your notice, this episode of Early Retirement Roadmap is your essential guide to navigating the biggest risks facing early retirees this year.

In it, I break down three critical threats — sequence of returns risk, rising inflation, and high market valuations, yes, even with the market downturn due to the Trump tariffs — and I share practical strategies to protect your retirement portfolio. From building cash reserves to using TIPS bonds and dividend-paying ETFs, you'll learn how to retire with confidence even during market volatility.

Whether you're part of the FIRE movement or just ready to leave your 9–5, this episode will help you build a plan to retire early AND STAY retired.

What You’ll Learn:

• How a market downturn at the wrong time can destroy your retirement plans

• Why inflation silently eats away at your wealth over time

• Key investing metrics like the CAPE ratio and Buffett Indicator

• How to create a resilient early retirement strategy that lasts decades

🔔 If you found this episode helpful, please follow or subscribe & leave a review, or support me with a cup of coffee here.

🎥 When you’re not on the go, check out Mike’s Early Retirement Roadmap YouTube channel for more insights and inspiration. And for my real life stories and experience in early retirement, check out my Youtube channel Early Retired & Real.

🌐 Visit MikeUpland.com – Connect with Mike & explore retirement resources

Thinking about early retirement or already living it? This episode is your wake-up call — and your roadmap.

In this powerful and personal episode of The Early Retirement Roadmap, I talk about the retirement truths no one warns you about. Discover the real challenges behind the dream — from unexpected loneliness and identity loss to the surprising truth about pre-retirees' expectations vs. reality per a recent study by MassMutual (Mass Mutual).

You’ll learn:

• Why retirement feels unstructured or even empty for many

• The #1 activity most retirees do daily (hint: it's not what they planned)

• How to prepare emotionally, socially, and mentally — not just financially

• The 3 characteristics of thriving retirees

• Mike’s candid and honest sharing of his own retirement experiences

If you’re searching for early retirement advice, wondering how to build purpose after leaving work, or asking what makes a meaningful retirement, this episode is for you.

🔔 If you found this helpful, please subscribe & leave a review, or support me with a cup of coffee here.

🎥 When you’re not on the go, check out Mike’s Early Retirement Roadmap YouTube channel for more insights and inspiration. And for my real life stories and experience in early retirement, check out my Youtube channel Early Retired & Real.

🌐 Visit MikeUpland.com – Connect with Mike & explore retirement resources.