Why I Started This Blog-RetireBy58
12/26/20253 min read
Over the years, personal finance has evolved from something I barely paid attention to into a passion—largely because of its impact on my family’s future and our life today. What began as knowing nothing about investing evolved into a deeper effort to understand how everyday financial decisions can create long-term stability, flexibility, and peace of mind—especially when raising kids. Through years of consistent saving and disciplined investing, our family learned that major financial progress doesn’t require an outsized income. Instead, it comes from saving consistently, being patient, and making thoughtful choices over time—while still enjoying life along the way.
I started this blog to share practical financial knowledge and, over time, build a space that supports ongoing learning and education. For many of us, retirement planning wasn’t a choice; it became a responsibility by default. Most companies no longer offer traditional pension plans and instead rely on 401(k) programs, shifting the burden of retirement planning directly onto employees. As a result, individuals are expected to manage their own investments—often without a financial background, a strong interest in investing, or any formal education on how these systems work.
I had no prior investment knowledge or interest before my first job that offered retirement benefits in 2013. I was fortunate to learn about 401(k), IRA, and investment accounts through conversations with my kind boss, and later I stumbled upon the bogleheads.org forum where I found tremendous insight into personal finance and investing. I became a frequent reader of the forum and have followed Jack Bogle’s low-cost index fund investment philosophy for my investment accounts. After more than a decade of consistent saving and investing, we reached the Coast FIRE stage, showing that early retirement can be achievable even on a middle-class income. While early retirement in one’s 30s or 40s is possible for a tiny minority, those outcomes are the exception rather than the norm. For most people—particularly families with children, as in my case—retiring in the late 50s is a more realistic and attainable goal when supported by disciplined, long-term investing and financial planning that starts early.
Retiring before traditional retirement age is also more accessible than many realize. Strategies such as the rule of 55, 72(t) rule/SEPP, and Roth conversions allow individuals to access 401(k) and retirement funds earlier—often without penalties prior to 59½—when executed correctly (References 1-3). In addition, a decent taxable account provides flexibility that can make early retirement far more achievable. One of the main challenges for most working professionals is likely that much of their money is tied up in tax-advantaged accounts. One interesting and refreshing idea is that accessing these tax-advantaged funds isn’t as bad as it may seem—even with the 10% early-withdrawal penalty before age 59½—and that contributing to tax-advantaged accounts can still make more sense than using ordinary taxable accounts (Reference 4). Another major hurdle for early retirees is paying for health insurance before 65. While it can be a significant expense, including it in your budget or portfolio withdrawals is key. Thoughtful asset allocation, smart asset location, and strategic withdrawals can help lower your taxable income—and in some cases, qualify you for subsidies to help offset health insurance costs.
Here’s some good news about safe portfolio withdrawal rates: the classic 4% rule has been updated to 4.7% through diversification, according to its inventor, William Bengen. This means retirees can potentially withdraw a bit more each year without putting excessive pressure on their portfolio, providing greater flexibility and peace of mind in retirement planning. One may argue that the 4% rule is based on a 30-year retirement and may not apply to early retirement. However, as Bengen notes, “I think the most important facet people overlook is that the 4 percent rule — or the newer version of the 4.7 percent rule — is the worst-case scenario. It’s really designed for only the most conservative person to use in retirement planning.” In other words, many retirees may be able to safely withdraw more than this conservative benchmark, depending on their individual circumstances and investment strategy.
When I first thought about starting this blog, I considered the domain RetireBy55, inspired by the “Rule of 55,” an IRS provision that allows employees who leave their job for any reason to begin withdrawing funds from their current employer’s retirement plan without penalties starting in the year they turn 55. But that domain name wasn’t available. I chose RetireBy58 instead—a name that still captures the excitement of early retirement while reflecting a timeline that’s more realistic for most working professionals. For many families, retiring in your late 50s is ambitious but achievable with careful planning, consistent saving, and smart investing.
I use this space to reflect on what we’ve accomplished, share the approaches guiding our journey, and pass along practical information that might make your own financial journey feel clearer and more achievable.
References: