Episodes

  • Are You in the Top 5% of Income-Earners or Net Worth? Ep #253

    Are You in the Top 5% of Income-Earners or Net Worth? Ep #253
    Oct 18 2024
    Ever wondered where you rank financially among Americans? Curious about what it takes to join the top 5% in income or net worth? Every three years, the Fed surveys the finances of American households, tracking assets, debt, and more. One of the things they cover is who landed in the top 5% of both income earned and net worth. In this episode of Best in Wealth, I will share the income that puts you in the top 5% of income earners by age, what lands you in the top 5% of net worth by age, and why none of it matters. Don’t miss it! [bctt tweet="Are you in the top 5% of income-earners or net worth? Learn what it takes in this episode of Best in Wealth! #PersonalFinance #FinancialPlanning #Wealth #WealthManagement " username=""] Outline of This Episode
    • [1:15] Getting into the University of Wisconsin Madison
    • [3:21] The income that puts you in the top 5% of income
    • [11:12] Individual versus household income
    • [12:00] The income that puts you in the top 5% of net worth
    • [17:21] Are you in the top 5% of income or net worth?

    The income that puts you in the top 5% of earned income by age Do you land anywhere in these brackets?
    • 18-29: If you earn $156,732 or more, you are in the top 5%. You are just launching your career and starting to earn an income.
    • 30-39: If you earn $292,927 or more, you are in the top 5%. You are getting more established in your career and perhaps started a business or received a promotion.
    • 40-49: If you earn $404,261 or more, you are in the top 5%. Maybe you continued to receive promotions or your business grew.
    • 50-59: If you earn $598,825 or more, you are in the top 5%. The 50s are your highest potential for earnings years. Maybe you sold your business or became the CEO of a company.
    • 60-69: If you earn $496,139 or more, you are in the top 5%. You may be retired and living on social security and your investments during these years.
    • 70 or older: If you earn $350,215 or more, you are in the top 5%. Most people in their 70s probably are not working any longer and that income is being derived from Social Security, pensions, and investments.

    What does it take to be in the top 5% of households? If you earn $499,000 or more, at any age, you are in the top 5% of all income earners. [bctt tweet="What income puts you in the top 5% of earned income by age? I hash out the numbers in episode 253 of Best in Wealth! #wealth #retirement #investing" username=""] The income that puts you in the top 5% of net worth What does the top 5% of net worth look like in each age group?
    • 18-29: $415,700 or higher
    • 30-39: $1,104,100 or higher
    • 40-49: $2,500,000 or higher
    • 50-59: $5,001,600 or higher
    • 60-69: $6,684,220 or higher
    • 70 or older: $5,860,400 or higher

    Your net worth is far more important than your income. You can make all of the money in the world but if you do not save anything, your net worth will never increase. It will stay zero. Secondly, you can earn a lot less than the top 5% of income earners and still save enough to be in the top 5% of net worth. Are you in the top 5% of income or net worth? It is okay if you do not fall into any of these categories—they can be very skewed. Numerous factors impact these numbers. Secondly, these numbers don’t matter. If you have the right retirement plan for you, you will have the retirement of your dreams regardless of whether or not you land in the top 5%. [bctt tweet="Are you in the top 5% of income or net worth? Does it matter? Let’s hash it out in this episode of
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    20 mins
  • Demystifying Financial Advisors, Ep #252

    Demystifying Financial Advisors, Ep #252
    Oct 4 2024
    Did you know that anyone can say they are a financial advisor? They may not be licensed or experienced. So how do you know who to trust? In this episode of Best in Wealth, I will break down the three types of people who put “financial advisor” on their business cards, what the letters after a financial advisor's name mean, and how a fee-only financial advisor is compensated for their services. Knowing all of these things will help you determine what type of advisor is right for you to help you achieve a successful retirement. [bctt tweet="Did you know that anyone can say they’re a financial advisor? They may not be licensed or experienced. So how do you know who to trust? Find out in episode 252 of Best in Wealth! #Retirement #Investing #PersonalFinance " username=""] Outline of This Episode
    • [1:08] High expectations do not leave room for satisfactory outcomes
    • [6:17] The 3 types of people who put “financial advisor” on their business cards
    • [19:14] How fee-only financial advisors charge for their services
    • [22:34] What do the letters after a financial advisor's name mean?
    • [24:17] Work with someone you can build a connection with

    The 3 types of financial advisors Three different types of people typically put “financial advisor” on their business cards:
    1. Insurance Sales Representative: They are required to be licensed to discuss or sell insurance. Their main goal is to sell you life insurance (typically whole life insurance that can be invested and earn dividends and be used for retirement). Is someone who can only sell life insurance acting in your best interest all of the time? How could they be? They make a commission on the insurance product that they sell you.
    2. Registered Representative/Broker-Dealer: They take an exam to be “registered” to sell securities, mutual funds, life insurance policies, etc. They are paid by commission, much like insurance representatives. Or they will recommend a mutual fund where they get a percentage (annual 12B1 fees and more). They are also not fiduciaries.
    3. Investment Advisor Representative: They must take a securities exam that also covers laws required to act as a fiduciary. An investment advisor is prohibited from collecting commissions. The fees they collect come directly from the client. They can call themselves fee-only representatives.

    I am a fee-only Investment Advisor Representative. I do not co-mingle with insurance sales representatives or registered representatives. It removes any conflict of interest. I am not beholden to any company. I must act in the best interest of my clients. Most financial advisors are dually registered. They may have an insurance or broker license. Listen to find out what questions you have to ask an advisor to find out if they are strictly an Investment Advisor Representative. [bctt tweet="In this episode of Best in Wealth, I’ll break down the three types of people who put “financial advisor” on their business cards and why it matters. #FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning #WealthManagement" username=""] How fee-only financial advisors charge for their services There are four primary ways a fee-only advisor might get paid:
    • Hourly: You hire a financial advisor to create a financial or retirement plan and you pay them for the hours it takes to do the job. It is a short-term relationship.
    • One-time planning: A one-time plan may cost you $5,000–$7,000, which you pay once. They deliver the plan and you write them a check. It is a short-term relationship.
    • Monthly retainers: The advisor might charge a couple hundred dollars a month, depending on the complexity of your plan. This may be great for someone who needs...
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    27 mins
  • Does the Outcome of the Presidential Election Impact My Investments? Ep #251

    Does the Outcome of the Presidential Election Impact My Investments? Ep #251
    Sep 20 2024
    Do we care who wins the election? Does it actually impact our investments? The issues at stake matter to each of us for different reasons. Most Democrats think things will be better if a Democrat is voted into office. Most Republicans likely feel that things will fare better with a Republican in office. But does who wins the election actually matter when it comes to your investments? I will break it down in this episode of Best in Wealth. [bctt tweet="Does the outcome of the presidential election impact your investments? I share the surprising answer in episode #251 of Best in Wealth! #Investing #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement " username=""] Outline of This Episode
    • [1:08] September is never a good month in the stock market
    • [4:02] Stock market statistics during each presidency
    • [15:32] What do we do with this information?
    • [20:17] Can a President influence the stock market?

    Stock market statistics during each presidency for the last 100 years We have had 17 presidents since 1926. Nine of the presidents were red, eight were blue. How did the stock market fare during their presidencies?
    • Calvin Coolidge (Republican) was President from 1923-1926: If you invested $1 the day he became president, that dollar would’ve turned into $2.33.
    • Herbert Hoover (Republican) was president from 1929-1933, during the Great Recession: Inflation was -0.7%. The annual GDP was negative 7.5%. Your $1 would have dwindled to $0.28.
    • Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democrat) was president from 1933-1945: Democrats controlled the Senate and the House. Unemployment was 25.6%. The average GDP was 9.4%. Your $1 doubled twice and then some—becoming $4.61.
    • Harry Truman (Democrat) was President from 1945-1953: Max unemployment was 7.9%. He inherited the end of Hoover’s recession. Annualized inflation was 5.4%. The average GDP was 1.3%. Your $1 turned into $3.10.
    • Dwight Eisenhower (Republican) was President from 1953–1961. Max unemployment was 7.5%. The average inflation was 1.4%. The average GDP was 3%. There were three different recessions during his term in office. Your $1 turned into $3.05.
    • John F. Kennedy (Democrat) was President from 1961-1963. Democrats controlled the House and Senate. Max unemployment was 7.1%. The average inflation was 1.2%. The average GDP was 4.4%. Your $1 turned into $1.39.
    • Linden B. Johnson (Democrat) was President from 1963-1969. Democrats controlled the House and Senate. Max unemployment was 5.7%. The average inflation was 2.8%. The average GDP was 5.3%. Your $1 turned into $1.66.
    • Richard Nixon (Republican) was President from 1969-1974: Democrats controlled the House and Senate. Max unemployment was 6.1%. The average inflation was 6%. The average GDP was 2.8%. Your $1 stayed $1.
    • Gerald Ford (Republican) was President from 1974-1977: Democrats controlled the House and Senate. Max unemployment was 9%. The average inflation was 6.5%. The average GDP was 2.6%. There was a huge recession when he first started. Your $1 turned into $1.51.
    • James (Jimmy) Carter (Democrat) was president from 1977-1981: Democrats controlled the House and Senate. Maximum unemployment was 7.8%. The average inflation was 10.2%. The average GDP was 3.3%. Your $1 turned into $1.55.
    • Ronald Reagan (Republican) was president from 1981-1989: Democrats controlled the House and the Senate was mixed. Max unemployment was 10.8%. The average inflation was 4.2%. The average GDP was 3.5%. Your $1 turned into $2.89.
    • George H. W. Bush (Republican) was President from 1989-1993:...
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    23 mins
  • 6 Lessons from Fritz Gilbert’s 6 Years of Retirement, Ep #250

    6 Lessons from Fritz Gilbert’s 6 Years of Retirement, Ep #250
    Aug 30 2024
    I frequently talk about what you should do to prepare for retirement and how to handle the years leading to retirement. But I rarely talk about what to do during retirement because I have not experienced it. [bctt tweet="Retirement will be different than you expect. How? Learn more in episode #250 of Best in Wealth! #wealth #retirement #investing #PersonalFinance #FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning #WealthManagement" username="wellensscott"] So when I came across Fritz Gilbert’s article, “6 Lessons from 6 Years of Retirement,” I knew I had to talk about it. In the article, Fritz talks about the surprising things he has learned six years into retirement. I will cover the fascinating lessons in this episode of Best in Wealth. Outline of This Episode
    • [1:06] Thank you for being loyal listeners!
    • [1:36] What should you do during retirement?
    • [4:52] Lesson #1: Retirement is complex
    • [7:47] Lesson #2: Retirement changes with time
    • [10:45] Lesson #3: Retirement will be different than you expect
    • [14:17] Lesson #4: Your priorities will change throughout retirement
    • [17:45] Lesson #5: Your mindset matters a lot
    • [18:58] Lesson #6: Retirement can be the best years of your life

    Lesson #1: Retirement is complex When you retire, you have far fewer external influences than during your working years. Money issues are top-of-mind during the early phase of retirement. It is scary moving from collecting a paycheck for 30+ years to starting to live off of your nest egg. But Fritz believes that true value comes by figuring out all of the non-financial issues in retirement. [bctt tweet="Your mindset matters a lot in retirement. Find out why in episode #250 of Best in Wealth! #wealth #retirement #investing #PersonalFinance #FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning #WealthManagement" username="wellensscott"] Lesson #2: Retirement changes with time Your experience will change as you move from the honeymoon stage to more advanced stages. The changes will last for years and will be different than what you expect. Your retirement plan will change. Your new reality requires a new approach. Embracing the challenge is part of the fun. Why not enjoy the new life? You get to experiment as you face the changes. Lesson #3: Retirement will be different than you expect I spend a lot of time talking about retirement goals with my clients. Whether it is traveling,...
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    24 mins
  • The 3 Big Rules of Investing, Ep #249

    The 3 Big Rules of Investing, Ep #249
    Aug 2 2024
    I believe there are three rules that every family steward should follow when it comes to investing. In theory, these rules are “easy” to follow—but living by them is not. Secondly, these rules will not surprise you. That does not make them any less important. So in this episode of Best in Wealth, I will share what each rule is and you will discover why you have to follow them. [bctt tweet="📣 What are my 3 BIGGEST rules for investing? Find out in episode #249 of Best in Wealth! #investing #PersonalFinance #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement" username=""] Outline of This Episode
    • [1:06] The 3 rules for dating my daughters
    • [5:31] Rule #1: Do NOT try to time the market
    • [11:12] Rule #2: Do NOT focus on the headlines
    • [13:53] Rule #3: Do NOT chase past performance

    Rule #1: Do NOT try to time the market Whether it is a bad day in the stock market or upcoming elections, it can be easy to let your emotions get to you and think, “Maybe I should get out of the market right now.” It is easy to sell everything and get your money out. However, it is far harder to decide when to put the money back in. No one ever thinks about the second half of the equation. Do you have an investing philosophy? What is your system? When will you get your money back in the market? The S&P 500 has been rolling. It was up 15% last quarter. Small Value was negative for the year. Wouldn’t it be tempting to take the money from your small value and move it into the S&P 500? But Small Value has done far better this quarter. You would have lost out on that money. John Bogle—The Founder of Vanguard—spent over 70 years on Wall Street. He’s famously known for saying, “I’ve never found anyone who can successfully time the market.” There is a reason for that. [bctt tweet="🚨 Do NOT try to time the market. Why? Check out episode #249 of Best in Wealth for the answer. #investing #PersonalFinance #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement" username=""] Rule #2: Do NOT focus on the headlines It is too easy to become enamored with popular stocks that get media attention. For example, the Magnificent Seven has risen in popularity (Google, Apple, Facebook, etc.) for the last 10 years. They have done amazingly well in 2023 and 2024. However, once companies hit the “top 10,” their returns tend to decline. Just because you read a headline about a company does not mean it will perform better. What you have read about is already priced into the market. You must separate what you are seeing on the news from your investment. Rule #3: Do NOT chase past performance You might be inclined to choose investments based on past returns. You expect top-ranked funds to continue to deliver their best performance. We see this time and time again with new investors. They do not know where to start. The only information they have in front of them is past performance. So they choose what has had the best performance recently. But research shows that most funds that are ranked in the top 25% don’t remain in the top 25% over the next five years. Only about 1-in-5 mutual funds stayed in the top-performing group. The lesson? A fund’s past performance offers limited insight into its future returns. As family stewards, how do we shift our focus? What do we want to do instead? Listen to hear my thoughts. [bctt tweet="📣 One of my biggest rules for investing: Do NOT chase past performance. Learn why in episode #249 of Best in Wealth! #investing #PersonalFinance #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement" username=""] Connect With Scott Wellens
    • Schedule a discovery call with Scott
    • Send a message to Scott
    • ...
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    21 mins
  • Buying a New Car: What to Learn from My Experience, Ep #248

    Buying a New Car: What to Learn from My Experience, Ep #248
    Jul 19 2024
    When we decided my wife was going to get a new vehicle, I knew we needed to test drive the vehicle she wanted: A Jeep. She had never driven a Jeep before. She had never experienced what it was like driving something with the doors off. So I knew she needed to get behind the wheel to see how it felt. Let me tell you, our Jeep-buying experience was a wild ride! In this episode of Best in Wealth, I will share our experience, and how I ultimately purchased my wife her dream Jeep at the best price possible. Don’t miss it! [bctt tweet="My wife and I just bought a brand new Jeep. I detail how I negotiated the best price in episode #248 of Best in Wealth! #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement #Jeep" username=""] Outline of This Episode
    • [1:11] Growing our health alongside our wealth
    • [2:46] Walking into the dealership
    • [9:17] The moment everything went wrong
    • [12:23] Asking for the best price
    • [17:17] Purchasing my wife’s Jeep

    Walking into the dealership When we walked into the dealership, we test-drove a Jeep with the salesman. He immediately pushed us to sit down, crunch some numbers, and make a deal happen. But I knew we would not be making an emotional purchase that day, and I immediately let him know we were not going to move quickly. My wife told him that if negotiation was necessary, all communication had to go through me. The next day, this salesman started bombarding my wife with text messages, emails, and phone calls. Not surprising. She responded and said she wanted to test-drive a hybrid with the doors and top off. We set up a day and time. We walked to the Jeep and he showed us how he had taken the doors off. But he had not taken the top off because it was a “Two-person job.” We took it for a spin with the doors off and it was really cool. It was a great ride. My wife decided she wanted a Jeep. But, yet again, he had her test drive a Jeep that wasn’t a hybrid. My wife had a list of non-negotiable specifications that she wanted from the Jeep, including it being a hybrid. We knew that a hybrid wasn’t on their lot. This salesman had done enough for us that I knew I would buy the Jeep through him if he could match the best price that I could find. That’s when everything went wrong. [bctt tweet="We just bought my wife a brand new Jeep. Why’d we buy new? How’d we get the best price possible? I share my #negotiation secrets in this episode of Best in Wealth! #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement #Jeep" username=""] The ridiculous ask He brought us inside to talk to his sales manager. The sales manager told us that finding my wife’s perfect Jeep was like finding a needle in a haystack. So he asked us to commit that we would buy the Jeep from them before he located it! He would only negotiate at that point. You should never commit to anything before you negotiate and land on a price. It was completely backward, so we walked out the door. Buying my wife’s Jeep I immediately went home, sat down at the computer, and found five different Jeeps fitting my wife’s specifications within five minutes. I emailed all five dealerships asking them to email me their best price on the Jeep. Every dealership called me right away. One said, “We do not negotiate over the phone, you have to come in.” I crossed them off my list. The other four dealerships gave me their price within 12 hours. But I did not know if what I was quoted was the best deal. So I took the three best prices and sent them all a text saying, “Congratulations. You made it to the top three with your initial offers. If you would like to sweeten the deal, I’m giving you one final chance. I’m buying a Jeep in the next 48 hours and buying it from the person who has the best price.” One said, “That was my best price,” but the other two sweetened the deal. They took more money off. One...
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    22 mins
  • How Much Should You Spend on Vacations? Ep #247

    How Much Should You Spend on Vacations? Ep #247
    Jul 5 2024
    I am often asked how much a family should spend on vacations. While that is entirely personal, most experts recommend that 5–10% of your net income can be spent on vacations. Many factors may change this number. Maybe you have a large family or your kids are into expensive sports. You might not have that income to spend on a lavish vacation. But to spend any amount on a vacation, you need to budget. You cannot go into debt. So how do I do it? I will share a great strategy in this episode of Best in Wealth. [bctt tweet="✈️ How much should you spend on vacations? How do you budget for them? Learn more in this episode of Best in Wealth! #PersonalFinance #VacationPlanning #WealthManagement" username=""] Outline of This Episode
    • [1:04] We are heading on vacation to Europe!
    • [2:38] How much you should spend on vacation
    • [6:48] How we budget for vacations
    • [8:20] Be aware of luxury creep
    • [10:02] Be aware of entitlement creep
    • [11:33] Do not be a vacation scrooge

    How to budget for a vacation You cannot go into debt to purchase a vacation. I have done it. I had a great time. But when I got home, the guilt and regret sunk in. That is why I firmly believe you need to have a spending plan. We set a monthly budget. Then, we have a separate spreadsheet that lists all of our non-monthly line items. It covers things like Christmas gifts, oil changes, car insurance, and vacations. All of these items are added up. If the number is $12,000, we divide it by 12, and save that money in our “escrow savings account.” Every time a non-standard monthly expense comes up, we use that money to pay for it. Those things will not disrupt our budget. [bctt tweet="🗺️ How do you budget for a vacation? I share my family’s strategy in episode #247 of Best in Wealth! #PersonalFinance #VacationPlanning #WealthManagement" username=""] Be aware of luxury creep If you are going to Disney, there are a lot of different hotels to choose from in Orlando, right? You can stay at the Holiday Inn and Suites or choose from numerous luxurious hotels and resorts. Do not let yourself get lured in. Budget within your means. I spent a lot of time budgeting for our trip to Europe and I have saved for a couple of years. We are working within our budget. When it is all said and done, I will be proud. I am getting to spend time with my family within the budget I have set. Be aware of entitlement creep Do not let entitlement justify overspending on vacation. You are grinding every day at your job. You are exhausted being a parent. You deserve a vacation. But do not spend too much because you “deserve” it. It will eat you up inside. It is not about keeping up with the Joneses. Just because your neighbor stayed at a five-star hotel and was waited on hand and foot does not mean you should. Do not allow yourself to be talked into something you cannot afford. You know who you are. You are listening to a financial podcast. You are a budgeter. But you cannot be afraid to take a vacation. A vacation is investing in your family, investing in improving your mental health, and investing in lasting memories. Remember, vacations with your loved ones are an appreciating asset. [bctt tweet="⭐ Don’t let entitlement justify overspending on vacation. You deserve a vacation. But let’s keep it within budget, shall we? Learn more in episode #247 of Best in Wealth! #PersonalFinance #VacationPlanning #WealthManagement" username=""] Connect With Scott Wellens
    • Schedule a discovery call with Scott
    • Send a message to Scott
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    16 mins
  • 4 Questions to Help You Decide When to Retire, Ep #246

    4 Questions to Help You Decide When to Retire, Ep #246
    Jun 7 2024
    There are a lot of huge decisions you have to make in life. What career are you going to choose? Will you get married? Will you have kids? Will you buy a home? There are many more. But there are not many bigger than this question: When are you going to retire? Maybe that is your only huge decision left. Have you really thought about it yet? Because if you are going to retire early, we have to plan for it. In this episode of Best in Wealth, I cover four huge questions you have to consider to help you make one of the biggest decisions of your life. [bctt tweet="🚨 In this episode of Best in Wealth, I ask 4 questions that will help you decide when to #retire. Check it out! #Retirement #RetirementPlanning #FinancialPlanning" username=""] Outline of This Episode
    • [1:02] What big choices have you made in your life?
    • [2:33] What the 2024 Retirement Confidence Survey tells us
    • [9:48] 4 things to consider when contemplating early retirement
    • [11:04] Question #1: Why do you want to retire early?
    • [12:34] Question #2: What is your plan for retirement income?
    • [15:00] Question #3: Do you have a plan for health insurance?
    • [18:00] Question #4: When are you going to collect Social Security?

    What the 2024 Retirement Confidence Survey tells us Deciding when you are going to retire is an enormous decision to make. Americans are not mandated to retire at a certain age. Certain milestones may make the decision easier.
    • Age 62: This is when you are first eligible for social security (though you will take a big hit on benefits)
    • Age 65: This used to be the full retirement age (and is still the age when you are eligible for Medicare)
    • Age 67: This is when you can collect your full retirement benefit from Social Security
    • Age 70: If you wait until 70 to retire, you can collect a larger social security benefit

    A recent survey suggests that most people want to retire in their mid-60s. In reality, many retire earlier. It may be due to downsizing, deteriorating health, etc. According to the 2024 Retirement Confidence Survey, the median expected retirement age is 65. Only 28% of people expect to retire at this age (up 23% from last year). Most retire closer to age 62. 52% of current workers are expecting to retire gradually. 36% are expecting to retire all at once. Yet 74% of current retirees had a full stop to work and only 18% engaged in a gradual transition. These are all things to consider when deciding what age to retire. [bctt tweet="📣 What does the 2024 Retirement Confidence Survey tell us about when and how people are actually retiring? Get the details in this episode of Best in Wealth. #Retirement #RetirementPlanning #FinancialPlanning " username=""] Why people like to retire earlier If you had to choose now, when would you retire? Many people want to retire earlier than the traditional mid-60s. Why? People like to retire earlier to enjoy time while they are healthy and physically active. They can travel everywhere they have been waiting to go. They can play pickleball. As a financial advisor, we play a huge role in helping clients consider the ramifications of their choice (based on both financial and lifestyle factors). When we are helping our clients contemplate early retirement, there are many things to consider. When we onboard clients, we have meetings about investment planning, retirement income strategies, tax strategies for retirement, and insurance and estate planning. That’s before someone is officially signed as a new client. 4 things to consider when contemplating early retirement Here are four things we consider that may help you make this decision if you are doing this on your own:
    1. ...
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    23 mins