Burned out? Laid off? Can’t sit through one more “All Hands” meeting where Todd from Accounting performs a spoken word about synergy? Honey, maybe it’s time to retire early—even if you didn’t plan to.

This week on Queer Money®, we’re spilling the retirement tea 🍵 on a not-so-boring IRS rule with a Star Wars-sounding name: Rule 72(t). This little-known financial lifeline lets you tap your IRA or 401(k) penalty-free before 59½ if you're done-done (emotionally or professionally). Yes, the IRS will Cher slap you with a 10% penalty otherwise—but not with this rule, darling.

We break down the 3 payment options with sass and strategy—from cautious queens to high-rolling honeys—and share how this rule might just be your early retirement Plan B.

If you’re dreaming of sipping espresso in Porto instead of grinding at your desk, listen up. Rule 72(t) could be your official exit plan.

• What is IRS Rule 72(t)? A legit way to take early retirement withdrawals without the IRS penalty. Yes, it’s real. No, it’s not a droid.
• Three Queen-Approved Payment Plans:
• Required Minimum Distribution – For the cautious queens who want to test the waters.
• Fixed Amortization – For the dependable divas who love predictability.
• Fixed Annuitization – For high-rolling honeys who want more moolah now (but no take-backs, babes).
• You still pay taxes (because this isn’t RuPaul’s Tax-Free Fantasy Camp), but no 10% early withdrawal penalty is a big win.
• This rule works best if you’re 50–59½, have a chunk in retirement accounts, and truly need the income.
• WARNING: If you break the rule (even by $1), the IRS will come for you harder than a drag queen chasing a $20 tip. 💅
• Not for everyone – definitely consult your financial advisor or accountant (and maybe educate them in the process 👀).
• Feeling lemon-y about layoffs and burnout? This may be your early retirement lemonata.

• 0:00 - Intro
• 0:43 - The T on Rule 72t
• 2:08 - How Rule 72t works
• 2:30 - The 3 Withdrawl Methods
• 4:52 - Requirements to avoid the 10% penalty
• 5:45 - Who this rule works best for
• 7:29 - Wrap up

• Download it here: queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc

Mentioned in this episode:

💛 Ready to slay your retirement game?

It's time to gather up those long-lost 401(k)s and 403(b)s like the financial Pokémon they are—with PensionBee! 🐝✨ PensionBee helps you find, combine, and invest your old accounts fabulously, with your own personal BeeKeeper guiding you every step of the way. Start building your Happy Gay Retirement—because queens don’t wing it, we plan it. 👑💼

🐝 Consolidate My Retirement Accounts and Save Money with PensionBee

In this episode of Queer Money®, we continue our global search for the best places for LGBTQ+ folks to retire — and this week, we're diving into México lindo. From beach towns to colonial gems, we’re counting down the top 5 gay-friendly cities in Mexico for retirement based on affordability, safety, community, and queer inclusivity.

Find out why cities like Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and San Miguel de Allende made the list, what each has to offer the LGBTQ+ community, and how much it costs to live there comfortably. Whether you want a bustling metropolis or a lakeside haven, Mexico may just be your retirement paradise.

#5: San Miguel de Allende

• Charming, artistic, and walkable colonial town with a growing expat and LGBTQ+ presence.
• Rent for a 2BR averages $1,300/month.
• Queer Money Retirement Rating: 8/10

#4: Guadalajara

• Mexico’s second-largest city with a strong queer scene, great food, and affordable living.
• Rent for a 2BR averages $1,000/month.
• Queer Money Retirement Rating: 8.5/10

#3: Ajijic (Lake Chapala)

• Serene lakeside village with a tight-knit LGBTQ+ community and holistic vibe.
• Rent ranges from $950–$1,200/month.
• Cobblestone streets = strong ankles required!
• Queer Money Retirement Rating: 9/10

#2: Mérida

• Known for its safety, history, and growing queer inclusivity.
• Affordable cost of living and rich Yucatán culture.
• Rent for a 2BR averages $1,000/month.
• Queer Money Retirement Rating: 9/10

#1: Puerto Vallarta

• Mexico’s undisputed gay capital with vibrant nightlife and beachside living.
• Rent for a 2BR starts around $1,200/month, but prices rise in Zona Romántica.
• Queer Money Retirement Rating: 10/10

💬 Let us know what we got right (or wrong), or share your experience living in these cities. DM us on Instagram or leave a comment on YouTube.

• 👉 QueerMoneyPodcast.com/cities

• Download it here: queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc

Mentioned in this episode:

💛 Ready to slay your retirement game?

It's time to gather up those long-lost 401(k)s and 403(b)s like the financial Pokémon they are—with PensionBee! 🐝✨ PensionBee helps you find, combine, and invest your old accounts fabulously, with your own personal BeeKeeper guiding you every step of the way. Start building your Happy Gay Retirement—because queens don’t wing it, we plan it. 👑💼

🐝 Consolidate My Retirement Accounts and Save Money with PensionBee

Let’s be honest—when most folks picture retirement, it’s usually a straight couple named Chad and Karen sipping Chardonnay in Scottsdale. Cute for them. But what about you—still fabulous at 67, maybe rocking a part-time gig at a queer-owned café because your bank account missed the memo that you were done working?

On this week’s Queer Money, we’re ditching the tired, hetero retirement fantasy and giving you the real tea on how queer folks can retire fabulously (and actually afford it). We’re serving up a 5-step no-BS framework to take you from “fabulously stressed” to “financially fierce.”

Whether you’re figuring out your retirement number, learning how to pay your future self first, or just trying to make peace with the word “budget,” we’ve got you. Because your golden years shouldn’t be basic—or broke.

Retirement isn’t one-size-fits-all, especially for our community. So let’s stop trying to live someone else’s dream and start planning for yours. The goal? A future that fits you like your favorite pair of perfectly broken-in jeans. Or leather pants. We don’t judge.

1. Know Your Number 👛 - Guessing doesn’t cut it. Use the Happy Gay Retirement Calculator to figure out how much you need for the life you want.
2. Pay Your Future Self First 💸 - Even $25 a paycheck adds up. Start now so your 65-year-old self can sip cocktails, not stress.
3. Ditch Chad & Karen’s Plan ❌ - You’re not straight. Your retirement shouldn’t be either. Build a plan that fits your life.
4. Lasso Your Accounts 🤠 - Round up those stray 401(k)s. One place. One plan. So much easier to manage.
5. Pick Your Paradise 🏖️ - Palm Springs? Portugal? Start researching now so you can retire where you’ll live your best life.

• 0:00 - Intro
• 2:04 - Step 1 - Know your retirement number
• 4:05 - Step 2 - Pay your future self first
• 6:22 - Step 3 - Skip the straight benchmarks
• 8:21 - Step 4 - Consolidate retirement accounts
• 9:22 - Step 5 - Pick your gay paradise
• 10:30 - Wrap up

• Download it here: queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc

Mentioned in this episode:

💛 Ready to slay your retirement game?

It's time to gather up those long-lost 401(k)s and 403(b)s like the financial Pokémon they are—with PensionBee! 🐝✨ PensionBee helps you find, combine, and invest your old accounts fabulously, with your own personal BeeKeeper guiding you every step of the way. Start building your Happy Gay Retirement—because queens don’t wing it, we plan it. 👑💼

🐝 Consolidate My Retirement Accounts and Save Money with PensionBee