My wife and I set retirement countdown for ages 59 and 60. Our spreadsheet says we're ready

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The average age of retirement in the U.S. is 65 for men and 63 for women, according to the Center for Retirement Research (1). Of course, some hope to retire earlier, but doing so requires saving and investing aggressively throughout your career to ensure you’re financially prepared.

Retirement is also a major milestone. Even people who have planned carefully, prepared diligently and appear ready on paper can feel nervous about taking the leap.

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Take Angela and Matt, for example. The couple set a goal of retiring early and even created countdown timers on their phones to track the days and hours until retirement. Angela plans to retire at 59 and Matt at 60.

They maintain a spreadsheet tracking their investments, and by every measure, it shows they’ll definitely be ready when they reach those milestone ages. That day is about a year away. Still, they’re nervous about whether they’ll really be prepared when the big moment comes.

So, how can Angela and Matt determine whether they’re ready to hand in their notice when the countdown reaches zero?

Make sure your portfolio will last

One reason Angela and Matt are hesitant to pull the trigger is that they’re worried that what works on paper may not work in real life. Sequence of returns risk is a big reason why.

Sequence of returns (3) risk refers to the danger that poor investment performance early in retirement can have an outsized impact when you’re drawing income from your portfolio.

For example, if stock prices are down, you’ll need to sell more shares to generate the same amount of income. That reduces your holdings more quickly and makes it harder to benefit from future market gains. Over time, this can significantly increase the risk of running out of money.

There are approaches to limit this risk. D’Andrea recommends the bucket strategy.

“I would build a bucket strategy with three goals in mind – guaranteed income, capital preservation, and growth,” he said. “There’s peace of mind knowing that you have enough income to cover your day-to-day expenses with guaranteed sources, a bucket to comfortably grow assets, and a long-term growth bucket to continue to build.”

Create a source of passive income

One big concern for retirees is making sure their savings can last as long as needed. Retirement planning isn’t just about figuring out how much you’ve saved — it’s also about creating income streams that can continue working for you after you leave the workforce.

A passive income source can help reduce the pressure of withdrawing from your portfolio every month, especially when markets are struggling.

Real estate has historically been one of the go-to assets for those looking for steady income. Rental payments can provide consistent cash flow, and because rents often adjust over time, they may help retirees keep pace with inflation.

Still, buying a rental property isn’t always as passive as it sounds. Being responsible for repairs, vacancies and tenant relationships can feel like another career — exactly when you’re hoping to slow down.

The good news? Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived let you own real estate without the burden of mortgages or managing tenants. And you can get started with as little as $100.

Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived lets you invest in shares of rental properties across the country.

To get started, simply browse through their selection of vetted properties, each picked for their potential appreciation and income generation.

Arrived distributes any rental income generated by properties to investors monthly, allowing you to potentially set up a passive income stream without the extra work that comes with being a landlord of your own rental property.

The best part? For a limited time, when you open an account and add $1,000 or more, Arrived will credit your account with a 1% match.

Invest in safe-haven assets

Even the best retirement plan can be tested when markets take an unexpected turn. If most of your savings are invested in stocks, a major downturn could force you to sell investments while they’re worth less — locking in losses that may be difficult to recover from.

Holding assets that don’t move in perfect sync with stocks can help reduce the impact of market swings.

Gold, for example, has long been viewed as a safe-haven asset because it doesn’t rely on corporate earnings or stock market performance. During periods of inflation, geopolitical uncertainty or market stress, investors often turn to precious metals to protect their wealth.

While gold can also fluctuate in the short term, it has historically maintained its appeal as a long-term wealth preservation tool. In fact, gold prices have increased by 111% over the past five years (4).

Today, you can combine the recession-resistant properties of the precious metal with the tax advantages of an IRA by opening a gold IRA with the help of Priority Gold.

And with Priority Gold’s platinum package, you can even get free account setup and insured shipping and storage for up to five years. Plus, you can also roll over your existing IRA or 401(k) into a precious metals IRA with Priority Gold — tax and penalty-free.

The best part? You can download Priority Gold’s wealth preservation guide for free and get up to $10,000 in complimentary silver upon making a qualifying purchase. Just keep in mind that gold is typically best used as one part of your portfolio.

Set a clear goal early and keep tabs on it

If early retirement is on your radar, it’s not something you can start planning for just a year or two before your target date.

“You should start looking at your plan at least five to 10 years prior to your expected retirement age,” Domenick D’Andrea (2), founder of DanDarah Wealth Management, told Moneywise.

D’Andrea recommended reviewing your proposed retirement budget, debt obligations, any major expenses you expect during retirement and investment strategies that align with your risk tolerance.

Based on your expected spending and anticipated investment returns, you can determine how large your nest egg needs to be. You’ll also need to factor in expenses such as health insurance premiums, since you won’t qualify for Medicare until age 65, as well as the possibility that you may not claim Social Security right away and may have to live on savings alone.

Angela and Matt’s countdown timers are a good approach because they help keep the couple on track. They know exactly how much time they have left to hit their savings goal, which helps keep them motivated.

Use a budgeting app

A successful retirement isn’t only about how much money you have — it’s about knowing how much you’ll actually need for your personal countdown.

A budgeting app can help you understand your current spending habits and estimate what your monthly retirement income should look like. By tracking where your money goes today, you can identify the lifestyle costs you’ll need to cover tomorrow.

Tools like Monarch Money make it easier to build a budget tailored to your lifestyle, giving you a clearer roadmap for retirement.

Once you link your accounts — including investments and real estate — you will be able to view every transaction through one clean, searchable list.

You can also create custom financial goals — such as saving for retirement — and track your progress, as well as forecast your spending beyond just one month.

What’s more, you can get 50% off your subscription for the first year when you sign up using the code WISE50.

If you’re particularly secure, you can then funnel these savings into your other investment vehicles — whether real estate, gold or stocks.

Consider getting professional help

You may also feel more confident about retiring if a professional confirms you’re ready.

“Retirement is not only a financial decision, but also an emotional one,” D’Andrea said. “I would suggest that you speak with a financial professional with a proper planning process who will assess your overall situation.”

If a spreadsheet showing you have enough money isn’t enough to give you confidence, an advisor who can evaluate the bigger picture may provide the reassurance you need. They can also help guide some of your decisions about which alternative assets, if any, fit well with your investment philosophy.

Find a reliable advisor near you

Retirement planning involves more than picking investments. You also need a strategy for generating income, managing taxes and making sure your savings last.

A financial advisor can help you create a personalized plan that balances growth, income and risk — giving you a clearer path toward retirement.

For those with over $250,000 in savings, platforms like WiserAdvisor can help you find a vetted FINRA/SEC-registered advisor near you for free.

All you have to do is answer a few simple questions about your savings, retirement timeline and overall investment portfolio. From there, WiserAdvisor will review its network and match you with up to three vetted, reputable advisors aligned to your specific needs.

WiserAdvisor does the heavy lifting when vetting financial advisors on its roster. Each advisor is screened based on their years of experience, their SEC/FINRA registration and records, and compensation criteria.

The best part? You can schedule a no-obligation consultation with your matches and see which advisor is the best fit for your long-term goals.

Note: WiserAdvisor is a matching service and does not provide financial advice directly. All matched advisors are third parties and specific financial results are not guaranteed.

Maximize your government benefits

But your investment portfolio is just one half of the puzzle.

Social Security timing can have a major impact on your retirement income. It’s also more reliable, but if you claim too early, your monthly checks may be smaller for life. Delay too long and you risk not getting the full value from the benefits you earned.

Understanding how Social Security works can help you make a decision that maximizes your lifetime benefits.

Trusted organizations like AARP provide tools and insights that can help you fine-tune your Social Security strategy so you’re not leaving money on the table.

Membership perks also go well beyond advice regarding Social Security. Members gain access to a broad suite of cost-saving perks — from healthcare-related discounts on prescriptions and dental services to savings on travel, leisure and insurance products.

— With files from Christy Bieber

My wife and I set retirement countdown for ages 59 and 60. Our spreadsheet says we’re ready — but how do we really know?

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