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The traditional retirement formula has long been: work for 40 years, save diligently<\/a> and finally enjoy life in your 60s or later. But some millennials are starting to question whether waiting that long is the best approach.<\/p>\n That debate recently came up in a Reddit<\/a> discussion after one person shared that an old friend had taken early withdrawals from a 401(k) to \u201cretire for 2-3 years and then return to the workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n Mini-Retirements Gain Attention <\/p>\n Many commenters argued that what the friend was describing wasn\u2019t retirement at all<\/a>, but a sabbatical or \u201cmini-retirement,\u201d a planned break from work before returning to a career.<\/p>\n Don’t Miss:<\/strong><\/p>\n While some people dismissed the idea as financially risky, others said they understood the appeal. Several pointed to stories of relatives who worked their entire lives only to pass away shortly before retirement.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, I\u2019ve seen more people die shortly before or shortly after retirement age, than I\u2019ve seen people retire and actually get to enjoy it,\u201d one commenter wrote. \u201cTaking a couple of years off while you\u2019re young and healthy, and spending that time with your kids while they\u2019re in their formative years sounds amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNobody\u2019s going to care how hard you worked at your stupid job,\u201d another added.<\/p>\n The concept has also attracted attention outside of social media. Thirty-three-year-old Malaysian finance professional Ali Rosli<\/strong> has taken two mini retirements over the past seven years, according Reuters<\/a>. The first came after years of 80-hour workweeks that resulted in burnout.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought, while having a rest and thinking about my career path, why not take a long trip for two months?\u201d Rosli told the news agency. He funded an overland journey from Beijing through Russia to Europe with his savings, describing it as a \u201ctrip of a lifetime.\u201d<\/p>\n Trending: Retired early but not yet Medicare-eligible? Pivot Health\u2019s short-term medical plans can cover the gap \u2014 ER visits, doctors, labs, and urgent care with coverage starting as soon as tomorrow, limitations apply.<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Taking Time Off Is Less Important Than How You Pay For It <\/p>\n Unlike the person mentioned in the online discussion, Rosli paid for his time away from work using money he had saved and by planning ahead financially<\/a>. After returning from his first extended trip, he ultimately increased his income significantly and later transitioned into independent contracting.<\/p>\n Rosli believes the breaks helped his career, saying they \u201csupercharge your career rather than pull you back.\u201d<\/p>\n Life Strategies Financial Partners<\/strong> founder and CEO Kelly Renner<\/strong> told Reuters there is \u201cno harm in living life this way\u201d for people who have sufficient savings, strong budgeting habits and careers that can accommodate time away from work.<\/p>\n Many Reddit commenters in the discussion reached a similar conclusion. They weren\u2019t necessarily opposed to taking time off. Instead, they were concerned about funding those breaks with retirement accounts, which can trigger taxes, penalties and the loss of years of compound growth.<\/p>\n See Also: One app covers your home, car, pet, and life \u2014 Lemonade\u2019s AI-powered insurance starts at $5\/month and processes claims in seconds. Coverage varies by state.<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n For anyone considering a mini-retirement, speaking with a financial advisor will help clarify the trade-offs. A financial advisor can help you figure out if taking time off is something you can afford and what impact it might have on your retirement plans<\/a> down the road.<\/p>\n As more Millennials look for alternatives to the traditional work-until-65 path, taking a few years off during their careers could become more common. The real question isn\u2019t whether people should take a break, but how they can do it without hurting their long-term financial future.<\/p>\n Read Next: Retirees With $1M+ In Savings Are Rethinking Their Tax Strategy \u2014 Here’s Why Some Are Turning To Specialized Advisors<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market<\/strong> <\/p>\n Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.<\/p>\n Arrived<\/strong><\/p>\n Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100<\/strong><\/a>. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.<\/p>\n Immersed<\/strong><\/p>\n Immersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong> Known for its AR\/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide. Immersed is also developing Visor, a lightweight headset designed specifically for professional productivity, positioning the company at the intersection of remote work, extended reality (XR), and next-generation computing.<\/p>\n Vinovest<\/strong><\/p>\n Fine wine and rare whiskey have historically moved independently of the stock market, making them a compelling alternative asset. Vinovest manages authenticated, insured portfolios of investment-grade wine and whiskey starting at $5,000<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 sourcing, storage, and insurance all handled for you.<\/p>\n EnergyX<\/strong><\/p>\n EnergyX is a clean energy technology company focused on direct lithium extraction and refinery technologies for the lithium-ion battery supply chain.<\/a><\/strong> Its proprietary DLE systems are designed to recover lithium from brine resources more efficiently and with less environmental impact, supporting efforts to expand lithium supply for electric vehicles, grid-scale storage, and other battery applications.<\/p>\n FarmTogether<\/strong><\/p>\n Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 fully managed, with no landlord headaches.<\/p>\n EquityMultiple<\/strong><\/p>\n For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000<\/strong>,<\/a> with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.<\/p>\n Fundrise<\/strong><\/p>\n Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate<\/strong><\/a> and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.<\/p>\n American Hartford Gold<\/strong><\/p>\n American Hartford Gold is a precious metals dealer that helps clients buy physical gold and silver coins and bars, either for direct delivery or within self-directed precious metals IRAs.<\/a><\/strong> The company’s services include gold and silver IRAs, IRA rollovers, and home delivery of bullion, giving investors a way to use tangible metals to diversify portfolios and seek protection against inflation and market volatility.<\/p>\n Mode Mobile<\/strong><\/p>\n Mode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day.<\/a><\/strong> Instead of platforms keeping all the advertising revenue, Mode Mobile shares a portion back with users who engage with content, play games, and scroll on their devices. Named one of Deloitte’s fastest-growing software companies in North America, the company has built a large beta user base and is scaling a model that turns everyday smartphone usage into a potential income stream.<\/p>\n Image: Shutterstock<\/strong><\/p>\n This article Millennials Are Experimenting With Mini-Retirements Instead Of Waiting Until Their 60s. ‘Retire For 2-3 Years And Then Return To The Workforce’<\/a> originally appeared on Benzinga.com<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. 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