The Journey Begins: How Our Retirement Plan Took Shape in Real Life

Retirement Planning & Lifestyle – Thursday Series

Welcome to our Thursday blog series where we share the ins and outs of Retirement Planning & Lifestyle—a topic near and dear to us. Of all the areas we’ll explore, this one may be our favorite. We’ve truly enjoyed the journey, and there’s so much pride and fulfillment in getting to this point.

Today, we’re kicking things off by looking back at how our retirement planning began—not with a perfect strategy, but with small, consistent steps and valuable lessons along the way.

Humble Beginnings

Our journey started back in 1990 when Mr. and Mrs. Retirement-55 first met as 20-year-olds, juggling college classes and part-time jobs. It was during this time that Mr. Retirement-55 was fortunate to land a position with access to a 401(k) plan—complete with a company match. Though the contributions were modest, this marked the very first step in our retirement savings journey.

As we moved into full-time careers, we made a point to pay ourselves first, consistently contributing to our 401(k)s. Along the way, we also saved for our wedding (1993) and our first home. We weren’t maxing out our contributions, but we built the discipline to save, invest, and plan ahead. Mutual funds became a tool for our emergency fund, and we began to envision the long-term potential of these efforts.

A Hard Lesson: The 2008 Crash

Leading up to the 2008 financial crisis, our 401(k)s were growing steadily. We began to believe that retiring early could be a real possibility—until everything changed.

In early 2009, during the depths of the crash, our portfolio was nearly wiped out. Mr. Retirement’s major mistake? Moving 100% of his 401(k) into company stock just as it was trending downward. That stock ultimately dropped 89% from its peak.

It was a tough pill to swallow, but a powerful learning moment. We held onto a portion of the company stock and used the rest to build a diversified portfolio, setting the stage for recovery.

The Rebuild & Renewed Focus

By 2013, the rebound was in full swing. Our company stock had recovered 283% from its post-crash low, and our overall retirement portfolio was up 28% from its pre-crash high. That’s when things really started to click.

We were 43 years old—and we set a bold goal: Retire by 55.

From that point forward, we focused hard on:

• Increasing savings in both retirement and taxable accounts
• Managing a budget (with plenty of learning along the way)
• Raising our family and prioritizing quality education

The Road Ahead

This is where the true journey began. Retirement planning became more than a goal—it became a mindset. Every Thursday, we’ll continue sharing stories, lessons, and strategies we’ve used to get here and what we’re still learning along the way.

Whether you’re just starting or fine-tuning your own path, we’re here to walk it with you.

Let’s build the retirement you’ve dreamed of—together.