8 Things I WISH I KNEW Before I Retired (**3 Years After**)

After 3 years of retirement, here are 8 things (positive and negative) that I wish I knew before I retired.

Hi, my name is Duane. After a career in the music industry, I retired early at 59 in 2021 with just over $500K. Soon thereafter, the stock market (and my investment portfolio) tanked. This is my early retirement journey.

***I AM NOT A LICENSED FINANCIAL ADVISOR OR RETIREMENT PLANNER. THIS CHANNEL IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY THAT MAY INTEREST YOU. PLEASE CHECK WITH A PROFESSIONAL BEFORE ACTING ON ANY OF THE OPINIONS STATED ON THIS CHANNEL OR IN THE COMMENT SECTION OF THIS CHANNEL***

If you received some good info from this video, feel free to buy me a coffee!

[raye]

Love isolation! Worked 28 years as an airline employee. No more stress no more listening to BS😊

[RetiringToFranceOnAShoestring]

My HUGE surprise is that I have no clue what day of the week it is - only two months retired - unless I look at the calendar on my phone. And how fast each day blows by. It's fantastic to be absorbed in non-work stuff and not waiting for the day to stop along. And my sleep stats for this time have been going sky high in the good direction. I am TOTALLY fine on modest retirement. I have zero desire to put in any effort, except for volunteer things, towards a "job" ever again. So I won't!

Also - love the new hand art!

[idahoron]

I retired from my 35 year career at the age of 55. Everything was paid for. The house, cars Everything.
I wanted to go into a field of part-time work others don't think about. I became a cemetery worker on a part-time basis. I work on my own schedule. I help people who need someone to help them through some of the hardest times of their lives.
And I will receive a pension when I'm done that will pay my until I pass. I'm loving the early retirement.

[candeffect]

I would be defined as an extreme introvert.
I remind myself occasionally that no one was born to focus on my needs then I go on my happy financially independent way.

[kennetholsen]

You can make more money, but you can’t make more time. Like the song says, “ enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think”.

[Samtasticlife]

Duane, I found the 1st year without an income is when I really began to trust myself.... That I would be okay and I'd done a good job preparing for retirement; an awakening of sorts. Loved it!

[prairiemark]

The biggest issue I faced in retirement was the problem of housing. I owned my houses when I was working and we had a nice trailer home that was on concrete and had four large lots around it. It had 3 bedrooms and 2 baths and nice kitchen. We had ample parking and taxes and upkeep were low in our small town. When we retired we moved to be closer to family and grand children. We sold our trailer house and lots for $54, 000. But in our new location, even a two bedroom home cost $290, 000 and a 3 bedroom 380-450k. Even rents are $1650/month for 2 br duplex pads. We are still OK, but it takes a much bigger percentage of our income for housing.

[boiledeggs]

I was shocked with how much I have learned since retiring. All because I have lots more time. Whether its more on nutrition, cooking, mechanics, plumbing, the list goes on and on. Sure lots of it is from the University of YouTube, but there is a vast amount of information out there. Even you Duane, your a source of information!

[dorinatudisco]

Congrats on 3 years! 🎉 Can’t wait until I’m retired. Not too long from now.

[robertscheinost]

I retired 18 1/2 years ago at 54 1/2 years old. Two things surprised me. (1: I had much more money coming in each month than when I was working. 2): After a few months I was dumbfounded that I actually had time to work and do all the other things that needed to be done in a 24 hour period..Also, I saved much more money than I did when I was working. This was shocking to me!

[geoffreybent]

Mate don’t know if you realise this but without a doubt you are the best financial advisor, retirement planner, psychologist and motivational speaker on YouTube.

[noreenn]

Somehow working part time doesn't seem like retirement to me but for many it will be the new retirement, as you've noted in a previous video.

[teebirds]

I am also thinking of trying my hand making lawn art when I retire. I love the creativeness of it

[genglandoh]

I retired just 2 months ago at 67.
My wife and I have been married for 42 years.
Our secret is to give each of us space to do our own thing.
For me I like to go sailing and hiking to get away.
So tomorrow I am going sailing for 2 days just to relax.
Cook up some muffins, drink some tea, look at the stars and just relax.
In the wintertime I do the same thing doing going on 2 day hikes.
The hiking is more like an easy walk maybe 5 miles a day for 2 days.

[cutehumor]

Duane, do a portfolio analysis on your portfolio without the YouTube income. It would be interesting to see how much you would have now

[kjmorley]

$2100 per month of YouTube income is huge! It’s like having another $600, 000 to invest. I’m sure the June downturn is just due to it being the summer and things will pick up again in the fall. And things will get even better as your channel grows!

[circlesthesun]

A light side hustle is nice for extra money. I work online at about 6 hours a week.

[plaubelmakina]

I had to make my retirement environment close to the beach and was surprised at how little time I spend on the beach after the first two years.

[mhoepfin]

The jealousy from friends is real. Retired at 50 about 6 years ago, and it’s amazing how people I thought were my friends have completely disappeared and I’m fine with that now.

[bb_lz]

I get together with some former colleagues for breakfast about once a month (next time is tomorrow!). Occasionally some of our currently working former colleagues will attend. It's always fun!

Relating back to another one of your recent videos about supporting adult children... I have a good friend who turned 67 this year and is still working. I retired 7 years ago at age 58 and have been encouraging him to say enough is enough and retire. His reason for continuing to work is that his wife (who also works) is concerned about being able to support their somewhat challenged son and therefore "won't let him" retire. I frankly point out that he's not getting any younger... I seem to be getting through as he's looking at retiring in 2025!