Lucky enough to be employed, paying the UK equivalent of SS taxes from age 16 and I never missed a day's pay from then until ER at age 55.
Is this coincidence or does it indicate there is a correlation between steady employment and early retirement?
After 100+ responses, more than 60% of those in or nearing retirement (presumed to be the "early" variety) have never had a period of unemployment. Another 20% have experienced less than six months of unemployment.
Is this coincidence or does it indicate there is a correlation between steady employment and early retirement?
Correlation is not causation, but it certainly helps not to have had to raid your emergency fund for living expenses for a long period of unemployment.
I have known a few half dozen or so acquaintances over the past few years and what they all did simply amazed me. They would raid their buyout and/or retirement funds during unemployment and not make one concession to standard of living until they cut a huge hole in them. I would have went into immediate budget cutting mode to preserve the nut as best as I could.