How many years do you work before retire???

[foxfirev5]

Not counting jobs during school years I've had two employers over the last 33 years. It looks like I'll probably go to age 59 for a total of 37 years. I have a very small pension, questionable retiree heathcare and a job that currently is quite a bit of fun. I am finding that once you reach FI you can loosen up with your approach to life.

[Dawg52]

31 years.

[kramer]

I fooled around when I was young and did not start college until I was 2 months shy of 24 years old. I finished with a Master's Degree 5.5 years later and about $45,000 in debt. Along with some great training along the way, having worked in my field part of that time (software engineer). I had 5 good job offers to choose from upon graduation.

Less than a decade later I was a millionaire, without any big stock option score or anything like that, just saving huge amounts of money and living a regular LBYM life. At the time, I even looked back and tried to figure out how I could have accumulated so much, so fast. I think I estimated my CAGR at something like 15%, as I had over-weighted both emerging markets and value stocks, and paid almost no investment taxes since I was deferring gains, and I had fewer overall assets during the tech bubble since that was earlier in my career.

Anyway, I retired 4 years ago with just under 12 years in a real job at the same company. I started at a good salary, but I just did a quick calculation, and my compensation rose at an average of about 8% per year during my career.

[Eagle43]

I started at 17 (not counting delivering papers and bagging groceries before that) and worked 42+ years. You'd think I liked it.

[rescueme]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moscyn I think life is a series of phases. First you are pampered and educated for like 20 to 25 years...

That may be for the majority of folks on this forum (who seem to be well educated), but that is not the case of most of the population.

I believe that you will find (by the stats), that a minority of folks have a degree (or advanced degree) and in these days, are doing quite well if they are even able to get through HS.

My personal view is that education is important and it's my opinion (FWIW) that the folks that post their individual "success" on ER is owed a great deal to that education. I won't bore you with our personal stories, but I believe that our situation was more typical (as being HS grads of the mid 60's) than the "History Channel" will lead you to beleive of the young folks of that era (BTW, I didn't go to Woodstock - I was in Nam during that "party").

On a personal note, I consider myself (and DW) quite "blessed" to be able to be financially secure without even an undergrad degree (or a public service job).

Just my $.02...

PS: At the age of 25, I was married (for four years), had a child, and was responsible for sole support of our little "family" (as I am today, since my (adult) child is disabled). I had left home when I turned 19 but for all intents, I was "on my own" since the age of 14 (due to the situation with my parents, that I will not discuss on a public forum).

Not to "dis" those on this board that had the opportunity for higher education, but don't believe that is (or was) the normal situation in most folks lives.

[RockyMtn]

28 years, 4 months, 21 days.

[WB52]

If I achieve FIRE as planned in 2012, I will have worked 27 years straight, post-grad school.
If the stock market keeps tanking... Who knows?

[Purron]

35 years.

[OrcasIslandBound]

I'm coming up on my 30th year of continuously working in August. Aiming for FIRE in 2.5 years (2014). So... if successful, it will be 32.5 years altogether.

[DFA]

40+ and still got about 2 left before FIRE.

Started to work at 17, retired at 65 = 48 years. I started working full and part time after school and during the summer at 13.

[SunsetSail]

I'm still working but it will be anywhere from 14 to 20 years. More likely closer to 20.

[Blackwoodt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IBWino Still working, but planning to retire in 2016 at age 55, at which point I will have put in 32 years full-time since graduating college. If I include part-time and summer work during high school and college, then it's closer to 40 years working.

Same here, plan to retire Sept 2012, at the age of 55. Worked part time starting at the age of 15, full time after high school, and through college.

In all, it will be about 40 years working. Now it's time to play for the next 40 years!

[militaryman]

Started to work at 18 fulltime with my enlistment into Air Force -- Have 25 years of Federal Service now and am eligible for regular retirement under FERS in 13 years at 56.5 years old --- so my number if I choose to retire then will be ** 38 **

[Livefree]

This is my 36th year not counting a year off (2004)...i'm planning on transitioning (hopefully) to part time next year

[Retire2013]

It will be 29 years if and when I ER in 2014. If you also count parttime work before add another 13 years to that number. I am ready to ER now! My portfolio is not.

[DFW_M5]

Post college, it will 35 years when I retire next January. If we count military service and job out of HS add another +4, and then there were part time jobs since age 12.

[freebird5825]

Very first j*bs : Babysitting almost every afternoon for neighbor at age 14, then PT mother's helper at age 15

FIRE age: 48

My calculator sez 34 years.

[wompo]

I am 48 with 27 years working at current career (not counting part time jobs while in college/high school). The most I would want to work is to age 55 with 33 years in (that sounds like to many, maybe I should call it quits now

[Independent]

I started delivering papers at 14. I had a couple false starts in my 20's. I started my "real career" at 28 and retired at 59, so that's 31 years.

Note that the average retirement age on this board is about 55.