Investing Retirement Planning 3 Things to Consider Before You Retire at 55 Sure, you can retire at 55, if you've planned for these items. By Dana Anspach Dana Anspach Dana Anspach is a Certified Financial Planner and an expert on investing and retirement planning. She is the founder and CEO of Sensible Money, a fee-only financial planning and investment firm. learn about our editorial policies Updated on May 31, 2022 Reviewed by Michael J Boyle Reviewed by Michael J Boyle Michael Boyle is an experienced financial professional with more than 10 years working with financial planning, derivatives, equities, fixed income, project management, and analytics. learn about our financial review board Fact checked by David Rubin In This Article View All In This Article Planning for Income Paying for Health Care Using Your Time Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How much money do you need to retire? What is the rule of 55? Photo: The Balance / Emily Dunphy To retire at age 55, there are a few things you'll need to think about that someone who retires later won't. The three most vital factors in early retirement planning are how long you'll need income, healthcare costs, and how you're going to spend your time. Planning for Income The average life expectancy was 77 years in the U.S. in 2020. If you retire at 55, you'll probably need your assets to generate income for at least two decades. If you want to have enough income, you'll need an accurate estimate of how much you plan to spend each year. Then, you'll need to compare that to your current sources of retirement income. To learn how long you may live, the Social Security Administration has a simple calculator to give you a rough estimate. Social Security benefits are available at age 62 in most cases, but at a reduced rate until you reach full retirement age. If you were born in 1960 or later, you won't receive your full Social Security benefits until age 67. In addition to owing income taxes when you withdraw from a traditional IRA or 401(k), there are typically penalties if the withdrawals begin before age 59 1/2. So, if you do decide to retire at 55, you'll need to have other sources to tap into for a few years. If you make enough, you could set aside some savings to see you through those years. If that's not an option, there are, potentially, other ways to tap into your 401(k) or IRA early and avoid the withdrawal penalty. Note You could also use money from a Roth IRA, which doesn't have limits on withdrawals of contributions. (Earnings may still be subject to taxes/penalties if no other exemption applies.) Another option is to use substantially equal periodic payments (Rule 72(t)) to withdraw money early from a traditional IRA or 401(k). This would allow you to avoid the 10% early-withdrawal tax. With this approach, your life expectancy, based on IRS tables, is used to calculate the amount you would need to withdraw. You would, essentially, receive the same amount each year, and you must receive that amount for five years or until age 59 1/2, whichever is later. Applicable taxes also need to be paid when you withdraw the money. Calculating these payments can be complex, but your accountant or plan custodian can help you explore this option. In addition, if you have a workplace 401K you may be eligible for an IRS exception to the penalties for early withdrawals referred to as the "Rule of 55." The Rule of 55 may allow you to take penalty-free withdrawals from a 401(k) before age 59 1/2, if you leave your employer for any reason in the year you turn 55 or later. The same loophole does not apply to traditional IRA withdrawals, though. Paying for Health Care Medicare coverage doesn't start until age 65. If you want to retire at age 55, you'll need a source of health insurance that will provide for you until you reach age 65. The Affordable Care Act guarantees access to health insurance, even with pre-existing conditions. You can't be charged a higher rate for any health issues, but premiums are based on age. The average monthly premium was $771 for people between the ages of 55 and 64 under the Affordable Care Act in 2021. If you've had a healthcare plan and have been able to keep it, you might be able to keep your monthly payments down. Note Some employers may allow you to keep your health insurance with them, but they might ask you to pay some or all of the premiums they have been paying. The Kaiser Family Foundation has a calculator to view average healthcare premiums in your state. Depending on your income, you may be able to apply for subsidies. A single 55-year-old with an annual income of $60,000 can purchase a Silver plan through the Marketplace for $425 per month in 2022. Using Your Time When thinking about early retirement, give a lot of thought to what you want to do with your time and money. If you have expensive hobbies, think about those extra costs when planning. If you want to travel, decide whether to maintain a home or choose to rent, so you won't be tied down. If you've always wanted to start a business, retirement could be a good time to start. The Kauffman Indicators of Entrepreneurship stated in 2020 that those aged 55 through 64 had the second-highest startup rate (tied with those aged 35 through 44). You could use your prior experiences to start a consulting business or turn a hobby into a job. If you don't want to work, volunteering is a way many retirees stay busy. You might have other commitments, such as caring for family members. No matter how you plan to spend your time, proper planning can make retiring at age 55 a reality. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How much money do you need to retire? The amount of money you need in order to retire depends on your sources of retirement income and your planned retirement spending. Some experts say that you should have enough saved to have about 80% of your pre-retirement salary available annually. Social Security and pensions will help, but you'll likely need to set aside additional funds so you'll have enough money for the duration of your retirement. What is the rule of 55? There's usually a 10% penalty for withdrawing funds from your 401(k) before age 59 1/2. There is an exception, though, if you're age 55 or older. You can receive distributions from your 401(k) if you're separated from your employer if it happened during or after the year you turn 55. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Mortality in the United States, 2020," Page 1. Social Security Administration. "Retirement Benefits," Page 3. Internal Revenue Service. "Traditional and Roth IRAs." Internal Revenue Service. "Retirement Plans FAQs Regarding Substantially Equal Periodic Payments." Internal Revenue Service. "Retirement Topics - Exceptions to Tax on Early Distributions." Social Security Administration. "Medicare Benefits." HealthCare.gov. "How Insurance Companies Set Health Premiums." eHealth. "ACA Index Report on Unsubsidized Consumers," Page 7. Kaiser Family Foundation. "Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator." Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. "National Report on Early-Stage Entrepreneurship in the United States: 2020," Page 11. USAGov. "Retirement." Internal Revenue Service. "Topic No. 558 Additional Tax on Early Distributions From Retirement Plans Other Than IRAs."