For some, the idea of retiring before 55 is the ultimate life goal. And according to recentreporting by The Wall Street Journal, it’s no longer just a pipe dream. Fueled by frugality, investing, and the popular FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement, a growing number of Americans are stepping away from work while still in their 40s or early 50s.

But walking away from a job isn’t the same as walking into a fulfilling life.

Retiring early may mean you’ve “won the game” financially—but what about emotionally, intellectually, socially, and spiritually? What happens after the initial rush of freedom wears off?

The First Few Years: A Mixed Bag

The WSJ piece highlights a range of experiences from early retirees. Some describe euphoric freedom—finally having time to travel, pursue hobbies, or just rest. Others admit to feeling adrift, disconnected from purpose, and unsure how to structure their time without the scaffolding of work.

These stories raise a critical question: how happy—and fulfilled—do early retirees remain over time? What starts as a dream can shift into dissatisfaction if we don’t plan for what comes after the spreadsheets and exit celebrations.

Retirement Isn’t a Finish Line—It’s a Transition

The Age Brilliantly mindset challenges the conventional narrative that retirement is the reward for a life of work. Instead, we ask: What are you retiring to?

Our lives aren’t meant to shut down at 50, 60, or 70. Many of us will live well into our 90s or beyond. That’s not a winding down—it’s an entire chapter of possibility. Whether you leave work at 40 or 75, fulfillment doesn’t happen by default. It must be designed intentionally across the 8 Life Essentials: health, finances, relationships, career, passion, purpose, lifelong learning, and time mastery.

Why We Need a Long-Term View of Retirement Satisfaction

We already track retirement savings across decades—but what if we tracked retirement satisfaction with the same care?

What if we measured how people actually feel after retiring, not just in the first few months, but at year three, year five, and beyond? A longitudinal study could give us invaluable insight into how different people adjust—especially across variables like age, career type, support systems, and how well they prepared for life beyond work.

Early retirement isn’t just a personal decision; it’s a cultural phenomenon. If we want to guide future generations toward lives of lasting meaning, not just financial freedom, we need real data about what works—and what doesn’t.

What’s Next: A Tool to Measure Long-Term Fulfillment?

This is where the future gets exciting.

Imagine a tool—perhaps built into theHolistic app or embedded in a newsletter series—that asks recent retirees (at any age) 12–24 meaningful questions over their first year or two. What’s your current level of fulfillment? How are your relationships? Have you discovered a new purpose? Are you continuing to learn, grow, contribute?

The answers could give individuals a mirror—and give all of us a better roadmap.

These check-ins could become part of an “Early Retirement Index,” with stories and aggregated insights we share across the Age Brilliantly community. Not to judge the early retirement path—but to improve it.

A Challenge for Everyone—Retired or Not

Whether you’re dreaming of retiring early or are decades into post-career life, here’s the real question: How are you shaping your life today to ensure you stay fulfilled five, ten, or even thirty years from now?

Freedom is important. But fulfillment is the goal. Financial independence might let you quit a job—but emotional, intellectual, and social investment is what makes the next chapter meaningful.

Join the conversation in theAge Brilliantly Forum:
 Would you take part in a fulfillment check-in after retirement? What questions do you think we should ask? How would you define success five years after leaving full-time work?