Retire Early Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler

In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

Billy and Akaisha at Monte Alban ruins, Oaxaca, Mexico

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are old hands at retirement -- ask them anything about saving, spending or traveling.

Thirty-two years after they retired, they are now both 70. But when they first left the conventional working world at age 38, they were not old enough to satisfy the minimum age requirements of the active-adult community in Mesa, Arizona, where they have called home when they're not traveling around the world.

Off on the adventure

By 1991, they had accumulated about $500,000, including a $100,000 profit from the sale of their home. They put what was left of their belongings in temporary storage and set out to see the world.

After six months on a Caribbean island, they headed for South America. Returning to California a year and a half later, they bought an RV and wandered around the western states for two years. Then it was off to Mexico. They had planned to visit the Lake Chapala area for a few months and ended up staying four years getting involved in the local culture by building tennis courts for a city park, and teaching English as a second language to children.

Since then, they've returned home from time to time to care for their parents, but have spent the rest of their time in Asia, the South Pacific, Mexico, and both Central and South America.

What's their secret?

This might sound like an extravagant lifestyle, but Billy and Akaisha spend only around $30,000 a year.

They eat well and enjoy themselves but don't buy much "stuff." They became car-free almost 2 decades ago, utilize geo-arbitrage to mitigate overall expenses, and they take advantage of medical tourism for their medical needs. These days, they qualify for Medicare, but have never used it, preferring to pay out of pocked in the foreign countries where they live.

Investing approach

The couple invest mainly in low-cost index ETF's and between Social Security and dividends their living expenses are more than covered. In fact they are trying to spend more by staying in nicer hotels and utilizing private drivers. Now they are preparing for the required minimum distributions (RMDs) from their traditional IRA's and the tax consequences of that.

"At this point in our lives, we are less worried about running out of money and more concerned about not having enough time to enjoy it," says Billy.

How to do it

· Simplify. A complicated lifestyle costs more, and much comfort and satisfaction can be had living an uncluttered life.

· Look beyond the border. An attractive lifestyle can cost much less in many countries outside the U.S. You can take advantage of this opportunity by geo-arbitraging the value of your Dollar.

· Track your spending. Knowing what your daily and yearly spending averages are, it's easy to figure out what is no longer needed. Retirement is a lifestyle, not a vacation.

· Pursue low-cost entertainment, such as hiking, bicycling, reading, playing tennis and volunteering.

Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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