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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.

Money Isn't What Makes You Rich

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

It's a profound lesson.

Some of the best financial minds in the business cannot predict volatile market swings. At some point, there will be another market downturn. Will you be ready?

Personally, we've been through tough financial storms before, such as the 1987 stock market crash, the long and chilly bear market of 2000-2002 the the difficult times of 2008 and the Covid market. And without trying to sound like Pollyanna, it is during these drops in the markets that we find ourselves to be the most grateful.

Before you reject this idea out of hand, hear us out.

When the financial future seem unpredictable and world events are clearly out of our hands, these are the exact times where we are forced to look at what security means in other ways. These situations compel us to recognize the personal capital we have as human beings.

Researching previous bear markets, we use history as a guide and take heart from the knowledge that these downturns have always ended. In times past, we decided on a specific number that our nest egg would reach before we would choose to go back to work. We also discussed the type of work we would look for, as well as how much money we would need to earn to compensate for any market losses.

If those new jobs would require another vehicle purchase, a long commute with the consequent fuel expense, or a new wardrobe, we weighed that against living the lifestyle we've been enjoying for over 30 years. We know that flexibility with each other and with our financial choices is important.

We've decided it's more important to us to continue to travel the world as long as we're able. We as Americans have been deeply blessed with opportunity and wealth, and living among people who have never seen such favor brings a point home to us: This is our time to give.

 

 

 

 

We take any portfolio loss as a time to volunteer and give to those who would never be able to live the fortunate lifestyle that we have created. We are still able to give of ourselves, because our future is not completely tied up in what our financial statements say, and we value the astounding worth of our human currency.

There are always people worse off than we are. Our ability to give from our experience and talents is vast. This is a significant source of valuable exchange, and it enriches our lives far beyond any financial asset number.

Sure, you need money to retire early -- but that's only half of the story. No one can forecast the future, and if you're strong enough to take the leap of early retirement, you know that you can manage no matter what's brought upon you.

No one who retires early gets there by following the crowd.

You're unique, independent, and in control of your future, even if you have no idea what that future will turn out to be. That's what makes life exciting, right? So at some point you need to have faith, take the leap, and know that everything will work out.

We do not like to lock ourselves in mentally or creatively. We know that it's necessary for us to have fun with the degree of freedom that our personalities require, and we keep these words of Ralph Waldo Emerson close to our hearts: "It's one of the most beautiful compensations in life ... that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."

What you can do

If you're currently retired, or if you're considering retirement, consider the following volunteer-related options. Volunteering puts your skills to work and offers you social interaction. It can easily replace costly mindless entertainment options, and it creates a win-win situation. These exchanges of human currency will enrich your life and the lives of those you touch.

** Assess your talents and experience. Find out where these talents would be appreciated in your part of the world. Could you teach at a community college or coach sports for an evening league? What about donating your organizational skills at a food bank? Could you volunteer in your local hospice program? Help someone get his or her GED? Type in your ZIP code at Volunteer Match to find hundreds of opportunities.

 

 

 

 

** Especially during any holiday season, why not sort through the items in your garage and closets and gift the bounty to a homeless shelter, a Goodwill near you, or your church or synagogue?

** Do you have a neighbor who is a widow or widower? Cooking that person a meal and delivering it may serve as a break in their personal darkness. Helping out another can break up any notion of feeling poor and allow you to see the wealth you truly have.

What's Your Number? - How much money do you need to retire?

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About the Authors

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their award winning website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your Retirement Dream IS Possible available on their website bookstore or on Amazon.com.

 

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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