Can you really retire at 62 with $1.5 million… and stay retired?

Can you really retire at 62 with $1.5 million… and stay retired?

In this episode of The Retirement Income Lab with Patrick Huey, CFP®, we put a real‑world scenario under the microscope.

Our test couple, “Mark and Lisa,” are both 60, have saved $1.5M in their 401(k)s, IRAs, and brokerage accounts, and want to retire in just two years. They spend about $90,000 per year after taxes and are wondering the same thing you might be:

• Is $1.5 million enough to retire comfortably?

• What changes if we retire at 62 vs. 65?

• How do health insurance and Medicare affect our retirement date?

• What withdrawal rate is actually sustainable for a 30‑year retirement?

In this video, you’ll learn:

• How to estimate how much income you really need in retirement (after taxes).

• Why retiring at 62 usually means higher health insurance costs until Medicare at 65—and why that’s a big deal.

• How different withdrawal rates (3%, 4%, 4.5%+) impact a $1.5M portfolio.

• How Social Security timing (claiming at 62 vs. later) changes your retirement income picture.