Why & How I Started Planning for Retirement in My 20s

What I did to start planning for retirement in my 20s

Find out why and how I started planning for retirement in my 20s and how you can too on this episode. Then download your FREE Queer Money Kickstarter, a 9-step Guide to Kickstart Your Journey to Financial Independence.

How I got started planning for retirement in my 20s

On this episode of the Queer Money® Podcast, we talk with Michael Kim, who shares his story of planning for retirement early so he can reach his goal of retiring by age 55. This episode touches on the importance of self-reflection to determine what you want and how you can use that knowledge to help plan for your retirement.

Michael’s motivation for early financial independence stemmed from his childhood anxieties about financial security and his fear of not being accepted by his family due to his sexuality. He shares that knowing that he is judged by some people simply for being who he is has been a blessing in the sense that it has liberated him to focus on what he wants in life, regardless of what other people think.

Some of Michael’s tips include creating a ‘vanilla’ goal (realistic) as well as a more ambitious goal (dream), four steps to plan for early retirement, and a 50/50 investment mix of safe and risky investments. He also shares three steps to achieving any financial goal.

Listen to get insight on planning for retirement in my 20s

Topics covered on planning for retirement in my 20s

Early retirement planning
The impact of childhood financial experiences on adult financial behavior
Financial challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals
The role of fear and anxiety in financial decision-making
Goal setting and financial independence
The importance of financial literacy
Investment strategies (passive investing and stock options trading)
Budgeting and saving money
Lifestyle choices and financial well-being
Overcoming societal pressures in financial decision-making
The importance of personalized financial planning
Michael’s four steps to plan for early retirement:
How to estimate your expected income during retirement (rental income, business income, investment income, etc.)
Calculate your expected expenses during retirement (likely lower than current expenses)
Determining the gap between income and expenses in retirement
Calculating how much you need to save to cover the gap until the end of your life
Michael shares his personal investment strategy, which uses a 50/50 approach.
Passive investing in ETFs and broad market funds for a safe and easy approach
Stock options trading for a higher potential return with higher risk (requires advanced knowledge and a coach)
Michael also shares his 3 steps to achieving any financial goal:
Michael’s advice for those in their 50’s who haven’t planned for retirement.
How being nomadic has helped Michael’s health, business, and finances.
How Michael reduced travel costs with geographic arbitrage and slow traveling.
Habits that contribute to achieving financial goals. Prioritizing experiences over expensive possessions.

Connect with Michael

Michael Kim’s Website
MichaeleeKim on Instagram
MichaeleeKim on Youtube

Resources on planning for retirement in my 20s

Connect with David and John

Watch this week’s episode on planning for retirement in my 20s

Previous 3 Podcast Episodes

We’re David and John Auten-Schneider, the Debt Free Guys (www.debtfreeguys.com), and the Queer Money® podcast hosts. We help queer people (and allies) live fabulously, not fabulously broke, by helping them 1) pay off credit card debt, 2) become part- or full-time entrepreneurs and 3) save and invest for retirement.