Here are some questions to ask yourself when deciding whether or not you are ready to retire.
Is your nest egg adequate?
It may be obvious, but the earlier you retire, the less time you'll have to save, and the more years you'll be living off your retirement savings. The average American can expect to live past age 78.* With future medical advances likely, it's not unreasonable to assume that life expectancy will continue to increase. Is your nest egg large enough to fund 20 or more years of retirement?
When will you begin receiving Social Security benefits?
You can receive Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, your benefit may be 25% to 30% less than if you waited until full retirement age (66 to 67, depending on the year you were born).
How will retirement affect your IRAs and employer retirement plans?