A nest egg worth eight figures is often enough to support a very comfortable retirement, depending on lifestyle and spending habits. In many cases, it could even support multiple individuals, though that ultimately depends on financial choices.
As of mid-2026, the psychological security of that $10 million is being tested by a rising inflation rate. Consumer prices climbed 4.2% in the 12 months ending May 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, well above the 2.8% Social Security cost-of-living adjustment that took effect in January. Still, some people with more than they may ever need for retirement hesitate to make the leap. Just because you can retire does not necessarily mean you should. Warren Buffett remains deeply engaged in his career largely because he genuinely enjoys his work. For someone in their mid-50s, there is no societal pressure to step away, even with a $10 million fortune in hand.
In this piece, we’ll check in on a Reddit user on r/fatFIRE who says he has the financial resources to retire early but is struggling to commit. The poster does not appear to love his job. He called work “increasingly unappealing” and described how appealing it would be to devote his time to hobbies like golf and reading.
If someone is burned out, dreads going to work each day, and has substantial savings, retirement might seem like the obvious next step. So why the hesitation? Below are some of the most common reasons why someone in this position struggles to leave the workforce.
Early retirement isn’t for everyone. Mid-50s is still relatively early compared to typical retirement ages.
Even those who have long planned to retire early can struggle to follow through when the moment arrives. One common pattern is continuously raising one’s “FIRE number” even after reaching the original goal. This avoidance behavior is increasingly compounded by what planners call the “Tax Torpedo,” a scenario in which rising benefits and required minimum distributions push retirees into higher federal tax brackets than they anticipated. For someone with lingering doubts, continually pushing back the target number can be a way of deferring a decision they are not emotionally ready to make. After all, transitioning suddenly from full-time work to open-ended retirement is a significant psychological shift.
There are also social dimensions worth considering. The FIRE movement remains far outside the mainstream, and many Americans continue working into their 60s. Full retirement age for Social Security is 67 for most workers born in 1960 or later. Recent legislative changes, including the Social Security Fairness Act signed in January 2025, repealed both the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, improving the outlook for some public-sector workers who may have had their expected benefits reduced. While retiring early on your own terms will almost certainly be rewarding, those who feel anxious about the change will benefit from taking additional time to think it through carefully. It is a major life decision and not one to take lightly.
The golden handcuffs are tough to escape.
While $10 million is widely considered more than sufficient for a comfortable retirement, lifestyle choices play a major role in whether it truly feels like enough. For someone accustomed to a high income, premium services, or a lavish daily routine, walking away from a paycheck can be psychologically difficult. Incentives like annual bonuses, raises, equity vesting schedules, and professional status add another layer of resistance. On top of those, provisions in the SECURE 2.0 Act introduced “Super Catch-Up” contributions for workers aged 60 to 63, giving high earners another reason to stay on the job and accelerate tax-advantaged savings in their final working years. These structures can make it surprisingly hard to leave, particularly for someone in peak earning territory.
The key advantage of reaching this position is having genuine financial flexibility. The decision no longer centers on whether retirement is affordable. It centers on what kind of life will feel most fulfilling. Consulting a financial advisor or career counselor can help bring clarity to those questions by separating the emotional pull of continued work from any actual financial need to remain employed.
The Emotional Side of Walking Away
Walking away from a long career is not purely a financial decision. For many people, work provides structure, purpose, and a deeply ingrained sense of identity. Even a job that has grown stale can be hard to release, because along with the paycheck come familiar routines, professional relationships, and a long-built sense of accomplishment. This is especially true for people who have spent decades building toward a career milestone they are proud of.
Uncertainty adds its own weight. The long-term solvency of Social Security is a legitimate concern: the 2026 Trustees Report, released June 9, projects that the retirement-focused OASI trust fund will be depleted by late 2032, at which point incoming payroll tax revenue would cover only about 78% of scheduled benefits. That represents a potential automatic cut of roughly 22% for retirees unless Congress acts. On a more existential level, some pre-retirees worry about boredom, loss of social connection, or a lack of daily purpose once work no longer dictates their schedule. Others are reluctant to give up a steady paycheck even when they no longer need it financially. The harder question is not whether someone can afford to retire; it is whether they are mentally and emotionally prepared for what a life without work actually looks like.
Editor’s note: This update corrects the May 2026 inflation figure from 3.9% to 4.2%, the figure confirmed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and refreshes the Social Security trust fund projection to reflect the June 2026 Trustees Report, which moved the OASI depletion date to late 2032 (with a potential 22% benefit cut) from the previously cited 2034 figure.
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