How far out should I start planning?

Most of the people I work with are 2 to 5 years from retirement. That window is when the highest-leverage decisions get made, so the earlier in it we start, the more options you have.

What if I'm not sure I can actually afford to retire?

That's exactly what the plan answers. We model your real numbers so you get a clear yes, or a clear path to yes, instead of a hunch.

I'm still 10 years out. Can you help?

My focus is people within about 5 years of retirement, where planning has the most leverage. If you're further out, reach out anyway and I'll point you in a useful direction.

Retirement is close. Let's make sure you're ready.

For people 2 to 5 years from retirement who want certainty, not a best guess, about whether they can stop working.

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What is a pre-retiree?

A pre-retiree is someone within a few years of leaving work for good, usually 2 to 5 years out. It's the highest-leverage planning window there is: close enough to model your real numbers, and early enough to still change the outcome.

You've spent decades saving. Now the question changes. Not 'am I saving enough?' but 'can I actually stop?' The years right before retirement are when the biggest, least-reversible decisions get made, and when a real plan matters most.

What’s on your mind.

Can we actually afford to retire when we want to?
Will we have to cut back on the life we pictured?
How do we handle health insurance before Medicare?
Are we leaving money on the table with taxes or Social Security?

Where we focus

What we work on together.

A clear answer on readiness

Whether you can retire when you want to, and exactly what it takes if you can't yet.

The income switch

A plan for turning decades of saving into a steady paycheck that lasts.

Tax positioning

Setting up the low-tax years before required withdrawals begin, so you keep more of what you built.

The pre-65 healthcare gap

A plan to bridge coverage if you retire before Medicare, without derailing your income.

Frequently asked questions.

How far out should I start planning?: Most of the people I work with are 2 to 5 years from retirement. That window is when the highest-leverage decisions get made, so the earlier in it we start, the more options you have.
What if I'm not sure I can actually afford to retire?: That's exactly what the plan answers. We model your real numbers so you get a clear yes, or a clear path to yes, instead of a hunch.
I'm still 10 years out. Can you help?: My focus is people within about 5 years of retirement, where planning has the most leverage. If you're further out, reach out anyway and I'll point you in a useful direction.

Written by Ryan Langan, CFP®

Founder of Your Path Fi, a fee-only fiduciary firm. Last reviewed May 2026.

Let’s see if we’re a fit.