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.

• The risk of “sequence of returns” if markets drop early in retirement.

• Why working just a few more years can dramatically improve your odds of retiring confidently.

If you’re a high‑saving professional within about 5 years of retirement (or just into it), this kind of stress test is exactly what you should be doing before you pick a retirement date.👨‍💼

About The Retirement Income Lab

I’m Patrick Huey, CFP®, and owner of Victory Independent Planning. I work with high‑saving professionals nationwide who are close to or have recently retired, helping them turn their portfolios into paychecks they can actually live on.

🔎 Want to stress‑test your own retirement income plan? Schedule a VIP Retirement Income Lab Assessment:https://VictoryIndependentPlanning.com/contact

We’ll help you:

• Map your real after‑tax spending needs• Compare retiring at 62 vs. 65 (and beyond)

• Factor in health insurance costs before Medicare• Optimize Social Security timing

• Evaluate whether your savings are enough to retire and stay retired

⏱ Timestamps

00:00 – Can you retire at 62 with $1.5M?

01:05 – Meet Mark & Lisa: age 60, $1.5M saved

02:40 – How much income they really need (after tax)

04:00 – What different withdrawal rates look like on $1.5M0

5:00 – Scenario A: Retiring at 62 (and paying for health insurance)

08:10 – The cost of retiring before Medicare at 65

10:30 – Scenario B: Working to 65 and going straight onto Medicare

13:00 – Social Security timing and lifetime income

15:00 – Withdrawal rates, sequence risk, and confidence

17:30 – Key takeaways for anyone near $1.5M

18:30 – How to get your own Retirement Income Lab Assessment

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