A New York Life survey found that nearly half of retirees age 62 to 70 wished they had retired earlier. On average, they wished they had left work about four years sooner.

I get why that happens. At 60-plus, "one more year" can feel like the adult answer. Another paycheck, another year of contributions, one fewer year to fund. A basic 25x calculation may like the delay.

But you're buying that comfort with years that aren't interchangeable. Early 60s health, energy, and flexibility are different from late 60s and early 70s. If you've already done the hard FIRE work, the next year at the office needs to earn its place in the plan.

So run the right numbers. Spending, taxes, Roth conversion windows, withdrawal order, cash buffer, and the mix you own all belong in the decision. A bitcoin-heavy portfolio shouldn't be judged as if it's a plain 60/40, and volatility shouldn't be an excuse to ignore the upside in your plan.

The question isn't whether more money would be nice. It would be. The question is whether the next year of work buys enough freedom to justify the year of freedom you give up.

Read the full issue: https://firebtc.io/p/the-swingin-sixties