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Work Less, Live More: The Way to Semi-Retirement
Ready to pursue the rest of your life? Get going with Work Less, Live More.
Finalist for The Publishers Marketing Associations Benjamin Franklin Award
Professionally, you're experiencing the success that years of hard work brings -- but the long hours are taking their toll and you're burning out fast.
Fortunately, there is an alternative to the Semi-retirement. Work fewer hours, realize your goals and dreams, spend time with your loved ones-- and do it all years, even decades, before the "normal" retirement age of 65.
With Work Less, Live More and a little planning, you can do it. The book provides a rational investment system based on Nobel Prize-winning research, a safe lifelong withdrawal plan and sensible spending guidelines.
More importantly, the book provides the inspiring stories and insights of many successful early semi-retirees, walking proof that meaningful work-- rather than full-time work-- is both fulfilling and rewarding.
The 2nd edition focuses on every age group -- especially "late bloomers" who may feel way behind. It also includes more information on healthcare issues.
If you're ready to pursue the rest of your life, turn to Work Less, Live More and get going!
Finalist for The Publishers Marketing Associations Benjamin Franklin Award
Professionally, you're experiencing the success that years of hard work brings -- but the long hours are taking their toll and you're burning out fast.
Fortunately, there is an alternative to the Semi-retirement. Work fewer hours, realize your goals and dreams, spend time with your loved ones-- and do it all years, even decades, before the "normal" retirement age of 65.
With Work Less, Live More and a little planning, you can do it. The book provides a rational investment system based on Nobel Prize-winning research, a safe lifelong withdrawal plan and sensible spending guidelines.
More importantly, the book provides the inspiring stories and insights of many successful early semi-retirees, walking proof that meaningful work-- rather than full-time work-- is both fulfilling and rewarding.
The 2nd edition focuses on every age group -- especially "late bloomers" who may feel way behind. It also includes more information on healthcare issues.
If you're ready to pursue the rest of your life, turn to Work Less, Live More and get going!
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2005
6 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 5, 2020
I especially liked the last chapter
August 12, 2023
Despite a puzzling title, goes into some rather dense discussions of personal finance matters which is good for freelancers & contains some reasonable advice on frugal living
June 6, 2009
I've been reading books on investing and economics for 18 months. And I've been fortunate enough to do this while enduring my second recession caused by a President Bush. This has allowed me to freely move my investments around without having to worry about the effects of taxes. (In fact, I have a nice big chunk of losses to apply against any future gains. Thanks, W!)
Also occurring over the past 18 months, the company I work for has gotten itself stuck in a perpetual reorg do loop like a demented and scary combination of Tom Peters and HAL from 2001. And though I work for Cosmodemonic Telegraph Company of my day, I don't have the energy or the panache to Henry Miller my way out of there. Besides my wife would kill me if I went off to Paris with someone named June.
As a result, this book ties a lot of my recent thought threads together and offers a middle way between the indignity of eating pigeons in some Paris park (or was that Hemmingway?) and the indignity of hoping you survive the next reorg even if it means getting demoted from Director to a mere Head Of. That middle way is called "early retirement" or "semi retirement."
This book is published by Nolo Press of Berkeley, so be prepared for some hippy-dippie sections. To be honest, I even found these parts sort of interesting because they forced me to consider the psychological aspects of suddenly having a lot of free time and abandoning the identity that full-time work provides. Mr. Clyatt makes a good case that if you don't have your head together, you'll find your self heading right back in to full time work because in a lot of ways it's the easier life to live.
The part on finances is your basic asset allocation through indexing strategy, that I now firmly believe in. The book hammers home the 4% safe withdrawal rate, but actually goes to the trouble of explaining several different ways that this rate is derived. One problem I have with this part is that one portfolio is presented with a "ta da!" as the ideal portfolio for an early retiree. I find this vaguely irresponsible for two reasons: (1) the right portfolio is a highly individual thing that depends on the investor's goals and risk tolerance, and (2) whether or not the portfolio is high-return/low-risk as it is presented is completely unknowable regardless of its past performance.
There are very useful chapters on how to self-insure and how to think about taxes while living off of investments and part-time work. I'm going to reread these chapters and follow up on some of the related resources listed at the end of the book.
Highly recommended, if only to get a clearer picture of the "walk away point" for your current job.
Sudden random thought: It's sort of the anti-4 Hour Work Week, though it may lead you to a similar conclusion.
Also occurring over the past 18 months, the company I work for has gotten itself stuck in a perpetual reorg do loop like a demented and scary combination of Tom Peters and HAL from 2001. And though I work for Cosmodemonic Telegraph Company of my day, I don't have the energy or the panache to Henry Miller my way out of there. Besides my wife would kill me if I went off to Paris with someone named June.
As a result, this book ties a lot of my recent thought threads together and offers a middle way between the indignity of eating pigeons in some Paris park (or was that Hemmingway?) and the indignity of hoping you survive the next reorg even if it means getting demoted from Director to a mere Head Of. That middle way is called "early retirement" or "semi retirement."
This book is published by Nolo Press of Berkeley, so be prepared for some hippy-dippie sections. To be honest, I even found these parts sort of interesting because they forced me to consider the psychological aspects of suddenly having a lot of free time and abandoning the identity that full-time work provides. Mr. Clyatt makes a good case that if you don't have your head together, you'll find your self heading right back in to full time work because in a lot of ways it's the easier life to live.
The part on finances is your basic asset allocation through indexing strategy, that I now firmly believe in. The book hammers home the 4% safe withdrawal rate, but actually goes to the trouble of explaining several different ways that this rate is derived. One problem I have with this part is that one portfolio is presented with a "ta da!" as the ideal portfolio for an early retiree. I find this vaguely irresponsible for two reasons: (1) the right portfolio is a highly individual thing that depends on the investor's goals and risk tolerance, and (2) whether or not the portfolio is high-return/low-risk as it is presented is completely unknowable regardless of its past performance.
There are very useful chapters on how to self-insure and how to think about taxes while living off of investments and part-time work. I'm going to reread these chapters and follow up on some of the related resources listed at the end of the book.
Highly recommended, if only to get a clearer picture of the "walk away point" for your current job.
Sudden random thought: It's sort of the anti-4 Hour Work Week, though it may lead you to a similar conclusion.
April 23, 2013
I didn't read this book cover to cover since it was written in 2005 and I didn't read it until 2013. I've read a lot of books, blogs and newsletters and most of the book wasn't new to me but i would recommend it to someone who was new to the idea.
The concepts in the book are good and basic. Spend less, save more and invest wisely so you can retire or go into semi retirement early.
The book also explains some investment vehicles that those who have not been studying up in this area may not know.
The book did cover the 4% rule (with some explanation and other pages) that says you can only spend about 4% of your money a year in retirement to have that money last forever. So if you have $400,000 at retirement"
$400,000*.04= $16,000 a year income. Remember there is inflation etc.
The concepts in the book are good and basic. Spend less, save more and invest wisely so you can retire or go into semi retirement early.
The book also explains some investment vehicles that those who have not been studying up in this area may not know.
The book did cover the 4% rule (with some explanation and other pages) that says you can only spend about 4% of your money a year in retirement to have that money last forever. So if you have $400,000 at retirement"
$400,000*.04= $16,000 a year income. Remember there is inflation etc.
November 8, 2007
Ok, this book is good because it is guiding me toward retirement, which is what I want! Whether you are young or old, if you want to work less, perhaps retire earlier than you thought, or just prepare for retirement, give it a read!
June 17, 2015
This is for those wondering if they should end their jobs early and enter the world of retirement., so I'm not the target audience, yet. Those looking for how to have n early retirement should read this.
December 28, 2007
Make a plan to invest now so you can retire young and live the life you only dream of later. Great insights on sample portfolios and the 4% withdrawal rule.
August 2, 2010
Reduce expenses, asset allocation so that you withdraw <4.5% of your assets annually and if the market slumps, reduce spending by 5% each year the market is down.
September 6, 2010
good tips and ideas regarding early retirement or partial retirement. Challenges a lot of the conventional wisdom on the subject, especially the marketing approaches of financial companies.
July 1, 2013
I like the specifics on asset allocation, taxes, and budgeting. I think the workbook expands on this even more but a very solid retirement planning book.
April 30, 2017
Simple book and simply put. It's a good introduction to personal expenses and what you can plan to your life retirement.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews