
Editor’s note: "How to Retire Early Due to Disability or Caretaking" is part of a series focused on how to retire early and the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement. To see all early retirement articles, jump to the end.
Early retirement may seem like a fortunate break, but for many, it’s far from a choice. Often, it’s a decision made by circumstances, not desire. Surprisingly, more than half of Americans (58%) retire earlier than planned, according to a report from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies.