Would You Rather Retire at 50 With $1 Million or 65 With $3 Million?

Retiring at 50 with $1 million offers 15 extra years of freedom, while waiting until 65 with $3 million provides a much larger financial cushion. The better choice depends on spending needs, health coverage, Social Security, and how much those 15 years are worth – Shutterstock

Retiring at 50 with $1 million sounds like winning the financial lottery. Retiring at 65 with $3 million sounds like winning it three times.

Yet the larger nest egg does not automatically make the second choice better. The first option gives someone 15 extra years of freedom, while the second offers far more financial muscle during the years when retirement expenses can become harder to predict.