Pre-Retirement
Empty-Nester Eric
VP of Operations · Minneapolis, MN
Kids are gone. House is paid off. Now what?
About Empty-Nester Eric
For 28 years every dollar Eric and Carol earned went to mortgages, braces, and tuition — and now the house is paid off, the kids are launched, and $6,200 a month is piling up in accounts they have never coordinated. They have $1.2M split across four accounts, two different retirement dates in mind, and zero shared strategy. They finally have the income and the freedom to plan, but after three decades of financial autopilot, neither knows where to start.
Financial Snapshot
$210,000 (household)
Annual Income
$1,200,000
Net Worth
58
Age
Empty-Nester Eric's Story — 6 Episodes
The Coordinated Plan
For the first time in 30 years, Eric and Carol sit down and build a unified retirement plan. They model the integrated picture: staggered retirement dates, coordinated Social Security, Roth conversions, and a shared withdrawal strategy.
Uses: fireThe Healthcare Bridge
Eric retires at 63 but Medicare does not start until 65. He models COBRA ($2,200/month for 18 months), ACA marketplace plans ($1,400/month), and Carol's employer coverage as a bridge. The cost differences are staggering.
Uses: fireThe Downsizing Question
Their 4-bedroom house is worth $580k with no mortgage. The property taxes and maintenance run $18k/year. Eric models selling, buying a 2-bedroom condo for $340k, and investing the $240k difference. Carol says she is not ready to leave.
Uses: rent-vs-buyThe Social Security Timing Game
Eric can claim at 62 for $2,400/month or wait until 70 for $4,200/month. Carol's benefit is $1,800 at 62 or $3,100 at 70. They model the optimal claiming strategy for a two-income household — and discover the answer is not what either expected.
Uses: fireThe Roth Conversion Window
Between retirement at 63 and Social Security at 67, Eric has a 4-year window of low taxable income. His advisor suggests converting $80k/year from Traditional to Roth during this window. The model shows the lifetime tax savings.
Uses: roth-vs-traditionalThe Retirement Countdown
Eric runs his retirement model for the first time. At $1.2M and a 4% withdrawal rate, he can sustain $48k/year from savings. Combined with Social Security at 67, the household income in retirement looks comfortable — but the sequence-of-returns risk in the first 5 years is the hidden threat.
Uses: fire