This article appears as part of Casey Weade's Weekend Reading for Retirees series. Every Friday, Casey highlights four hand-picked articles on trending retirement topics and delivers them straight to your email inbox. Get on the list here.

What You Should Consider: In this reflective piece, previous podcast guest Christine Benz explores the complex reality that stepping away from work isn’t just about numbers. Sure, there’s the need to assess healthcare costs before Medicare and fill the income gap before Social Security. But at the heart of it, early retirement is about life decisions with financial consequences. In that light, here are four personal yet critical decisions every retiree should consider:

📌 Work or Walk Away? Even part-time or consulting work can ease financial stress and delay portfolio withdrawals

📌 Will Your Lifestyle Shift? Moving to a lower-cost area or downsizing can help, but so can staying put if that supports your emotional and social well-being

📌 Can You Be Flexible? Being willing to tighten spending during market downturns can make your savings last longer and increase your total lifetime spending

📌 Is a Legacy Essential? If leaving a financial inheritance isn’t your priority, you may benefit from a strategy that allows you to fully enjoy your wealth while you’re here

Key Takeaway: Whether you're considering retiring early or just reevaluating what your next chapter could look like, this article reminds us that retirement isn’t one big decision—it’s a mosaic of small, meaningful ones.