What is the ideal retirement age and how much should you have before you retire?

I don't intend to retire if I'm able and healthy. When you work, you contribute your value to society. People pay you for the value you bring to the table. Work, even part-time, gives a person dignity.

In fact, my goal is to live till 120 years old and see how the world changes. And I think I just witness one - Covid-19! Yeah this goal may seem to others as weird or crazy but it's exciting for me. I want to see how far I can stretch my life span in good health. Heh. With that in mind, I'm currently studying to be in a job that looks to have longer career longevity.

I think the ultimate question you need to ask yourself is " What type of lifestyle do you want to enjoy once you retire?" Only then, you can determine how much you need to sustain it.

I'm a simple person. As long as I can enjoy good food / company once in a while, I'm satisfied. Hope you're tracking your expenses diligently. Knowing where your money comes and goes is an important first step.

Kyith from Investment Moats wrote this article:

How Much Money do You need to be Financial Independent? A Deep Dive

https://investmentmoats.com/wealth-building-2/h...

You may find some answers to what you're seeking. Hope this helps!

I guess everyone has a very different view of what constitutes an ideal retirement age. Given that everyone has also a very different lifestyle, it makes it challenging to mention the dollar amount that one requires to retire. With that being said, you can do a simple projection by taking your annual expenses multiply by average inflation rate of 2% compounded till the time you wish to retire.