I’m 61, tired of working and anxious to start my next chapter. My wife and I have $1.5M saved — is it enough to retire?

Core Insights - The decision to retire is influenced by various factors including the couple's combined income, savings, and the role of Social Security and Medicare in their retirement plan [1][2] Retirement Landscape Changes - The retirement landscape has significantly changed since the early 2000s, with the pandemic accelerating workforce exits; over half of U.S. adults over 55 reported being retired by the end of 2021 [3] - Employment among older Americans is increasing, with 19% of those aged 65 and older employed in 2023, nearly double the rate from 35 years ago [3] - Life expectancy has risen, with average life expectancies for 65-year-olds being 20.12 years for women and 17.48 years for men, highlighting the risk of outliving savings [3] Financial Considerations - Market downturns, inflation, and rising healthcare costs pose risks to purchasing power in retirement [4] - Medicare eligibility at age 65 can help manage healthcare expenses, but additional costs may still be significant [4]