“We’ve spent $2,000 to have a retirement calculator built for us. It was difficult to use. It was a black box. It was a waste of money. One week with Brian was 10X more valuable. The tool is clear, the results are easy to read, and it’s ours to play with.”

Profile: Ages 42 & 43, Married two kids, Education Consultant, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Before: Unsure of path and timing to reach financial freedom. Spent many sessions with financial planners but to no avail. Planned to work, save, and invest until retirement arrived.

After: Target retirement in 10 years by leveraging investment portfolio and Morgan’s consulting business. Monitor several scenarios (home sale, aging parent care/ inheritance, private school) and be opportunistic.

Key changes: Enact investment growth strategy that tightly manages possible losses. Rely on Mike’s earnings to restructure Morgan’s business.

“You speak the language of consultants. Consulting is not like traditional employment. It doesn’t always align perfectly with the conventional “save more & invest well” retirement philosophy. Our plan gives us the ability to shift and change.”

Profile: Ages 43 & 47, Married no kids, Business Consultant, Portland, Oregon.

Before: Retire in 12 years once Portland home is paid off. Then, move to Washington and buy a rental property for income. Purchase a boat to spend several months on each year.

After: Increase taxable savings to retire in 6 years. Downsize and don’t deal with a rental unit or tenants. Delay that boat purchase. Also, work to align each others’ purposes in the next stage of life.

Key changes: Enact investment growth strategy that tightly manages possible losses. Intentional focus on increasing portfolio income available prior to age 59 ½.

“I thought I needed to amass $3 Million to retire. Now I know all of the different paths that successful people take to financial freedom. I plan to work part-time in a coaching business I’m building. You shaved at least 5 years off of my retirement date.”

Profile: Age 49, Single one kid, Technology Consultant, Seattle, Washington.

Before: Grow her retirement savings 5X over many years. This would require taking high-paying jobs with signing bonuses, but also long hours and stress.

After: Financial freedom is possible in 10 years, not 15+. She will start a coaching practice that is personally fulfilling. She may work later in life, but for fewer hours and in a meaningful way.

Key changes: Instead of building a pile of retirement savings, she will supplement her income from ages 60 to 70 as a part-time coach.

“I’m 55 and assumed that I needed to work until at least 62. You showed me that with two easy changes, I can be free now! I can ditch the corporate job and work part-time at my local nursery. I was a forestry major, you know.”

Profile: Age 55, Single no kids, Visual Merchandiser, Alameda, California.

Before: Work until age 62 and continue building retirement savings. Endure 7 more years of corporate politics.

After: Retire from her corporate job immediately. Live mostly from interest on savings. Work a more fulfilling, part-time job at a local nursery for supplemental income.

Key changes: Continue to live inexpensively. Invest her savings in a money market fund and bond ladders.