Welcome to the Jill on Money Podcast. It is Thursday, May 27. I know you're getting ready

for a long weekend and for many of you, this is the first long weekend where you're going

to really be able to get out there with your vaccinated arms running around and talking

to other people. And I think that's great. I celebrate it. But before you start that

long holiday weekend, we are so glad that you are joining us. We really are. If you have

a financial question, just send us a note. Our email address is ask Jill at JillOnMoney.com.

And our website JillOnMoney.com has got lots of good stuff there and there's a contact

button. So if you're over on the website and you've got a question, just hit that button.

You'll get your message, boom, ready to rock and roll. Okay, Elaine writes, my husband

and I are planning on retiring early. His side of the family has short life spans. He

takes good care of himself, but he already had cancer and a stem cell transplant when

he was 30. Oh my God. He works for the state past year and a half. He's earned unusually

high income because of overtime. The formula for his pension includes the top three earning

years. And he'll be 54 this year. He can continue the insurance coverage once he makes

it to 25 years. So let me just say you better get to that 25 year mark, right? We are planning

on retiring in five years. In addition to hitting that 25 year mark, several things will

then be in place. One, our house will be paid off. Two, we will both have our 35 years

of decent income for social security calculations. Three, I'll be 56. So if I were to leave

my employer, I will have access to my 401k. Four, he will have access to his 403 B and

we'll be able to take his pension. Five, he will have about $450,000 in mostly tax deferred

assets. Okay, here's what they need. They need about 60 grand a year before taxes to maintain

their lifestyle. They'll be getting 38 grand from the pension. They're going to fill that gap

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