Retiring early isn’t just about leaving the workforce—it’s about knowing whether your lifestyle and finances are ready to support the years ahead. On this episode of Money Unscripted, host Ally Donnelly talks with Donna and Stan about how they retired early–on their terms. Fidelity VP and Regional Planning Leader Andy Alvarez joins the conversation to break down the key questions anyone should consider as they think about retirement. How much do you really need to retire? How can you turn retirement savings into reliable retirement income? What could a retirement budget look like, and how can you help your money last as inflation drives up costs? If retirement is on your radar, watch now. 00:00 Welcome to Money Unscripted 01:02 Donna and Stan: Retiring their way 04:49 When can I retire? 05:25 How do I design and pay for my retirement lifestyle? 06:13 What are ways to plan my retirement budget? 11:40 How much should I have saved for retirement? 13:18 How can I plan for health care costs in retirement? 16:30 How can I test my retirement plan before I retire? 23:41 How long will my retirement savings last and what can I do to make them last longer? 30:10 Retirement planning: Key takeaways Questions? Drop them below 👇and we’ll reply right in the comments. *How to feel financially secure in retirement* An income annuity may offer greater financial peace of mind. https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/personal-finance/benefits-of-annuities *How to safeguard your retirement* Steps to combat the triple threat of inflation, recession risk, and falling markets. https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/personal-finance/retirement-asset-allocation View all episodes here: https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/money-unscripted. New episodes drop bi-weekly on Tuesdays. Have a comment or episode idea? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at moneyunscripted@fidelity.com. Be sure to follow, like, and share Money Unscripted! © 2026 FMR LLC. All rights reserved. • To see more videos, subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/fidelityinvestments • Follow Fidelity on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/fidelityinvestments/ • Follow Fidelity on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fidelityinvestments • Follow Fidelity on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fidelityinvestments • Follow Fidelity on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fidelityinvestments/ • Follow Fidelity on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fidelity-investments/ • Ask Fidelity on X: https://www.twitter.com/Fidelity Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC, 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 02917 1244984.2.0 #Retirement #retirementsavings #retirementcalculator #retirementplanning #healthcareinretirement