David and Susan: From “Are We Missing Something?” to “We Can Do This Now”
Written By: Scott Van Den Berg, CFP®, ChFC®, CEPA®, AIF®, CRPS®, CMFC®, AWMA®
David (71) and Susan (60), financially secure and planning a global retirement lifestyle, sought clarity on whether their goals were realistic and if they could retire sooner. Through personalized planning, we uncovered risks in owning multiple international properties and reframed their strategy toward flexibility—renting instead of buying to preserve liquidity and reduce complexity. This shift enabled David to retire immediately while supporting their travel-focused lifestyle.