If you’re in your 30s, 40s, maybe pushing into your early 50s, chances are this question has floated through your head at least a dozen times:

“Am I saving enough for retirement?”

And right on its heels: “When can I actually retire comfortably, or even better, semi-retire or at least become work OPTIONAL so I can enjoy life sooner?”

I want to tell you right away that you’re not the only one asking this. Almost every client I work with, no matter how much they earn, no matter the age, has that exact same knot in their stomach and natural discomfort with this question. 

Because here’s the truth: money is rarely just about numbers. It’s about security, freedom, and knowing the life you’ve worked so hard for, and the savings you’ve been disciplined about for so many years is actually leading somewhere you want to be.

Why “Am I Saving Enough?” Feels So Heavy

Part of what makes this question so stressful is that it feels like there’s a moving target. 

Retirement isn’t a single number on a spreadsheet, it’s a vision of how you want to live. 

Maybe it looks like traveling the world. Maybe it’s scaling back to part time so you can spend more time with your kids while they’re still at home. Maybe it’s having the freedom to walk away from a career you’ve outgrown.

But when you’re balancing a mortgage, kids’ activities, student loans, and everything else pulling at your wallet, it’s hard to imagine how all of that translates into “enough”…without fully compromising your enjoyment today. 

And honestly? Many people with high incomes still feel behind. I’ve seen folks with multiple six figure salaries who are embarrassed to admit they’re not sure they’re doing it “right.”

I always remind them: money (especially income) doesn’t automatically equal peace of mind, clarity and a plan do.

The Real Question You’re Asking

When you say, “Am I saving enough?” what you’re really asking is:

• “Am I going to be okay?”
  
• “Will my family be taken care of?”
  
• “Will I have to work forever?”
  
• “Do I get to actually enjoy my money, or do I have to white knuckle it until I’m 70?”

And those are very human, relatable, questions.

The good news is that you don’t need to have it all figured out today. But you do need a clear roadmap that’s specific to your version of “enough.”

How to Start Answering the Question for Yourself

Here’s where I encourage my clients (and you) to begin:

1. Define your lifestyle vision, not just your number

Instead of asking, “How much do I need?” start with: “What do I want my days to look like in retirement?” Do you want to keep working part time? Travel often? Live in your same home or downsize? Live simply but comfortably near family? 

Your answer drives your number, not the other way around. Please remember that. 

2. Know your current savings rate and have a goal in mind

A lot of experts will throw out the rule of thumb like save 15–20% of your income for retirement. And yes, that’s a great target. But let’s be honest here, life is expensive. Between kids, mortgages, debt, vacations, and just wanting to live a little now, that number can feel next to impossible. 

Here’s where I want you to land: doing nothing is not an option. 

Even if you can’t hit 15–20% today, start with what you can do. 5% is better than 0%. Automating a few hundred dollars a month into your 401K or IRA is better than waiting until “things calm down” (spoiler: life never fully calms down).

What matters most is building the habit and creating momentum. Once you see progress, and once your income grows or expenses shift, you’ll be able to ramp up and catch up faster than you think. Higher earners, especially, often underestimate how quickly they can close the gap once they’re intentional.

So take a breath. You don’t need to obsess over hitting some arbitrary rule of thumb number, because at the end of the day, it’s about creating the life you want, not checking a box. 

But the bottom line to remember is that you can’t afford to do nothing. Something is always better than nothing.

3. Run the projections

This is exactly where diving into the numbers or working with a financial planner can make a huge difference. 

Numbers aren’t meant to stress you out, although I know they do for many people because they feel overwhelming on a screen. But when they’re mapped out clearly, they can actually bring an incredible amount of peace of mind. 

Seeing the path laid out…

If I start here today or do this next, what could that mean for my future?…Is SO powerful. 

For many of my clients, looking at the math and how their savings, investments, and potential growth all fit together for the future turns that vague, nagging anxiety of “Will I Have Enough” into a clear, confident action plan that you feel good about.

4. Build in flexibility.

Life rarely unfolds in a straight line. Market swings, job changes, family shifts, loss, all of it matters and impacts your personal and financial life.

Instead of a rigid “this is the exact number,” focus on ranges and goal amounts and come back to your plan every 5 or so years as life changes. Circumstances change, priorities change, your financial situation will change in positive or negative ways you can’t anticipate right now. Stay engaged and stay flexibility – that way, you know where to adjust when life inevitably throws you a curveball.

There’s Not One Single Way to Retire

One thing I always emphasize: retirement doesn’t have to mean you slam the brakes at 65 and never earn another dollar again. 

For many in their 40s and 50s, the idea of semi-retirement, becoming work optional or simply leaving your current job for something less stressful but still bringing in income, opens up a lot of freedom.

Shifting What Retirement Can Mean: 

• Scaling down earlier without worrying you’ll run out of money.
  
• Pursuing work that excites you rather than drains you.
  
• Easing into the slower pace instead of an abrupt stop.
  

Sometimes just realizing you have options, not a hard finish line, makes the whole retirement conversation feel lighter and more achievable.

The Idea of “Enough” Is Personal

There’s no magic universal number that says, “Congratulations, you’re good now.” 

Your version of enough depends on the future you want, your values, the lifestyle you want to live, the legacy you want to leave and the flexibility you want built in.

What I want you to take away is this: 

You can retire comfortably and you can enjoy your life along the way. 

But it requires lifting the question out of the fog of worry and putting it into a plan, sooner than later.

If this question is tugging at you, don’t shove it down or hope it works itself out, that’s really the main message here. 

Ignoring it can cost your future financial flexibility and success. 

Start talking about it, planning around it, and mapping it with intention. That’s where peace of mind comes from, not from a perfect market or stock pick, but from having a plan, making informed decisions and knowing your choices. 

And if you need someone to walk through that with you? That’s exactly why I do what I do.