The 12 Years Between Early Retirement in 2030 and My Pension in 2042: The Most Vibrant Blank Slate of My Life

 Hello. I am a blogger who shares records of my investments and life. 

In my last post, I shared the core framework of my portfolio. Today, based on that system, I would like to share a concrete milestone of the future I am heading toward: the '12 years' between my early retirement in 2030 and receiving my personal pension.

Some might look at these 12 years of no traditional salary in my mid-40s as an 'anxious gap.' For me, however, this time is a brilliant opportunity to break free from the fixed mold and reclaim absolute ownership of my life. Instead of commuting like a pendulum, I plan to fill my days reading and writing every morning, learning cooking and sports, and experiencing a completely new world.

Of course, this freedom is not based on blind optimism; it is possible because of a thoroughly calculated, 'simple system.'

Withdrawing 3 Million Won a Month: Can It Really Last 12 Years?

At the center of my plan is the capital that will be established upon my retirement in February 2030. It consists of an estimated retirement asset of 300 million KRW and a retirement pension asset of 180 million KRW, which will mostly hold the S&P 500—totaling approximately 480 million KRW in index assets. After retiring, I intend to withdraw 2.5 to 3 million won monthly from this asset for living expenses.

By simple math, spending 3 million KRW a month over 12 years (144 months) requires a total of 432 million KRW. In other words, even if the assets do not grow at all and stay completely flat, the initial capital at retirement (480 million KRW) alone is more than enough to fully cover the 12-year gap, leaving a surplus.

However, the story becomes even more reassuring when we leave the majority of our assets in the world's most resilient assets, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ indices.

Let's assume that, according to historical data, the index achieves a conservative annual compound growth of around 7%. Even if I regularly withdraw 3 million KRW a month, the remaining capital automatically grows in the background. Of course, this simulation is based on past data. However, looking at it from a historical perspective, I firmly believe that the S&P 500 will protect asset value and continue its upward trend. Because of this belief, instead of hovering around the market out of anxiety about the future, I can invest in time and live my present life to the fullest.

Consequently, after generously drawing the necessary living expenses over 12 years, by the time I reach the age of 55 in 2042—when I can finally begin withdrawing my personal pension assets—hundreds of millions of won will remain intact in our account.

Furthermore, these assets will continue to compound in the background, eventually merging with the national pension I will receive another 10 years later, in 2052, providing a multi-layered and flawless defense for my golden years. The magic of compounding works so well that money remains even after spending it. This is why I trust the power of retirement assets and have buried my pipeline in the market.

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Small Income Sources to Build Life Muscle

Of course, I do not intend to rely solely on the comfort of numbers. During these 12 years, I will create small income sources driven entirely by my own actions.

I have already personally experienced working in food delivery. Cutting through the crisp dawn air, I learned with my own body the value of money earned through sweat. After retirement, small royalties from my writing, blog revenues, or modest income from physical activities will complement my monthly system withdrawals.

That money will not be a painful labor simply for survival, but rather a 'life muscle' that keeps me healthy and engaged with the world as the master of my own life.

The Courage to Walk Outside the Mold

Many people accept retirement as 'the end of all income and activity.' Because of this, they fear the gap before their pension starts and remain bound to their jobs as slaves to capital.

However, just as the essence of investing is to bring peace to your life, the essence of retirement is not to gather more numbers, but to reclaim 'sovereignty over your time.' The 12 years from 2030 to 2042 will not be a blank space for me, but rather the most profound and beautifully fulfilling time of my life.

Simple is best, Less is more.

We can leave the investing to the simplest indices, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ, and simply enjoy life more abundantly within the time that the system gifts us. When is the most vibrant period of the life you dream of?

I cheer for everyone building their own simple system today. I will see you in the next story on Saturday. Thank you.