A field guide to a life with choices.
Timing is everything. When to take a season, when to claim, when to stop for good. Free tools, honest math.
Education, not advice.
As of Oct 16, 2026. Refreshed daily from public data.
Today's conditions report
Your number says if. The fire danger says when.
Bad years right after you stop hurt the most. The Retirement Timing Meter reads six public signals linked to that risk.
Today: Very high risk. Several risk signs at once. Flexibility and a cash or bond buffer matter more.
What your risk level means · and how your own plan can lower it
What's moving it most
- Valuations+35.0 pts
CAPE 40.4 · extreme risk (100/100) · as of Oct 16, 2026
- Market high+18.8 pts
2.0% below its high · extreme risk (94/100) · as of Oct 16, 2026
- Yield curve+3.4 pts
+0.83 pts · moderate risk (34/100) · as of Oct 16, 2026
Educational, not financial advice. The meter is planning context, not a signal to quit (or stay) tomorrow. A flexible plan matters more than perfect timing.
Tell me when the risk level changes.
One short email when the meter moves to a new level, usually a few times a year. Nothing in between.
Retire more than once.
Your money compounds for decades. Your kids are little for about five years. Take a season when it matters, go back, retire for good later.
Every big decision has a when.
Pick a life area. Get the short take.
- A seasonWhen should you take a season?Timing take
- Final retirementWhen should the last season start?Timing take
- Market conditionsWhen do conditions favor a start?Timing take
- DownshiftingWhen should you downshift?Timing take
- Social SecurityWhen should you claim Social Security?Timing take
- Rule of 55When should you leave a job to use the rule of 55?Timing take
- Catch-up savingWhen do catch-up contributions open up?Timing take
- MortgageWhen should you pay off the mortgage?Timing take
- Roth conversionsWhen do Roth conversions make the most sense?Timing take
- One more yearWhen is enough, enough?Timing take
- The first yearWhen should you make big changes after you stop?Timing take
- Health coverWhen does the health-cover clock start?Timing take
Who'll be there?
The money runs on a spreadsheet. The Tuesdays run on people.
Life after work can feel lonely at first, and that's more common than people admit. Plan your people the way you plan your savings.
- H Hands
- E Energy
- A Adventure
- R Roots
- T Tend
- H Heart
Bring AI to the kitchen table.
A patient planning partner for the questions you'd rather not ask out loud. It helps you think. You check the math.
- Check the math.
- Never paste private details.
- Confirm decisions with a licensed professional.
Not retiring early? You still belong here.
Keep working, downshift, take a season or stop for good. A life with choices is the goal. Quitting is just one of them.
Free to print
Pick the one that fits where you are. Each is free when you join Kindling, our weekly email, and opens right on the page. No cost, unsubscribe anytime.
Today's pick
Social Security Timing – SWR Series Part 59
Article · Early Retirement Now · Karsten Jeske
A number-by-number look at whether someone who retires young should claim Social Security early or wait, and how much the choice really moves a long-term spending plan. Helpful if you're mapping out your own timeline and want to see how much this one decision matters.
Read: Social Security Timing – SWR Series Part 59 (opens in a new tab)
Free for everyoneYour information isn't for saleEducation, not adviceHow uFIRE makes money