Many CRNAs hit the $1 million savings mark and assume they are automatically ready to retire.

While reaching that milestone is a huge achievement, retiring well isn't just about the balance in your accounts. It is about timing, flexibility, and protecting yourself from the hidden dangers that appear in the final decade of your career.

In this episode, Brett Fellows, CFP®, shares five powerful moves you should make before you retire if you have saved over $1 million. These aren't generic tips; they are strategies derived from real-life case studies and years of planning with CRNAs.

Brett explores:

• Why two retirees with the exact same portfolio can have completely different outcomes based on "sequence of returns risk"
• Why the 4% rule is outdated and what to use instead
• The "Freedom Account" strategy that allows CRNAs to retire years before age 59½
• Why you should lock in liquidity (like a HELOC) while you still have W2 income
• How to handle the "Fragile Decade" and guard against lifestyle inflation in your "go-go" years

Key Timestamps:

(0:37) Intro: When does work become optional? 
(2:00) Step 1: Run your numbers early (The Fine-Tuning Stage) 
(2:35) Sequence of Returns Risk explained 
(3:35) Why the 4% Rule is outdated 
(5:30) Step 2: Build a Brokerage Account (The Freedom Account) 
(7:30) Step 3: Lock in liquidity before you retire 
(9:15) Step 4: Tackle big expenses during the "Fragile Decade" 
(11:15) Step 5: Guard against lifestyle inflation 
(12:50) Creating intentional spending guardrails 
(13:25) Recap of the 5 steps

For more information and resources related to this episode, please visit the show notes.