What does soccer have to do with retirement? A lot more than you'd think. As a 5'5" former college soccer player turned financial advisor, I’ve learned it’s not about brute strength. It’s about smart decisions. That mindset guides the way I approach financial planning today.

At 29, people ask why I care so much about retirement. The answer is simple: good planning gives you time. And time with the people you love is the most valuable thing there is. I've seen how a well-structured plan, from managing taxes to optimizing healthcare and using flexible accounts, can buy you years with aging parents, a spouse, or even just your own freedom.

But there are traps, like being "qualified rich." That $2 million in your 401(k)? After taxes and penalties, it’s not what it seems. That's why I'm a big fan of what I call “superhero accounts” like brokerage accounts that let you retire on yourterms. And don’t get me started on the healthcare gap between early retirement and Medicare. It’s one of the biggest mindset hurdles we help people overcome.

I got into this work after watching my own parents get burned by multiple advisors. Some were too fancy, some were too hands-off, and none truly planned holistically. That gap in the industry is what I aim to close.

To me, the goal is recreational employment. Working because you want to, not because you have to.

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Ari Taublieb, CFP ®, MBA is the Chief Growth Officer of Root Financial Partners and a Fiduciary Financial Planner specializing in helping clients retire early with confidence.