This tool gives you an honest, personalised answer. Not a motivational score - a real picture of where you stand mentally, financially, and practically.
It covers how ready you are psychologically, what your numbers actually look like, and then helps you work out the best route to funding an earlier exit from work.
At the end you get a personalised breakdown with resources matched to your situation.
Part 1 - PsychologyPart 2 - Your NumbersPart 3 - Your RoutePart 4 - Your Results
This tool is built to be revisited. Come back whenever your circumstances change.
Part 1 of 4 - Mental Readiness
The Psychology Check
These questions reveal how ready you actually are - not just how much you want this.
Question 1 of 7
When you think about stepping back from work, what is your strongest feeling?
Question 2 of 7
How clear are you on what your days would look like if you stepped back from work?
Question 3 of 7
How much of your identity is tied up in your job or career?
Question 4 of 7
How aware are you of time passing - the gap between now and when you'd ideally like to step back?
Question 5 of 7
When you imagine your life in 5 years, which feels most true?
Question 6 of 7
If your income outside of work covered your essentials tomorrow, how quickly would you step back?
Question 7 of 7
What matters most to you in the life you're building toward?
Please answer all questions before continuing.
Part 2 of 4 - Your Numbers
What Do You Actually Need?
These questions build your real income target.
Financial Question 1 of 7
What is your approximate monthly take-home pay from your job?
£
After tax and National Insurance.
Financial Question 2 of 7
What are your total essential monthly outgoings? (mortgage or rent, utilities, food, insurance, phone)
£
Round number is fine.
Financial Question 3 of 7
What would you want to spend monthly on lifestyle - travel, eating out, hobbies, clothes, leisure?
Financial Question 4 of 7
Do you have an emergency fund - savings you could live on for 3 to 6 months?
Financial Question 5 of 7
Do you have a workplace or personal pension?
Financial Question 6 of 7
Do you currently earn anything outside of your job?
£
Monthly average. Include anything at all.
Financial Question 7 of 7
When would you ideally like to step back from work?
Please complete all questions before continuing.
Part 3 of 4 - Your Route
How Will You Fund It?
There are five main ways people build financial security ahead of early retirement.
1. Savings
Building up a lump sum in ISAs and savings accounts you draw on over time. Simple and low risk, but requires a significant pot to sustain a long retirement.
2. Pensions
Tax-efficient but inaccessible until at least age 57 (rising to 58 by 2028). If you want to step back before that, pensions alone cannot bridge the gap.
3. Investments
Stocks, shares, and funds that grow over time. Higher potential returns than savings but comes with risk and requires a longer time horizon.
4. Property
Buy-to-let generates rental income and capital growth but requires significant upfront capital, ongoing management, and carries legislative risk.
5. Recurring Income
Income streams that pay you consistently without trading hours for pounds - memberships, digital products, affiliate income, or network-based models. The only route that can realistically be built from scratch within a 2 to 5 year window without large upfront capital.
What is recurring income?
Recurring income means money that comes in regularly without you having to actively work for every pound. You build it once and it keeps paying. Unlike a salary it is not tied to your time. Unlike a lump sum it does not run out. It is what makes stepping back from work financially viable without waiting until traditional retirement age.
A few questions to find your best fit
Answer honestly - this is about matching the right approach to your real life.
Route Question 1 of 6
How much do you have in savings or investments outside of your pension?
Route Question 2 of 6
Do you own property or have access to capital you could invest in property?
Route Question 3 of 6
How comfortable are you with investment risk?
Route Question 4 of 6
How much time could you put into building something alongside your job?
Route Question 5 of 6
Do you have professional knowledge or skills that other people would pay for?
Route Question 6 of 6
How do you feel about travel - is it a genuine part of how you want to live?