Early retirement for some means a voluntary and happy decision to leave behind the world of paid work and commence a life of leisure as soon as financially possible. For others, early retirement is forced on them by altogether less pleasant circumstances, by their employer making cuts and looking for ‘volunteers’ of a certain age, or perhaps through ill health.

Whatever your situation now, successful retirement depends almost entirely on successful planning through your working life, particularly if your retirement starts earlier than expected. If you’re fifty-something and have woken up on Monday morning with a suddenly-inflated bank balance but without a job to go to, your financial plans now need close attention!