Sep 3, 2026 – 5.00amWhen investment markets experienced a wobble in February, the last thing early retiree Kathleen McDowell, 57, and her husband, who retired in December last year aged 59, wanted to do was sell any of their investments.McDowell, who retired at 55, says the couple had prepared for such a market downturn by keeping enough money to cover 2½ years of living expenses – about $350,000 – quarantined in cash and out of reach of market volatility.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Jessica PennyWealth reporterJessica Penny is a wealth reporter for The Australian Financial Review in the Sydney newsroom. Email Jessica at jessica.penny@afr.comFetching latest articles
How to avoid retirement’s two biggest wealth destruction traps
There are pitfalls that can threaten to destroy post-work riches. Here are five ways you can protect them from catastrophe.
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