Retire Early Or Else!

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  Early Retirement Guide

  
  This year Business Week's annual retirement guide covers steps everyone can do now to get out early! Find advice for your 20s, 30s, ..., tips as your nearing your target date, and how to take the unexpected early plunge.
  
  Next: Take the unexpected plunge: Analyze the Buyout Offer

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• Severence pay

  The Buyout Offer:
  How Much Severence?

  Perhaps you weren't planning to retire early. But then your employer springs a buyout offer that would have you packing up in a hurry. Considerations that matter:
  
  If you're leaving five years early, how much severance pay would you need to take the plunge?
  
  More About Severance Pay
  
  Next: Taxes on Lump Sum

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• taxes

  The Buyout Offer:
  Watchout for Taxes

  
  Severance pay is taxable, so if you take all the money at once, you'll have to pay taxes on the severance and the salary you've earned in that year. That could easily push you into a higher tax bracket.
  
  More About Tax Considerations
  
  Next: Pensions

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• get the pension plan

  The Buyout Offer:
  Ask for Full Pension

  
  If you have a defined benefit plan, your company may give you credit for extra years worked to boost the pension or speed up its effective date. Sometimes you can arrange for a lump sum in lieu of a monthly payout.
  
  More About Pension Matters
  
  Next: Health Insurance

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• think about health insurance

  The Buyout Offer:
  Health Insurance Costs

  
  Employers are not required to offer you subsidized health insurance -- and if they do, they can cut it off as long as they give notice, usually 60 days.
  
  More About Health Insurance
  
  Next Slide: Lawsuit Waiver

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• no lawsuit

  Getty Images

  The Buyout Offer:
  Lawsuit Waiver

  
  As a condition of the buyout, companies often ask employees to sign a waiver forfeiting their right to sue.
  
  Sign the Waiver?
  
  Next: Negotiations

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• negotiations

  The Buyout Offer:
  Negotiate More?

  
  Though most companies offer a preset early retirement package, other items executives negotiate are company stock options and insurance.
  
  Negotiate More?
  
  Next: Early Retirement Plans

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  Early Retirement Guide

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• how to reach early retirement

  How to Reach Early Retirement -- Early!

  What factors do you need to consider if you want to retire early? See how buying a house, having kids and portfolio management affect longterm retirement goals:
  
  Early Planning in Your 20s
  Early Planning in Your 30s
  Early Planning in Your 40s
  Early Planning in Your 50s
  SS: Early Retirement Steps
  
  Next: Retire a Millionaire

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  Early Retirement Guide

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• retire a millionaire

  From AOL:
  Retire a Millionaire

  
  Aside from winning the lottery or selling your own company, what does it take to retire with a million-dollar nest egg? Here's the bottom line:
  
  Retire a Millionaiare
  
  Next: More From AOL Money

  More on Retirement

  Early Retirement Guide

  Who'll Coddle Your Nest Egg?

  Post-Retirement Dreams

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