Early retirement is a dream for many, and I can personally attest to the fact that it IS all it’s cracked up to be - IF you plan and prepare. But like most big life decisions, it comes with both rewards AND realities. As someone who retired early (after being laid off at 55), I’ve realized a few things. There are a lot of PROS, but also a few CONS. Here’s how I’d break it down: The Pros: • More time freedom (the big one) — to travel, explore hobbies, or simply slow down. After working for years,