Jacob Schroeder
Jacob Schroeder is a financial writer covering topics related to personal finance and retirement. Over the course of a decade in the financial services industry, he has written materials to educate people on saving, investing and life in retirement. With the love of telling a good story, his work has appeared in publications including Yahoo Finance, Wealth Management magazine, The Detroit News and, as a short-story writer, various literary journals. He is also the creator of the finance newsletter The Root of All (https://rootofall.substack.com/), exploring how money shapes the world around us. Drawing from research and personal experiences, he relates lessons that readers can apply to make more informed financial decisions and live happier lives.
Latest articles by Jacob Schroeder
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The Vinyl Rule of Retirement: Plan for Two Sides in Your Next Act
Because "Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”
By Jacob Schroeder
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Think You Know How to Be Happy in Retirement? These 9 Stats Might Surprise You
When it comes to your retirement happiness, don't believe everything you hear. We've turned to solid research for the facts on finding your bliss in retirement.
By Jacob Schroeder
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The Final Countdown to Retire Early in 2026: A Monthly Guide
This guide will help you retire early in 2026, with a month-to-month checklist of achievable goals. What are you waiting for?
By Jacob Schroeder
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I Walked Away from a Stable Mid-Career Job — Here’s the Retirement Math Behind that Decision
Life is short. Should you quit your job for a more satisfying career? Or were you laid off? Here's how I learned to protect my retirement after leaving a steady job.
By Jacob Schroeder
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The 'First Year of Retirement' Rule
The 'first year of retirement' rule says the 12 months after you leave work set the tone for your entire later life — so it's vital to approach them mindfully.
By Jacob Schroeder
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The Mulligan Rule of Retirement — Seven Mistakes You Can Fix
Use the Mulligan Rule to undo these seven costly retirement errors. While you can’t go back in time, some retirement choices allow for a “correction shot.”
By Jacob Schroeder
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Eight Habits for a Happy Retirement
happy retirement A long and happy retirement takes more than just money. Here are eight things happy retirees do — besides dutifully saving the money they’ll need to quit the 9-to-5 grind.
By Jacob Schroeder
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Retire Abroad Before 55: What Are You Waiting For?
Can't afford FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) in the U.S.? Why not retire abroad? Financial planning experts weigh in with nine tips to get you started.
By Jacob Schroeder
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How to Retire Early in Seven Steps
Here is the secret sauce for how to retire early. Just be sure it's what you really want.
By Jacob Schroeder
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The Rule of 1,000 Hours in Retirement
For retirees, the rule of 1,000 hours brings intention and clarity to your day. Because time is the most valuable thing you can spend.
By Jacob Schroeder
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The Rule of 55 in a 401(k): One Way to Fund Early Retirement
The Rule of 55 lets you access your 401(k) retirement funds early. When paired with other strategies, it could help you kiss the office goodbye.
By Jacob Schroeder
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The 'Second Law' of Retirement Rule
The second law of thermodynamics inspires this retirement rule, because “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
By Jacob Schroeder
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Will an AI Robot Take Care of You in Old Age?
AI may be just the help older adults and their caretakers need. Just don't expect it to be a cute little humanoid — yet.
By Jacob Schroeder
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Retire Before 59.5: The IRS Rule to Unlock Your IRA or 401(k) Cash Penalty-Free
This early retirement hack lets you tap your retirement savings without tax penalties. But you must plan well.
By Jacob Schroeder
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The 80% Rule of Retirement
The 80% rule promises a comfortable lifestyle in retirement. Does it deliver, or should it go the way of paper checks and landline phones?
By Jacob Schroeder
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The 90+ Rule of Retirement: Live Long and Prosper
What good is living longer if your money doesn’t last long enough to enjoy it?
By Jacob Schroeder
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Five Early Retirement Mistakes to Avoid
These early retirement mistakes can douse your FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) efforts.
By Jacob Schroeder
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The Rule of the Shrinking Dollar in Retirement
Alas, we must all follow the rule of the shrinking dollar once we hit retirement. Here's how to hold onto your hard-earned money in many years.
By Jacob Schroeder
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How Different Generations Invest and What They Can Teach You
Boomers, Gen Xers, millennials and Gen Zers are taking varying approaches to investing. Here's what they're doing and key lessons you can learn from them.
By Jacob Schroeder
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The Rule of Self-Reliance — a Retirement Rule
The rule of self-reliance holds that your well-being in old age is up to you, not your children, because "nothing can bring you peace but yourself."
By Jacob Schroeder
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What Your Portfolio Says About You – and Your Relationship with Risk
How well do you understand yourself and your risk tolerance? Being able to answer this question will help you become a better investor.
By Jacob Schroeder
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The Rule of Two Lives in Retirement: A Retirement Rule
The 'rule of two lives in retirement' means accounting for your partner at every decision point, because one life becomes two.
By Jacob Schroeder
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The Kevin Bacon Rule of Retirement
The Kevin Bacon rule is more of a test.
By Jacob Schroeder
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Four Personality Traits Lead to More Retirement Savings
Four behavioral traits lead to more retirement savings down the road. Only 10% of workers have all four; do you?
By Jacob Schroeder
