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
-
How to Retire at 50 or 55Yes, you can retire at 50 or 55. Take these FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) steps now.
By Jacob Schroeder
-
The 'Rule of 25' for Retirement Planning: Start HereTry the simple calculation of the "Rule of 25." Because sometimes, a back-of-the-napkin idea is all you need to get started.
By Jacob Schroeder
-
How to Manage Longevity Risk in Retirement: 10 SolutionsLongevity risk is the downside of our longer life expectancies. Here are 10 ways to make sure your money lasts.
By Jacob Schroeder
-
Forget FIRE: Why ‘FILE’ Is the Smarter Move for Child-Free DINKsHow shifting from "Retiring Early" to "Living Early" allows child-free adults to enjoy their wealth while they’re still young enough to use it.
By Jacob Schroeder
-
The 'Die With Zero' Rule of RetirementIf spending makes you nervous, the 'Die With Zero' rule might be for you. Because you don’t want to be the richest person in the graveyard.
By Jacob Schroeder
-
The Stoic Retirement: Ancient Wisdom for Today's RealityA "Stoic retirement" doesn't mean depriving yourself. It's a character-based approach to life and aging that can bring calm and clarity.
By Jacob Schroeder
-
The Vinyl Rule of Retirement: Plan for Two Sides in Your Next ActBecause "Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”
By Jacob Schroeder
-
Think You Know How to Be Happy in Retirement? These 9 Stats Might Surprise YouWhen 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
-
The Final Countdown to Retire Early in 2026: A Monthly GuideThis 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
-
I Walked Away from a Stable Mid-Career Job — Here’s the Retirement Math Behind that DecisionLife 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
-
The 'First Year of Retirement' RuleThe '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
-
The Mulligan Rule of Retirement — Seven Mistakes You Can FixUse 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
-
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
-
How to Retire Early in Seven StepsHere is the secret sauce for how to retire early. Just be sure it's what you really want.
By Jacob Schroeder
-
The 'Second Law' of Retirement RuleThe 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
-
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
-
The 90+ Rule of Retirement: Live Long and ProsperWhat good is living longer if your money doesn’t last long enough to enjoy it?
By Jacob Schroeder
-
Five Early Retirement Mistakes to AvoidThese early retirement mistakes can douse your FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) efforts.
By Jacob Schroeder
-
The Rule of the Shrinking Dollar in RetirementAlas, 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
-
How Different Generations Invest and What They Can Teach YouBoomers, 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
-
The Rule of Self-Reliance — a Retirement RuleThe 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
-
What Your Portfolio Says About You – and Your Relationship with RiskHow 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
-
The Rule of Two Lives in Retirement: A Retirement RuleThe 'rule of two lives in retirement' means accounting for your partner at every decision point, because one life becomes two.
By Jacob Schroeder
-
Four Personality Traits Lead to More Retirement SavingsFour behavioral traits lead to more retirement savings down the road. Only 10% of workers have all four; do you?
By Jacob Schroeder
