The Great Transition - From FTE to RE | 9 to FI 031 | 9 to FI Podcast
From 9 to FI - Financial Independence Conversations by Elliot and Josh
February 23, 2026 · 56 min · Season 1 · Episode 31
About this episode
Elliot and Josh discuss the transition from full-time work to early retirement, sharing personal experiences and strategies for a successful shift.
Do you have feedback or suggestions? We want to hear from you! Contact Elliot: Elliot@ninetofipod.com Contact Josh: Josh@ninetofipod.com The Great Transition: How to Move from Full-Time Work to Early Retirement Without One-More-Year SyndromeElliot and Josh discuss the under-covered topic of transitioning from full-time employment into early retirement. Josh recounts how he ended up at a company he hadn’t heard of, worked there for 25 years, and viewed work primarily as a means to provide benefits and income rather than an identity. They share tactics for excelling while protecting time—prioritizing what a boss says matters most, pushing back on low-value meetings, managing deadlines, and avoiding burnout by not immediately turning in work early—which Josh says helped him become highly efficient and even led to two back-to-back promotions. The conversation then shifts to retirement logistics and psychology: Josh gave 14 months’ notice to a new manager, explains why he wasn’t worried about being let go, and contrasts Elliot’s experience of being quickly escorted out of a sensitive cybersecurity role (though paid out for his notice). They address “one more year syndrome,” with Josh…
People in this episode
Hosts: Elliot, Josh
Topics covered
- early retirement
- full-time employment
- work-life balance
- retirement planning
- career transition
Keywords
- early retirement
- career transition
- work-life balance
- retirement planning
- one more year syndrome
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: ninetofipod.com
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