Retiring early is everyone’s dream and most of us will not be able to do it unless we have engaged in pension planning early on in our lives.  It is hard in today’s economy to retire early, and very few people are able to save up enough money during the years that they have worked to live comfortably on only their retirement savings.  When you sit down with a professional to work on pension planning you have to take into consideration the quality of your life when you retire, potential illnesses and hospital stays, and other factors that will tap your money.  You also need to consider just how satisfied you will be without a steady job.  Depression and dissatisfaction are common when people retire early.  Consider it carefully.