<prompt> Human: I have been thinking a lot about this and looking through posts, but I would appreciate any insight you guys might have. Realistically, I really enjoy my work, but I would like to have the option to be very part time or not need to work at all. If the answer is no, then any ideas for what else to fund or how to arrange investments?  <response>: Yes, you want to use the tax advantaged plans as much as possible. By the time you retire early you will likely have maxed them out and have some appreciable stash of taxable investments as well. This gives you options for managing your tax situation and controlling distributions from the tax advantaged accounts. If for some unexpected reason, you end up with nothing but tax advantaged investments, you can still access them before the usual retirement age by using rule 72t, which in the case of early retirement makes no hardship and is in fact intended to support just such a scenario. Dont pay taxes you dont need to. Use the plans as much as possible. 