Joel Hirchert

Several years ago, I was in a career that required long hours and extensive travel. While I enjoyed the work, I felt I was missing out on important moments in my children's lives. I wanted to be more involved and more present, so I made the bold decision to retire temporarily in my mid-40s.

I was able to do this because I created a personal financial strategy and stayed disciplined with it. By doing so, I achieved enough financial freedom to focus on what truly mattered to me. This experience reinforced my belief in the value of having a solid financial...