Janice Stacy, 56, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Works as: Administrator for a city public health agency
Aiming to retire in: 2016
With plans to relocate to Atlanta, Stacy -- who is single -- purchased a home there three years ago. She visits once a month to get herself acclimated.
Though family and friends are the main draws, she also knows her retirement life will be richer, literally, moving to a city that's much less expensive. "Everything is cheaper there -- home prices, taxes, insurance," says Stacy.
Designing her home for the long run. Though Stacy's house in Atlanta is two stories and larger than her Brooklyn home, she made sure the new construction plans included a bedroom, full bathroom and laundry room on the first floor so it will be easier to age in place.
There's also room for family if she needs to take care of her aging parents down the road.
Holding out until she vests. Stacy knows exactly when she'll be able to retire: March 1, 2016. That's when a military pension from a career in the Navy will kick in; she'll also mark 25 years of service with New York City, boosting the small pension she'll get from her current job.
Her retirement income projections show that her two pensions, plus Social Security will replace 80% of her income, so she won't need to draw from her investments for daily living expenses.
"I'm ready for retirement," Stacy says. "I just need to work a few more years to get there."
Once you're within 10 years of your quit date, you've already faced down some tough challenges. But you'll still have to navigate tricky waters in the final leg of your career. Here's Money magazine's guide.
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