She's Worked 36 Years As A Nurse and Saved $828,000—Now She Wants to Retire, But Suze Orman Says No. She'll Need Keep Working And Move To Oregon
- - She's Worked 36 Years As A Nurse and Saved $828,000—Now She Wants to Retire, But Suze Orman Says No. She'll Need Keep Working And Move To Oregon
Caroline LubinskyJanuary 31, 2026 at 11:07 PM
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After 36 years in nursing, Lisa was ready to trade scrubs for shelter pets.
The 57-year-old widow, who recently sold her home to cut expenses, hoped her $828,000 nest egg would be enough to retire and pursue a lifelong dream: working part-time with animals. She called into Suze Orman's YouTube show for advice—and maybe a little validation. What she got was a sharp dose of Suze-style reality.
Orman asked Lisa to grade herself on her financial readiness. Lisa, hopeful but realistic, gave herself a B+. Suze gave her a C-minus.
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Suze Orman Breaks It Down
Lisa's financials weren't terrible. In fact, they looked solid on paper:
$311,000 in retirement accounts
$87,000 in emergency savings
$430,000 in investments
No mortgage, no consumer debt
Monthly take-home pay of $3,000
Monthly expenses of $2,707
But Orman was quick to point out that while Lisa's numbers add up now, they don't account for what's about to change. Leaving full-time work means losing employer-provided health insurance. Taking a part-time job—especially one with animals—might be fulfilling, but won't come with benefits.
That's where Suze's $4,000-a-month benchmark came in. According to her math, Lisa's assets would only safely generate about $2,000 a month after taxes. Add a modest part-time income—around $20,000 a year or $1,250 a month—and Lisa still falls $750 short of her target.
Lisa mentioned in her paperwork that she'd consider relocating to Oregon and possibly living with her sister to reduce expenses. Even then, Orman calculated a shortfall of $165 per month.
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The Plan for an "A" Rating
Suze Orman didn't just hand out a harsh grade—she mapped out a path to improvement. Her advice:
Keep working full-time until age 60 to maintain employer-provided health insurance and avoid drawing down savings too soon.
Relocate to Oregon as she's considering, which could lower her monthly expenses and allow for shared housing with her sister.
At 60, begin collecting Social Security survivor benefits from her late husband, which would provide about $700 per month.
Take a part-time job that brings in no more than $15,720 per year, the income limit that keeps her survivor benefits intact without penalty.
At 67, switch to her own full Social Security benefit and drop the survivor benefit. Between that and investment income, Orman projects she'll have around $4,100 per month after taxes, a sustainable income for retirement.
"Sounds good," Lisa said after hearing the plan. "Thank you very much."
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A Rare Position, but Not Quite There Yet
While Lisa's $828,000 puts her far ahead of most Americans nearing retirement, she's still just shy of the millionaire threshold many consider a safety zone.
According to the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, only 4.7% of U.S. households have at least $1 million saved for retirement. That means Lisa's close—but not quite in the elite tier where early retirement is typically more feasible.
And while $828,000 might feel like plenty, it has to stretch across potentially three decades or more, covering rising health care costs, long-term care, inflation, and the possibility of unexpected emergencies. Suze Orman's "C-minus" grade wasn't about scolding—it was a caution against stepping away too early and finding out too late that the math doesn't hold up.
In Orman's world, she'd rather you overprepare than come up short. She's famously warned that even $2 million is "pennies" when you consider the real costs of aging. And that's before factoring in longevity risk, market downturns, or surprise medical bills.
If you're hoping to leave your career behind early—or switch to a passion project like working with animals—the key is building in serious flexibility. That's where a financial adviser can help. They'll model your income, benefits, taxes, and health care in a way that turns vague dreams into sustainable plans. And according to Northwestern Mutual's 2024 Planning & Progress Study, Americans working with advisers tend to save twice as much and retire two years earlier than those flying solo.
For Lisa, the finish line is in sight—but reaching it on solid ground means staying the course a little longer.
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