I don’t dare to retire before 50 despite having $430K in assets

I was born and raised in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province. When I was 25, I decided to move to Da Nang City to start my career. Here, I got married and have children.

My elderly parents still reside in my hometown. Living far from home, I try my best to visit my family several times a year.

Currently, I am working as a business director at a branch of a large company, earning around VND80-90 million per month. Meanwhile, my wife is an office worker with a monthly income of VND13 million. After years of saving, my wife and I have accumulated VND11 billion worth of assets, including three houses in the city center and two cars.

I have been pondering over whether to retire early to spend time with my elderly parents or to continue with my current job with an income that many dream of . I believe that the ultimate decision depends on each person's goals, there is no right or wrong for everyone.

My biggest goal at the moment is to maintain my job and income to grow our wealth before considering retirement. I will strive to work until I am at least 50. In other words, I will only stop when I am unable to continue working like I do now.

Many people have asked me why I have not stopped working and enjoy life with my current wealth and income.

But leaving my job and moving to the countryside will bring about many issues, such as the cost of raising children until they graduate from university, which could take decades. I would also have to consider setting aside some money for my children’s marriages and providing them with a home in the future. Moreover, there is no guarantee that the value of my properties will increase or plummet in the future.

Not to mention, the amount of money needed to build a house and move back to the countryside will not be small. Additionally, leaving behind the big city life that I have become accustomed to for years to return to the countryside is not an easy adjustment. Job opportunities in the countryside are definitely not as abundant as in the city. So, if I cannot find employment there, will my current assets be for the next 5, 10, or even 20 years?

Therefore, after much deliberation, my current goal is to continue working hard, earning money, and accumulating a minimum of VND20 billion by the age of 50. Only then will I consider retiring. Although my workload makes me weary and the thought of my elderly parents living alone in the countryside also troubles me, I understand that I need to strive towards the ultimate goal, which is securing a good future for my children.

If you were in my shoes, would you consider early retirement?

Reader Da Nang

*This opinion was translated into English by AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.