How to Money · Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Wes Moss's research indicates that the ability to stop working, even just a year or two earlier, provides a significant happiness boost, with a 21% increase in happiness levels observed in those who can say they are 'retired' if they choose. He likens this to using GPS, suggesting that being intentional about shortening the gap to retirement can lead to substantial gains in overall life happiness, rather than solely focusing on maximizing retirement funds.
“And the power in the folks that said yes was dramatic and statistically significant, and a twenty one percent difference in happiness levels that the happiness alpha from the group that says, no, I still have to work, versus the group that said no, I'm I'm I can say that I'm done work if I won to right now.”
“So I think if we if we are really intentional, Joel is the way I look at this, and we follow we know what the happy camp does and we're doing the same five things. Do we shave off one three five years? Because I want people to get there as soon as they can, because it I know that our happiness levels. That's one of the big jumps right there.”