u/Head_Valuable8345

Married couple in California, ages 52 and 50. We have about $6.7M in investable assets and a primary home worth around $2.5M with a $500k mortgage left.

Current annual spending is around $200k including mortgage, but if we retire, I think it could realistically become $250k/year because of healthcare and travel. If we pay mortage off it drops to roughly $220k.

On paper, the math seems okay. But emotionally, I’m struggling with the decision. My job is stressful and working another 2–3 years could add a lot of safety. At the same time, part of me worries we’re just stuck in “one more year” mode.

Would you retire now with this setup, pay off the mortgage first, or work a few more years to create a bigger cushion?