A million dollars ain't what it used to be...
The average American now believes they need a $1.46m portfolio in order to retire.
And for many... even that number seems too low.
Because on Marketwatch recently someone wrote into their advice column with the following statement/question
"I have $2.5 million and fear that I’ll never be able to retire."
He was 57, his wife was 60.
They didn't have a spending problem... in fact they spend just $70,000/year.
The house was paid off... as were their vehicles.
But to me it became clear exactly what the issue was.
Because here's what the gentleman said in his opening paragraph explaining his predicament
"I think my fears center around uncertainty in the market and around not having an income stream (I have been working since I was 14)."
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And you know what, I get it.
He's been working since 14... flexing that provider muscle for the past 43 years.
That's not something you can turn off overnight...
Whether you have $1.5m... $2.5m... or $10.5m...
That existential dread about potential downturns with no way of topping up your pot... will always exist. Especially if you spend a lot of time watching CNBC or reading Marketwatch/WSJ/Bloomberg.
(Don't even get me started on the permabear doom-and-gloom types on X)
So this gentleman didn't have a net worth issue... nor did he have a spending issue...
He had a fulfilment issue!
My grandfather was the same way... he couldn't slow down... didn't know how to.
He worked from age 13 up until 85.
But only because he loved it... and it made him happy.
Some of my most vivid memories are watching him with his giant early 90s cellphone doing deals from his apartment in the South of France.
But many people don't love their work like that.
And do want to slow down... while still needing something to fill the gap.
For some it'll be an income gap... for others it'll be a fulfillment gap... and for some it'll be both.
I think the Wheel Strategy is the perfect solution for this.
Because you can earn anywhere from $500-$50,000 per month in just a few hours per week using your existing brokerage account.
For the gentleman who wrote into Marketwatch... I'd have him use just 15% of his portfolio for the Wheel... which would allow him to make more than enough to cover his living expenses.
Then I'd install our hedging protocol for the remainder of the portfolio to protect him from major losses during market downturns.
Giving him and his wife the safe, fulfilling retirement they always dreamed of.
Best part? You don't need anywhere near $2.5m or even a fraction of that to get started.
Just $10,000 of spare cash and 4 hours per week is enough in the beginning...
And if you want our help along the way... we're opening up Options Cashflow Accelerator again next week... for next cohort of 2026.
Stay tuned... but in the meantime if you want a primer on how The Wheel Strategy works... check out this video here.
Oliver