Book excerpt: The definitive guide to financial independence at any age! Retiring early is not limited to lottery winners or the super rich. In fact, with proper planning, we can all retire at a younger age than we ever dreamed—but only with the right plan. Personal finance expert Deacon Hayes explains the practical, concrete steps you can take to start your retirement when you’re young enough to thoroughly enjoy it, including: *Developing a personalized retirement plan *Maximizing income *Understanding opportunity cost *Assessing and reducing debt *Selecting the right investment vehicles *Sticking to the plan With Hayes’s guidance, you can achieve financial independence and enjoy an active, happy, and long retirement.