Dave Hughes’s Retire Fabulously Celebrates 10 Years!

Ten years ago, on July 14, 2013, I posted my first entry into a crazy new blog I started called Retire Fabulously! My intention then, as it remains today, is to help you envision, plan for, and enjoy the best retirement possible.

Back then, I was still working. I was four years away from my planned retirement date. But then my company offered a very attractive early retirement package. I was tempted – very tempted. I searched for every retirement financial planning tool I could find, entered my numbers, and played with the figures to see if I had enough money saved to retire at 56.

But more than that, I searched for information about what it’s really like to be retired. I wanted tips for how to live my best life after I no longer had to go to work every day.

I found very little information. The internet was awash with articles about how much money you need to retire and how much you can withdraw from your savings without running out of money. But practically no one was talking about how to enjoy your retirement.

That’s why I started Retire Fabulously!

It’s been an incredible journey. I’ve written just shy of 200 articles. (Some of them have been retired from the website because they weren’t so fabulous.) For a year and a half, I contributed weekly articles to US News & World Report. My articles have appeared on other websites too, such as lgbtSr, Yahoo! Finance, Next Avenue, CNN/Money, Tiny Buddha, and others.

I’ve written three books and sold hundreds of copies of each. Smooth Sailing into Retirement was even translated into Korean; hundreds of copies have been sold there.

Best of all, I’ve received emails, article comments, and in-person comments telling me that my books and articles have helped people and made a difference in their lives. That has been the best reward.
About two years ago, I reached a point when I realized I was running out of new things to write about. After eight years, I had “been there, done that.” I decided to take a break from writing new articles. I turned my focus toward writing gay-themed fiction, and I now have three novels published and three more in various stages of development.

Still, Retire Fabulously! continues to receive over 100 page views a day, on average, and several new subscribers every month. In June 2023, I gained 30 new subscribers! So obviously, there is still a demand for this information.

As most of you know, I took that early retirement package and ended my career on December 31, 2013. It’s worked out great. I’ve never regretted the decision. I can honestly say retirement is fabulous!

Today, on Retire Fabulously!’s tenth birthday, I’m celebrating by releasing a new article: The Truth About Medicare (Dis)Advantage Plans.

In the year preceding my 65th birthday, I received a deluge of advertisements touting the benefits of various Medicare Advantage plans and urging me to sign up.

At that time, I had no clue how Medicare Advantage plans worked and no idea whether I’d choose MA or traditional Medicare. So, I did a lot of research. A lot./div>

Dave Hughes