The Escape Runway Protocol
A calm, simple way to see how long your savings might last through a career break, redundancy or early retirement.
The Identity Trap
Stepping away from a long career isn't just a financial change. It can be an identity shift too.
Many suffer from "One More Year" syndrome. You keep moving the goalposts out of fear because you don't trust your numbers.
Let's work through the numbers together, so you can make your decision with a clearer picture.
Calculating the Runway
Your "Baseline" vs. "Comfort" Burn Rate
- Baseline: The bare minimum to keep the lights on and feed yourself. (Mortgage, bills, basic food).
- Comfort: The baseline + the cost of a purposeful life (gym, travel, hobbies).
Your Numbers
The Bridge
If you step away from work well before pension age, a private pension can usually only be accessed from 55, rising to 57 from 2028. Some people think about this gap as a "Bridge".
For example, cash ISAs, easy-access savings or Premium Bonds. Quick to reach, and the value does not go up and down with the stock market, though inflation can reduce what it buys. This is your shock absorber.
Medium-term savings or investments that could help cover the years before pension age. Different accounts have different rules and risks.
SIPPs and workplace pensions. Usually locked away until pension age, so not part of your bridge.
Your Runway
Your accessible Tier 1 & Tier 2 savings divided by your Monthly Comfort Burn Rate.
Awaiting Your Numbers
Fill in your Comfort Burn and Tier 1 + 2 savings above to reveal your personal runway.
Example: £50,000 ÷ £2,500 = 20 months of runway (an illustration only).
The Next Step
Do you have enough?
If running these numbers brought up anxiety rather than relief, that is useful to know. It may be worth pausing before making a big decision, and talking it through.
I can run your numbers through cashflow modelling, allowing for inflation, tax and withdrawals, so you can see an illustrative range of outcomes before you decide. This is coaching, not regulated financial advice.
Let's talk. Book a free chemistry call to think through your next move.