To me, it's more about financial independence than early retirement. Financial independence gives you the options to do a lot of different things; "retire" and volunteer for an effective charity, continue working and donate 100% of your income to charity, continue working and balloon your nest egg to establish a trust to be donated to an effective charity upon your death, etc. The knowledge that you are 100% financially independent gives tremendous security that (as well as it's other benefits, such as decreasing stress) allows someone to comfortably and without consideration give large amounts of money.
it's more about financial independence than early retirement
In the context I treat them as synonyms.
allows someone to comfortably and without consideration give large amounts of money.
Ahem. That is an excellent way to stop being financially independent in short order.
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