We recently connected with Allyson Wynne Allen and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Allyson Wynne thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

We had already considered retiring soon. I knew I’d leave early, there was no way I would continue to work as a pediatric physician assistant for 5-7 more years after Covid. My husband suffered a stroke and would not return to work. After that all settled down, I decided to work one more year then take an early retirement from Kaiser Permanente. Not only do I leave at age 58, in rapid succession, we sell our home to venture across the United States for nearly 3 months in search for our new home base. The route was dictated by where our friends and family lived. They would provide room and board along the way. We spent 81 days on the road, spent only about $5000. total.
We risked leaving the work force early, selling our home in Southern California to become nomads for a time. 2 years later we landed in Georgia, enjoying its beauty and proximity to the east and gulf coast where there’s so much to explore.

Allyson Wynne, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Many family and friends were amazed at this adventure and wanted to know more of why and how we accomplished this major change in our lives. I wrote a book that chronicles our journey and decisions that led us to take this risk. “From a Dream to a Drive Rollin’ into Life After Work” encourages the reader to begin thinking about retirement sooner than later. I highlight the discipline of living within your means, saving for retirement and forming a relationship with a financial advisor.
While most people my same age are still in the work force, I am able to enjoy life on my terms. I dictate how I spend my time. I am able to explore hobbies that I had no time to enjoy while working and raising a family.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

My financial advisor made all the difference. I believe everyone has their expertise and if able, build a relationship with an advisor. Because there is so much to know and the consequences are great, one should begin that relationship early in their career. This relationship should discuss saving money in the numerous and various financial vehicles while assessing your risk tolerance, desired lifestyle in retirement, and desired age to retire.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

To begin with, I was over driving. Having endured many road trips, including a few cross country treks as a child, and having to maneuver around Los Angeles traffic, driving all around the US was a very real detail I had to reconcile. Because of his stroke, my husband was not comfortable driving. I would be responsible for most of the driving.
Then, while in Atlanta on this road trip, I was caught in a severe thunderstorm. I was terrified but was able to make it safely back. I had to encourage myself to take on the challenge of driving each time we hit the road to the next destination.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @alwynal
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits

Erick Cortes