August 8, 2025

How Much Is Enough? Find Your Freedom Number

Ian Richards

What Clients Ask:

  • How much do I actually need to stop working
  • What’s our number for financial freedom?
  • Are we saving too much-or not enough?
  • Can we travel more and still be smart?
  • Are we drifting without a real plan?

What is a Freedom Number-and why does itmatter?

Your Freedom Number is the amount of wealthyou need to make work optional, maintain your lifestyle, and have peace ofmind. It’s the number that lets you sleep at night knowing your future issorted-while freeing you to live better now.

For many clients, this clarity is a gamechanger. Take Dave, a senior exec earning £260k+. Despite multiple pensions,RSUs, and a Buy to Let, he had no idea if he was on track. After working withus, he knew exactly what was needed to make work optional by 60-boosting hisprojected wealth from £1M to £2.5M.

How to Calculate Your Freedom Number:

  1. Start with Life Costs – What does life cost now? What do you want to maintain?
  2. Include Big One-Offs – Uni fees, weddings, dream holidays.
  3. Choose a Freedom Age – 55? 60? Retire early or downshift?
  4. Factor in Investment Growth & Inflation – Be realistic but optimistic.
  5. Stress-Test for Life Events – Redundancy, illness, inheritance.

    With our AlignedLife Plan and cashflowmodelling, we simulate all of this-giving you clarity, control and theconfidence to act.

    Why it matters:

    • It tells you if you can spend more now
    • Helps you avoid over-saving and under-living
    • Makes conversations with your partner easier
    • Provides a benchmark to track against

    Your Freedom Number gives permission.Permission to relax. Permission to enjoy holidays without guilt. Permission toknow when “enough” is really enough.

    Want to find your number? 👉 Takethe 3-min Live Well Scorecard.

    About Ian & Work to Live Financial Planning

    At Work to Live Financial Planning, we specialise in helping high-earning UK professionals in their 40s and 50s align their money with their life. Whether you're a senior executive, business owner, or navigating a big life change, we help you find clarity, control and confidence-without spreadsheets, jargon or overwhelm. Through our signature 3-step AlignedLife Plan, you’ll know your Freedom Number, optimise your wealth, and design a life that’s lived well now, without screwing up the future.

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    Ready to create a life that fits?

    If you’ve built wealth but feel like the big picture is missing, now’s the time to pause, step back, and reset with intention.

    Book a Free Clarity Call or take the Live Well Scorecard for your first step to more clarity.

    Want to explore if it’s right for you? Book a Free Clarity Call.
    Im Ian