A rule of thumb we often use in the financial independence (FI) community is that you should have a minimum of 25 years of expenses saved up before you can call yourself FI and afford to retire early (RE).
Those who reach FI relatively early in their careers often do so because they’re good at what they do. If you’re good at what you do, there’s a decent chance you might enjoy what you do, and you just might want to keep doing it.
Maybe you’re successful at what you do, but you don’t love what you do, and you’d rather do something different. Do it! FI is your Get-Out-of-Jail-Free card for whatever cell, clinic, or cubicle you may be stuck in.