[smcphile]

There’s no “one size fits all” answer to the question. Some people certainly have started from zero at age 40 and have happily retired before the legal retirement age. Whether or not it’s possible for you depends. Life situations vary enormously.

Two suggestions:

Read Rolf Dobelli’s “The art of the good life” to get a realistic idea of how the world works, and how both character and the fates have a role in how your life plays out.

Set up a spreadsheet to model earnings and expenses from age 40 to age 90 and see what the model tells you. Play with the numbers to develop a strategy that works for you and your situation.