“Early retirement is rarely just a financial decision, and for many Kohl's employees it’s about aligning income flexibility, health care planning, and personal purpose so retirement becomes a transition they shape rather than an on-off switch.” — Michael Corgiat, a representative of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement.

“Early retirement planning works best when Kohl's employees think beyond leaving full-time work and instead focus on building flexibility around income, health care, and daily structure so retirement supports both long-term needs and personal fulfillment.” — Brent Wolf, a representative of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement.

In this article, we will discuss:

1. How early retirement for Kohl's employees often includes continued part-time or flexible work.

2. Financial and lifestyle indicators that may signal readiness for early retirement.

3. Why purpose, structure, and health care planning play a major role in retirement decisions.

By Neva Bradley, CFP® | Wealth Enhancement

After decades of work, early retirement is often viewed as a complete exit from the workforce. For many Kohl's employees, however, retirement can be far more flexible in practice. Research suggests that a significant share of retirees return to paid work after initially retiring, with older workers far more likely to do so on a part-time basis rather than full time. ¹

This reality highlights that retirement decisions involve more than just finances. For those retiring from Kohl's, lifestyle considerations—such as how time is spent and how much structure remains—often play an equally important role. Many people prefer adjusting how they work rather than stopping altogether.

Below are several indicators that may suggest readiness for early retirement, along with reasons some retirees continue working in a limited or flexible capacity.

1. You Have Reduced High-Interest Debt or Are Debt-Free

High-interest and unsecured debt can limit flexibility in retirement by increasing required cash flow. For Kohl's employees approaching early retirement, reducing these obligations before stepping away from full-time work can ease pressure on retirement resources and preserve choice.

2. You Have More Than One Income Source

Relying solely on portfolio withdrawals can feel restrictive for some retirees. Studies show that retirees with multiple income sources often report higher satisfaction and greater adaptability in retirement spending decisions. ²

Having multiple income sources—such as investment income, real estate cash flow, or limited paid work—can offer flexibility and reduce dependence on any single stream, an approach many Kohl's professionals consider as they transition.

3. Your Retirement Savings Support a Longer Time Horizon

Early retirement means planning for a longer period without full-time earnings. Longevity research consistently shows that retirees may spend 25–30 years or more in retirement, ³  increasing the importance of long-term planning.

For Kohl's employees, flexibility around spending and withdrawal timing can be an important factor across decades of retirement.

Strong savings do not eliminate interest in continued work, but they can make work optional rather than necessary.

4. You Have a Clear Health Care Strategy Before Age 65

Medicare eligibility generally begins at age 65, making health care planning especially important for early retirees. Health care spending often represents one of the largest expense categories in retirement, particularly before Medicare eligibility. ⁴

Kohl's employees considering retirement before that milestone often evaluate strategies for premiums, out-of-pocket costs, and coverage transitions to reduce uncertainty.

Some retirees continue part-time work specifically to help manage health care coverage or related expenses prior to Medicare eligibility.

5. You Maintain Social Connections Outside of Work

Work often provides built-in social interaction. Research has shown that social engagement and routine are closely linked to well-being in retirement. ⁵

Maintaining relationships, community involvement, or shared activities outside of Kohl's can support well-being throughout retirement.

6. You Can Create Structure Without Full-Time Work

Retirement does not have to feel unstructured. Many former Kohl's professionals find rhythm through volunteering, continuing education, travel planning, or limited professional engagements. Part-time work can also restore a sense of routine after leaving a full-time role.

7. You Have a Sense of Purpose Beyond Your Job Title

Leaving a long-held role can mean giving up familiar challenges and a sense of contribution. Clarifying how you want to spend your time—through personal interests, learning, service, or selected work—can shape how fulfilling early retirement feels after a career at Kohl's.

For many retirees, this means deciding what to continue, not just what to leave behind.

The Bottom Line

Early retirement does not necessarily mean never working again. Many retirees return to work in some capacity, often on a part-time basis. For Kohl's employees, retirement planning that balances financial readiness with lifestyle preferences can reduce regret and increase flexibility during this transition.

How The Retirement Group Can Help

If you are considering early retirement—or evaluating whether full retirement aligns with your goals— The Retirement Group  can help you think through both the financial and lifestyle aspects of the transition. To discuss retirement planning considerations, contact The Retirement Group at  (800) 900-5867 .

If you're weighing retirement planning, Kohl's's benefits structure is the piece most employees underestimate. The retirement plan details that seem like fine print today become the numbers that define your income later.

For Kohl's employees, the retirement plan sets the foundation: Employees have access to retirement savings programs with company contributions, along with healthcare benefits that complement their overall compensation package. But healthcare fits into the same equation. Your health plan costs, HSA eligibility, and whether retiree medical coverage is available all shape a realistic approach to retirement planning.

The value of getting this right is significant: small differences in timing, contribution rates, and election choices at Kohl's can compound into meaningful income differences over the course of retirement. That's especially true for retirement planning.

Sources:

1. T. Rowe Price.  New Report on Why Recent Retirees Want to Return to Work . Sep. 19, 2023.

2. TIAA.  Want a longer, happier life?  2023.

3. Kiplinger.  Quick Question: Are You Planning for a 20-Year Retirement or a 30-Year Retirement?  by Brian Pinsky, Dec. 12, 2025.

4. Fidelity Investments.  Understanding Your Clients’ Health Care Needs . Fidelity Investments, Aug. 2025, pp. 1–2. Fidelity Institutional,  https://institutional.fidelity.com/app/proxy/content?literatureURL=%2F907163.PDF.

5. National Library of Medicine.  Retirement's impact on health , by Asal Pilehvari, Wen You, and Xu Lin, May 10, 2023.