Roofer · Retire in 365 days
How a Roofer Retires in 365 Days
Roofs end careers at 55, not 59 — and the best job in roofing is on the ground. Sal's exit is the attic ladder, and it pays $45k.
Sal Jr., 55 — married; Gina works at the school
Episode in production — the written drill below is the full story.
The income
$54k (1099) — a good month is 3 tear-offs
The savings
$265k — SEP-IRA plus the truck and gear
The outcome
In the episode: money lasts to 90
The countdown
12 months out
The honest math first: a full stop at 56 doesn't clear. But roofers have the best ground job in the trades waiting — insurance adjusting and roof inspection. The cert course costs $2k and uses everything he knows about roofs, minus the roof.
6 months out
Shoulder MRI while the good insurance covers it. Every trade drill in this series schedules the surgery before the exit — bodies are equipment.
3 months out
The crew joins a bigger outfit; the truck and gear sell for $22k. The tools were an asset the whole time.
Retirement day
The last tear-off is his own garage. Gina films it.
The twist
First hailstorm season as an adjuster pays $61k — storm work is feast work, and the skill transfers completely. The surplus goes to savings, not a bigger truck.
The verdict
Off the roof at 56, adjusting to 62, Social Security at 65. A framer and a roofer run the same numbers playbook — but they are different people, different bodies, different exits. That's why each gets an episode.
Now run it with YOUR numbers.
The same tool from the episode — drag the levers, watch the money-runs-out age move, make the plan yours.
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Educational estimates only — not financial, tax, or investment advice.