Chapter 21

Jack and I were doing well at our jobs and my investments in McDonalds and Wal-Mart were increasing in value every year. So much so that at dinner one evening, I asked Dad what he thought about retiring early.

"How early," he asked?

"How about by the end of the year, I responded? You're going to be fifty three years old, you've worked hard all you life and you've had to worry about always making ends meet. Jack and I make more than enough money to put a roof over our heads, food in our mouths, put away money for retirement, with a little left over for extras.

Jack and I have each set up a self directed individual retirement account with our broker. This year I want you to do the same. I have over ten thousand in my account; Jack has a little over eight in his. If you set one up now, you can still make a $ 2,000 deposit for last year and a $ 2,000 deposit for this year. With interest rates being what they are, you will have close to $ 5,000 available to invest in the stock I told you about. That investment will grow substantially for at least ten years. By that time, your account should be worth about five million dollars. You and Mom can start traveling, see the world, go on vacations; you won't have to worry about money ever again."