53-Year-Old With Accounting Degree and MBA, After Years in Fast Food, Asks If Retirement Is Possible

A 53-year-old man with an accounting degree and MBA, who spent years working fast food jobs due to inability to break into the accounting field, recently landed a $45,000/year accounting position. He has only $1,000 saved for retirement and $147,000 in student loan debt. He contributes $700/month to a traditional IRA and hopes to earn his CPA license and eventually open his own practice. Reddit commenters advise focusing on income growth through raises, job changes, and side hustles rather than just savings. The article highlights the broader challenge of late-career retirement planning for Americans facing low wages, career setbacks, and debt.