Financial advisor argues Americans need flexible work long before retirement

Brian Herriot says most retirement plans ignore the years when Americans need the most flexibility, especially while raising children and caring for aging parents. His new book, Time Freedom, argues that control over work and money should start earlier, not after age 65.

Why it matters: - Millions of Americans are trying to manage work, parenting and elder care at the same time, which leaves little room for a traditional retirement-only financial plan. - Herriot argues the bigger issue is not just how much money people save, but how much control they have over their time during the decades when demands are highest.

What happened: - Brian Herriot, a financial advisor and author based in Alameda, California, is releasing Time Freedom: Rethink Your Work and Money to Create a Life You Love Now on September 15 through Page Two Simplified. - Herriot says the standard financial sequence is backward because it pushes the payoff into the 60s while people face the heaviest demands earlier in life. - Herriot is available for interviews on building money confidence, working more flexibly and growing a lifestyle business. - Herriot also hosts The Time Freedom Podcast.

The details: - Pew Research Center estimates about one in four American adults is raising a child while also caring for an aging parent. - Care.com’s 2026 survey found that the dual caregiving role typically starts around age 34 and takes about 24 hours a week. - Herriot’s Time Freedom Formula™ combines three levers: lifestyle expenses, investment income and flexible work. - Herriot argues most people focus only on spending less and investing more, which keeps the plan centered on retirement at 65. - Herriot says flexible work can move time freedom much earlier, often substantially. - Herriot does not frame the book as an argument for quitting work or retiring as early as possible. - Herriot says working later in life can still be part of a good plan if the work is something a person wants to keep doing. - The book has endorsements from Cal Newport, author of Deep Work, and Héctor García, co-author of Ikigai. - More information is available at timefreedom.life.

Between the lines: - The pitch reflects a broader shift in how Americans may need to think about financial independence: not as a single end point, but as the ability to adjust work on demand. - Herriot’s message also reframes flexibility as a form of wealth, especially for workers balancing caregiving, business ownership or other unpredictable responsibilities.

What's next: - Time Freedom will be available starting September 15. - Herriot is positioning the book and his interviews around a broader conversation about lifestyle businesses and time control before traditional retirement age. - Herriot’s media contact is Kirby Denison at kirby@timefreedom.life. - Brian Herriot’s social media profiles include LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.