I know a Delta pilot who makes over $16,750 a month on LTD at Delta (and will for another 13yrs) plus another $2700 gets put into his 401K per month for another 13yrs. He'd give it all up for his health/medical back, but unfortunately that is not in the cards. Luckily, finances will not be one of his concerns in his earlier than planned retirement, but his situation has shown me first hand that no one knows what lies ahead and all the best plans can go astray with a surprise medical condition.