One More Year Syndrome (OMYS) is the tendency of people who have reached or exceeded their FIRE number to keep working “just one more year” instead of retiring. Driven by fear of market downturns, inflation, or lifestyle creep, OMYS leads many to over-save and delay early retirement.

Common reasons include: wanting a larger safety buffer, fear of boredom, identity tied to work, or concern about sequence of returns risk. The syndrome is well-documented in FIRE communities—people who could retire today often work 2–5+ extra years.

Recognizing OMYS can help you set a clear target and stick to it. Consider defining not just a number, but a date or trigger (e.g., “when I hit 30x expenses, I give notice”).