How Much Do You Really Need Invested to Replace a $135,000 Tech Salary Without Touching Principal at 52?

Leaving behind a $135,000 senior software engineer salary at age 52 may sound straightforward until the income-replacement math becomes real. Because most retirement accounts remain difficult or costly to access before age 59½, the burden shifts heavily toward taxable brokerage assets. That constraint changes both the structure of the portfolio and the amount of capital... How Much Do You Really Need Invested to Replace a $135,000 Tech Salary Without Touching Principal at 52?