<p>Another point, the college fund needed is only a small percentage of what is required for a fully funded retirement savings account and it is on a fixed schedule with no real play. So we funded college before retirement and then when that was checked off, during the kids middle school years, we switched to savings for retirement above the company matching 401K option. I worked in a high paying, not fun profession until that point and boy was I glad when I finally didn’t have to sell my soul for a big paycheck anymore.
Also, there is way more creativity, in both financial vehicles and other assets, available for amassing enough to comfortably live on after you retire. By the time you have to or need to or want to stop working you ideally have more options in terms of selling your home and trading up or down, selling other assets and investments.
So it worked out to save for college as a first priority and then for retirement as long as you are young enough and/or able to work enough years to have that plan work out. It also presupposes that your greatest earnings will be in the early-mid part of your career, but that may be when the fire in your belly is roaring strong anyway, I know I could not work at that pace at this point in my life.</p>