Similar - I probably realised a little earlier though that working for the particular multi-national (erm, the big employer in Brighton and Burgess Hill) had such an institutionalising affect on people. I set my sights when I was about 40 on milking whatever I could, paying off mortgage (done by 43), making sound investments and retiring as soon as I could. I managed it by 47, (2.5 years ago), it definitely made me happier.
Strangely though, I'm not sure this particular institution has a problem retaining people - As I alluded to, they're brainwashed to an extent. Watching people essentially do f all but spend 10+ hours in the office managing to do so was such a depressing experience. In fairness, said company does also pay essentially incompetent people a lot of money because they happen to have an accounting qualification so I guess that helps the retention!
Same company