Money Makeover - A revised plot for writer's retirement - Glen Golightly's plan to leave his day job for Hollywood may not lead to a happy ending.

Over the years, Golightly, 45, has collaborated with a former Green Beret to capture the gritty horror of the Vietnam War for a screenplay. He has traveled to the Oklahoma panhandle to research another script.

By spending about 20 hours a week writing, he has produced four screenplays, a novel, numerous short stories and even a haiku. Trouble is, he hasn't made a cent doing it.

Though writing the next Hollywood blockbuster is Golightly's passion, he makes his money the 9-to-5 way, working as a publicist in the aerospace industry. But Golightly wants to change that.

"This is my dream," he said of his off-hours writing. "I either need to do it or forget about it."

The Long Beach resident wants to retire from the corporate rat race when he's 55 and devote himself to writing full-time. He also is thinking of buying a condo in Hollywood to be closer to the entertainment action. And it would be nice to have more free time to travel and pursue his other hobbies, such as biking and hiking.

But can he afford to ditch his day job?

Golightly makes $95,000 a year. He has saved nearly $300,000 so far: about $120,000 in his 401(k) retirement account, a like amount in stocks and mutual funds and about $36,000 in a savings account.

Aside from the $215,000 mortgage on his Long Beach condominium, he is debt free. He tools around town in an 11-year-old Kia Sportage and pays off his monthly credit card bills.

All of that keeps Golightly in good financial shape. But it's not enough to fund an L.A. dream of becoming a Hollywood writer.

"He might have the next big blockbuster. But it's a dangerous decision to make," said Scott Leonard, a certified financial planner and founder of Leonard Wealth Management in Redondo Beach. Leonard, along with his associate, Eric Toya, also a certified financial planner, reviewed Golightly's finances.

Because Golightly doesn't have a history of making income as a freelance writer and has yet to hit the big time a script, Leonard counseled him to hold onto the security of his corporate gig. A steady paycheck, good healthcare and a pension are just too good to give up.

If he keeps working at his current job, he could retire at 65 with an income of roughly $75,000 -- receiving $17,000 from Social Security, about $14,000 from company pensions and the rest from his 401(k) plan and other investments.