While there is strategy outlined and take-aways, he does obviously enjoy some advantages.  He likely has a company DB pension, vs DC, which allows him to have a more equity heavy discretionary portfolio.  And he had stock options and likely a company stock match purchase plan that accelerated his accumulation of TD stock whose yield is supplementing his retirement income.  He likely generates enough cash flow that he won't get into a situation where he has to rely on his fixed income components of his discretionary bucket.  
Not saying all working grunts don't have access to a company DB pension, stock options, and company stock purchase plan but it's not going to be the majority of the population.