Reading Time: 3 minutesThe Model That Doesn’t Exist Nobody tells you this before you retire: the day you stop working, you’ll probably have no idea what you’re actually supposed to do next. Not in a panicked way — just a quiet, unsettling “now what?” that nobody warned you about. Our culture does not provide a single model for …
Reading Time: 3 minutesPeople assume that if they’re financially ready, everything else in retirement will fall into place. The dominant retirement narrative says, “Get your finances right, and everything else follows.” It’s baked into every retirement calculator brochure and planning conversation. Money does allow us to buy things that enhance our lives and provide a sense of security. …
Reading Time: 2 minutesWhen Having It All Figured Out Becomes the Problem I remember thinking I had retirement figured out. I had a plan. I was wrong about most of it. Some of us have a personality that likes to plan things in advance. When we go on a trip, we figure out where we’ll spend each night …
Reading Time: 4 minutesThe Busiest Retirees You Know When Mary and John retired, they both immediately jumped into lots of activities. Mary joined a card club that met multiple times a week. She also joined a yoga studio where she attended several classes a week. John went golfing every morning and worked on his classic car several afternoons …
Reading Time: 5 minutesWhat George Didn’t Expect (And You Might Not Either) George never imagined that he’d be bored in retirement, but he had to admit that he was. Before he retired, he fantasized about how much he’d enjoy having all that free time. He loved to play golf, but with work and home responsibilities, he never had …
Reading Time: 4 minutesOur ‘Forever Home’ Lasted Eight Years When we retired, my wife and I decided to move to a retiree community in Arizona. We bought a home with the idea that it would be our “forever home.” We significantly upgraded it with new windows, solar tubes, new flooring, French doors, landscaping, and a bathroom upgrade. After …
Reading Time: 3 minutesMy wife and I feel very fortunate to have been able to fully retire at age 63. If it hadn’t been for my military pension, we’d still both be working. Unfortunately, it’s clear that many boomers and upcoming Gen Xers will not be financially prepared for retirement. What happens then? The Thing Nobody Talks About …
Reading Time: 5 minutesYes, You Still Need Tech A few months after I retired, I found myself staring at my task manager—the same one I’d used for years to juggle client deadlines, meetings, and projects. It was nearly empty. That’s when it hit me: I didn’t need this anymore. Do retirees have a need for tech? The knee-jerk …
Reading Time: 5 minutesTwo Kinds of Retirement Planning When you consult an advisor for retirement planning, it’s all about preparing financially for retirement. You want to ensure that, when you retire, you have adequate funds to maintain the lifestyle you desire for 10 to 40 years. The financial advisor will evaluate your assets, assess your income, and develop …
Reading Time: 5 minutesWhen Retirement Goes Smoothly—for One Spouse Bruce and Mary had looked forward to retirement for years. They both worked in stressful professional jobs and were anxious to leave work and finally have time to travel and enjoy life. Initially, everything went great during the retirement “honeymoon” phase. But then Mary became concerned about Bruce. He …