Weekly newsletter with my thoughts about financial planning, investments, tax planning, aging, and more!
How will you spend your time in retirement?
I spent last week with my in-laws, and it has me wondering, "How will you spend your time in retirement?"
My in-laws are busy people with many hobbies. They both love to run, ski, and bicycle.
My father-in-law tends to a small orchard on a daily basis. It's peaceful, and he produces delicious fruit.
My mother-in-law has become a wood working master. She's also a great cook and baker.
We had two homemade pies last week. Below is the apple pie (my wife's favorite).
They wake up with something to do each day and a sense of purpose.
Over the last 11 years I've been helping people retire, I see a distinct pattern between those who are retiring to something and those who are simply retiring.
I was reminded of that last week.
Retiring can be challenging.
Most people have an identity that is wrapped up in their work.
I know I fall into this category. Who would I be if not a financial planner?
When you work for 30+ years, have a community built around work, and have little time for other things, it's natural to question or not be certain about what you are retiring to.
For those who are unsure how to spend their time, I usually offer the following advice:
Don't make any big plans. See what unfolds in the first year of retirement. Explore, do things you wouldn't normally do. Take some time to be. Make a reminder to revisit it.
It can be easy to slip into a routine, sometimes an unhealthy one, which is why the reminder is important.
For those who have an idea of how they want to spend their time, go for it! Find those activities that give you purpose and a community.
Retirement is more than the numbers (though those are important too!).
It's about creating the life you want to live.
As you go about your week, ask yourself, "What's in my ideal life in retirement?"
Blog This Month
What I've Been Reading
- Billionaires and the Evolution of Overconfidence
- The Best Time to Buy Stocks - A Wealth of Common Sense
- NYTimes: How to Become a Morning Exercise Person
- The Stock Market is Not a Casino - A Wealth of Common Sense
- How to Hire a Pop Star for Your Private Party | The New Yorker
- In Retirement, Time to Help—and Be Thankful for—Our Aging Parents - The Wal
Resources
How to Manage Your Resources for Widows - Hear directly from widows about the decisions they had to navigate, how they lived with grief, and the wisdom of what they want you to know after reflecting back on their experience.
Widows and Money Facebook Group - A community to learn about money, feel empowered around your finances, and ask financial questions.
More Than Money: Real-Life Stories of Financial Planning - Stories about the impact and value of financial planning. My story of Sara and Leo is on page 205.
Welcome, I'm Elliott!
Weekly newsletter with my thoughts about financial planning, investments, tax planning, aging, and more!
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