The Happiest Retirees I Know Do These 5 Things
What Makes Someone Happy in Retirement?
I have had a front row seat to retirement for more than 33 years.
I have watched people prepare for it, enter it, adjust to it, and hopefully enjoy it.
And one thing I have learned is that having money does not automatically create a happy retirement.
Money matters. You need a financial plan that works.
But the happiest retirees I know tend to do a few things beyond managing their money.
1. They Have a Plan
I am obviously a big believer in planning.
But having a financial plan is about more than knowing what investments you own.
Where will your income come from?
How much can you comfortably spend?
How could taxes affect your retirement?
What happens during difficult markets?
How will you plan for the future?
I have found that clients tend to feel more confident when they have a plan, understand that plan, and actually implement it.
2. They Have Something to Look Forward To
Ask me what I talk about during client reviews, and this might surprise you.
I ask people what they have planned.
Any trips coming up?
What are the grandchildren doing?
Have you tried anything new?
What are you excited about?
I want people looking forward.
Retirement should not become an endless string of Saturdays where every day feels exactly the same.
Put something on the calendar.
Anticipation is part of the experience.
3. They Stay Connected
One thing people sometimes miss about their careers is the built in social network.
You may have spent decades surrounded by coworkers, customers, clients, or colleagues.
Then you retire, and that network can shrink almost overnight.
That is why I encourage retirees to stay socially involved.
Get involved with your church. Join a group. Volunteer. Take a class. Spend time with friends.
We all need relationships.
4. They Find Ways to Be Needed
I believe people have an internal need for purpose.
We want to accomplish something. We want to contribute.
Retirement does not eliminate that need.
Maybe you can mentor someone in your old profession. Maybe you can coach. Maybe you can volunteer. Maybe you can become more involved with your family.
I have a client who is a tremendous golfer and now volunteers with a high school golf team.
He gets to use something he loves to make a difference for someone else.
That sounds like a pretty good retirement to me.
5. They Take Care of Themselves
Your health has a tremendous impact on what you can enjoy.
You do not have to spend two hours a day in the gym.
Just keep moving.
Walk. Golf. Swim. Garden. Exercise. Find something you enjoy and make it part of your routine.
We spend decades accumulating money so we can enjoy retirement. Taking care of ourselves gives us a better opportunity to actually enjoy what we worked so hard to build.
Retirement Is a Journey, Not a Destination
I say this often because I believe it.
Retirement is not a destination.
It is a journey.
Your financial plan is one part of navigating that journey. Purpose, relationships, physical health, family, faith, experiences, and memories are other parts.
I love helping people get to the point where they have confidence in their financial plan.
But what really makes me smile is when they come back and tell me what they are doing because of that confidence.
The trips they took.
The grandchildren they spent time with.
The volunteer work they discovered.
The memories they made.
Because ultimately, I do not believe winning retirement is simply about accumulating the biggest account balance.
It is about having a plan that helps you live a retirement worth looking forward to.
A Thought Before You Go
If you are wondering whether your current retirement plan gives you the confidence to focus less on your money and more on living your life, that is a conversation our team is happy to have. You can call the Legacy Retirement Group office or visitLegacyRetirementGroup.com to reach out.