Retirement Preparedness Involves More Than Financial Planning

That’s why it is important to approach retirement planning holistically. Many people are living longer today, which means that retirement could potentially last for several decades. While this may require more financial planning before retirement, it will also provide many retirees with meaningful and fulfilling opportunities after leaving their careers. They may start new businesses, engage in volunteer work, or pursue long-held dreams they didn't have time for previously.

Retirement can also be a time to reevaluate life goals and priorities. Beyond being financially secure, we will want to consider other issues heading into retirement. Are we prepared to maintain good health? What will our days be like? How will we spend our time?

For one to be emotionally ready for retirement, it is important to consider several important aspects that allow for a retirement with meaning and purpose:

1. Finances: Plan ahead for not outliving your money, develop a detailed budget, consider your personal legacy, and establish a robust estate plan
2. Health: Plan a proper diet and exercise regimen to maintain your energy level as well as physical, mental, and emotional health
3. Social: Maintain friendships and a social life, and stay involved in your community
4. Growth: Continue lifelong learning and seek out new experiences and meaningful activities
5. Giving Back: Keep a sense of purpose through volunteering, gifting, and contributing to community causes

So, how do you best prepare for the financial, emotional, physical, and psychological challenges of today’s retirement? We offer some things to consider here that can serve as your emotional readiness checklist for retirement:

• Have you set written goals for the first year of retirement?
• What is your retirement purpose? (What will leave you feeling fulfilled?)
• What will be some of the biggest challenges you will need to overcome in retirement?
• Have you communicated your retirement plans to family and friends?
• Have you made plans to adjust to changes in your social network after retirement?
• Who will you be interacting with most?
• Will you be downsizing, staying close to home, or relocating?
• Do you plan to continue working part time? If so, what role will you have?
• Do you plan to start a business? If so, will it be in your existing line of work or will you explore something new?
• Do you plan to volunteer? If so, what causes are important for you to align with?
• Do you currently have a plan for staying active through exercise and good nutrition?

The key to an emotionally successful retirement is making the most of your post retirement years. It will be what you make of it. If you take the time to plan ahead and decide what you want your retirement to look like, you’ll better transition into a retirement full of substance and rewards.

Thanks for reading.

Source

¹ The Health and Retirement Study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5798643/