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Blog Your guide to financial planning and retirement
July 25, 2024 • 10 minutes
You might be nervous about your future but research suggests that you should run – not walk – toward retirement. Get ready to retire because the best times of your life await you.
Research from Age Wave and Merrill Lynch found that, of all periods in our life, we are happiest and most content between the ages of 65 and 74.
Consider these comparisons showing how happiness, contentment and relaxation soar, while anxiety seems to plummet in retirement:
Another study, this one from the Employee Benefit Research Institute, finds that while most seniors are indeed happy, a higher percentage are feeling more dissatisfied than before.
The percentage of retirees who describe retirement as “very satisfying” dropped from 60.5% to 48.6% over a 15 year time period. Experts suspect that the drop in satisfaction may come from either:
What follows are 8 questions to ask yourself if you want to be sure that you are really ready for life after retirement — particularly a happily ever after.
Retirees seem happiest when they have a passion to pursue or some other specific purpose in their life. Deciding what you want to do after work should be an important part of your retirement planning process.
“Even if you’re financially set to retire, you’re now going to have many years ahead — especially if you’re in your 50s or 60s,” says El Dorado Hills, Calif.-based Scott Draper, a certified financial planner with Thrive Financial Planning. “What is this next stage in your life going to be about?”
“Retirement is a great time to revisit old hobbies and dreams,” says Kate Holmes, founder and principal at Las Vegas, Nevada-based Belmore Financial, LLC.
And some of those passions could even prove to become income generating activities in retirement, she says, noting that a growing number of people pursue new careers in retirement, or dedicate their time to volunteering.
Here are:
Waking up and trying to figure out what to do each day can be surprisingly burdensome and depressing.
Successful retirees have a plan for their days. Whether it is a regular golf game, coffee with friends, a volunteer gig or walking the dog. What you do doesn’t matter as much as having a schedule for doing it.
Before retirement, life has a predictable routine. Work takes priority, and oftentimes everything else is scheduled in around it. From laundry to mowing the lawn, many people plan and keep a routine so that everything gets done.
After retirement there’s nothing but time, so it might seem that schedules aren’t crucial.
However, a routine is as important as ever. According to Northwestern Medicine, routines help you: sleep better, reduce stress, use your time wisely, fosters better health and just enhances your life because you use your time more mindfully.
You may have a love hate relationship with work colleagues. However, they are probably a huge source of your social interaction. They stimulate you mentally and keep you out of your own head and in the real world.
After retirement, you will still need social interaction but it can be harder to find.
This is the question most people think of when considering if they are ready for retirement. It is important. And, it goes beyond just achieving some savings target.
Your retirement security will hinge on how much income you’ll need and how well you’ll be able to supply it. Some retirees move into that next phase of life only to learn that their needs exceed what they’d planned for. That means scaling back in a big way, and it can put a big damper on the lifestyle that you’d hoped for.
Discover what is possible for you by using the Boldin Retirement Planner. This is a comprehensive tool that encourages you to try out as many different strategies as you can imagine. Immediately see the impact of each change on your overall financial health.
You’ll want to get as detailed as possible:
A retirement plan rarely only impacts one person but too often people plan for everything but their loved ones. Your spouse is an obvious consideration. However, your children and parents (if they are still living) may impact your finances – positively or negatively.
Family is a huge source of happiness (and sometimes stress). You’ll want to be prepared for expenses related to your loved ones. Explore these articles about planning retirement with your spouse, gray divorce, the sandwich generation, boomerang kids and average financial gifts to children.
And, while we said that planning with your spouse is obvious. Lots of couples have a hard time. Here are 8 topics to tackle if you want life after retirement to include marital harmony.
Choosing the best place to retire can be a financial decision, lifestyle choice or both. For most households, housing is the biggest cost and largest asset. Therefore, where you live can be a significant lever in determining your financial security and happiness.
Have you considered if downsizing or a senior community could impact your retirement happiness? Could reducing your housing expense or releasing home equity get you to retirement faster?
Research from Oxford University suggests that people with a sense of purpose have a 15 percent lower risk of death, compared with those who said they were more or less aimless. And it didn’t seem to matter when people found their direction. It could be in their 20s, 50s or 70s — even when controlled for other factors that affect longevity like age, gender and emotional well-being.
The study found that a sense of purpose led to a longer life.
Explore
You can’t afford to get retirement wrong. And, you don’t want to waste this era of your life.
You might consider getting financial or emotional support.
Have You Considered Hiring a Financial Advisor? A financial advisor can look over your finances, make sure you aren’t making mistakes and give you ideas to maximize your wealth and well being. According to Forbes, the biggest mistakes retirees make that could be avoided by using a financial advisor include:
Collaborate with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional from Boldin Advisors to identify and achieve your goals. Book a free discovery session.
When you’re ready to retire, your finances are only part of the equation. Retirement happiness is just as important. Research shows that retirees who stay active, social, and purpose-driven tend to feel more fulfilled. The best thing about retirement often isn’t about leaving work—it’s about gaining time, freedom, and flexibility to enjoy life on your terms.
Learning how to enjoy life after retirement takes intention. Whether you spend time with loved ones, volunteer, pursue hobbies, or travel, what matters most is staying engaged and having a sense of purpose. Daily structure, physical movement, and meaningful social connection can all contribute to long-term happiness.
At Boldin, we believe that retirement planning should support more than just your bank account. It should help you build a lifestyle that feels balanced, joyful, and secure. With the right mindset and a clear plan, you can create a retirement that’s not just financially sustainable—but deeply satisfying.
If your answers to the above questions indicate that you are ready to retire, it is time to get serious. Here is a checklist of 20 things to do when you are ready to take the leap!
A: For many people, the best thing about retirement is the freedom to spend time how they want. Whether it’s traveling, relaxing, or starting something new, the flexibility is often life-changing.
A: Start by creating a routine that includes activities you love. Hobbies, time with friends, exercise, and personal projects all add purpose and fulfillment.
A: Retirement happiness usually comes from staying active, maintaining relationships, and feeling financially stable. Having a plan and a sense of purpose makes a big difference.
A: Without structure, it’s easy to feel aimless. Many retirees miss the routine or identity work once provided. Planning how you’ll spend your time can help ease that transition.
A: Yes. The right tools can help you balance income, lifestyle choices, and long-term goals—giving you peace of mind and more confidence to enjoy retirement fully.
Take financial wellness into your own hands and do it yourself retirement planning: easy, comprehensive, reliable.
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