Retirement - the best third of your life...

Retirement is the time of your life where you can appreciate life and all that it has offered. Retirement is filled with new, exciting things to do and places to go. Retirement is that "golden age." However, there are some things you MUST do in order to make retirement "golden" for you.

Retirement and life planning

Retirement and your happiness is key to addressing and understand your life planning and retirement goals. By this we mean, have a plan of what you want to do during retirement. Some suggestions are:

• Spend more time with your family and friends.
  
• Travel. See the world, experience different cultures, meet new friends.
  
• Take more time for your favorite hobby(s) like hiking, golfing, fishing, boating, gardening, etc…
  
• Read a good book. Advance your education. Learn something that you want to know, not something that you "have" to know.
  
• Volunteer – use your wisdom and talents to help others.
  
• Start a new hobby. Explore new interests. OR rediscover past interests. When is the last time you built a model airplane?
  
• Start that second career - Work a new job that doesn’t pay much but “its something you have always wanted to do.”
  

Retirement and your health

Let's face it, your retirement years will not be "golden" if your health is poor. Now, some things can't be helped but overall, the body is the temple of the spirit so treat your body with care:

• Spend more time doing healthy things – take long walks around the block, hike in our beautiful state parks and mountains.
• Be real proactive in reducing your stress – live longer and happier. Take the time in kicking back and listening to your favorite music.
• Get a check up and follow your doctors advice.
• Eat healthy and maintain your desired weight for your height and body type.

Retirement and your finances

Most people would think that retirement finances would be at the top of the list. And we would agree, however, people tend to put some much importance on their financial future that they loose site of their health and their goal planning.

We believe that no matter how much money you have, if you don't have a life plan and you don't take care of your health, the money won't matter.

So, providing you have life goals in retirement and you are maintaining a healthy life, then lets get on with your retirement finances.

• The first thing you need to establish in retirement planning is your EXPENSES. Most people think of their income as being the most important, however, if your income is 5k per month and your expenses are 6k per month you will be in trouble.
• Now, figure out your income. Pension, Social Security, investments and so on.
• Next, adjust your expenses to match you income allowing for inflation.
• Finally adjust your life goals to encompass all of the above.

Retirement planning is not an easy process but with a little pre-planning on your part and your commitment in maintaining a healthy lifestyle your retirement years will be filled with gold................

We have many ways to develop a retirement plan based on your needs and expectations. Please visit our retirement planning services page for additional information.