Pre-Retirees Are Not Fully Planning for Retirement!

Research shows:

• Only 8% of pre-retirees have a detailed, structured plan for retirement.
• When it comes to lifestyle and fulfillment, about 74% plan financially, only 35% make a similar effort to plan emotionally or structurally for fulfillment during this major life change.

So why this lack of attention to the non-monetary areas of retirement?

One reason is we are new at experiencing retirement. It was only in the 1940s, when the middle class grew, that the notion of living comfortably after one stopped working became prevalent.

When the concept of retirement planning emerged, the general focus was centred on money questions such as “How much money will I need to retire?” “Will my money last long enough?” and “How much will I pass on to my heirs?”

As time went on, there developed a realization that retirement is much more than money and that planning for non-monetary needs is also important. We need to plan what we’ll do with our time.  We also need to consider things such as maintaining or improving our health, and how we’ll develop new social circles outside of work.

The importance of these things and more – a holistic approach – has become as vital as the financial issues for one simple reason: We’re living longer!

Most of us retiring today will live another 15, 20, 30 or more years.

Successful retirees have a clear concept of what makes for a well-rounded, holistic, happy, and stimulating retirement. They have a plan which applies to their early years of retirement (Go-Go years) plus actions designed for their later retirement years: the Slow-Go and No-Go years.

So now the choice is yours.  You can sit and wait for whatever comes along, or you can tackle the challenges and opportunities of retiring successfully.  If you are 45 or older, it’s time to explore your future as a retiree.