Retirement – Getting Your Vision Right!

Successful retirees recognize the need to plan for happiness and productivity.  They evaluate what’s important to them and construct actions to satisfy their needs and wants. By creating a vision of a realistic retirement and building an action plan to achieve it, they are proactively and energetically seeking results.

Throughout the retirement visioning process, it is imperative to concentrate on your future. Focus on the rewards of a balanced lifestyle. Enjoy feeling complete, being enriched and financially secure. Review and rewrite your vision until it feels right and is in line with your wants and needs.

Questions to Ask:

  1. Is my vision clear and understandable? It is okay to have undefined parts of your vision. These are areas you must think about further.
  • Is my vision brief or does it ramble? Over time, your vision will crystallize and be your guiding direction.
  • Does my vision have a primary focus? Having a vision concentrating on meeting four to six personal needs will be more manageable and achievable than if you were trying to meet eight or nine needs.
  • Is my vision flexible enough to change? Recognize that your personal needs today may not be the same down the road.
  • Does my vision serve as a guide that will help me make good decisions?
  • Does my vision reflect my values, beliefs and philosophy?
  • Is my vision representative of who I am?
  • Is my vision attainable? If you build a vision that is not realistic, you may set yourself up for failure.
  • Does my vision serve as a source for inspiration? When you read and think about your vision, does it excite and give you positive feelings?

Vision Quality

The quality of your vision and your retirement is up to you. Once you have created your vision, share it with your partner and close friends. Explain it in detail and ask for suggestions on how you can achieve your goals. Think about the suggestions made and make changes as necessary. At the end of this process, you should have a clear picture of your retirement life. A well-thought-out vision acts as your anchor and compass for direction and future decisions.