Don't Make These 3 Pro Athlete Retirement Mistakes

The typical retirement planning story that we read about in the financial news involves a Baby Boomer looking to make the right choices at the end of a 35-year (or longer) career. We read them because most of us can probably relate to them.

But we can also learn a lot from another kind of retirement: that of the 25-year-old professional athlete. It might seem like a pro athlete in the NFL and a Baby Boomer in the workplace don’t have much in common, but they face a surprisingly similar set of challenges as newly minted retirees.

Unfortunately, for pro athletes, those challenges, and the mistakes that can come with them, are magnified — and so are their costs. Analysis by Sports Illustrated found that almost 80% of NFL athletes face serious financial distress or bankruptcy within two years of retiring from the league. Sixty percent of NBA players, who enjoy longer careers than their NFL colleagues, have similar problems within five years.

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There are many theories about why this happens, and there are certainly unique challenges to building a life after sports. But athletes often make three critical mistakes when retiring — mistakes that your average Boomer retiree is also surprisingly susceptible to.

Mistake 1: Seeing your balance and thinking it’s a lot of money

Whether you’re a 35-year-old professional athlete who has just left the league or a 65-year-old accountant ready to set aside the spreadsheets, it’s easy to jump into retirement with a little too much enthusiasm. After all, you’re probably itching to get started on traveling, hobbies and living a little.

But it’s important to take a step back: Your savings may look like a lot of money right now, but retirement can last a lot longer than you think.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the average 65-year-old can expect to live almost 20 more years. Keep in mind that that’s an average: half of 65-year-olds will live longer, in many cases much longer.

In other words, that asset base you’ve worked so hard to put together might need to last you quite a while. So, when you’re building a spending plan for retirement, it’s better to err on the side of caution. Start by putting together a sustainable budget (click here for a budget worksheet) and making sure that your investment strategy is aligned with your needs and goals.

Just like a retiring athlete who wants to avoid problems later, it’s important to have a lifestyle that won’t deplete your savings too fast.

Mistake 2: Assuming you’ll get to choose your retirement date

Many people in their 50s and 60s have a retirement date in mind, but sometimes life gets in the way. Layoffs, health crises and even just lifestyle changes can change your plans for you. Much like the athlete who ends up with a career-ending injury, the possibility that you’ll have an unexpectedly early retirement is higher than you might realize. In fact, 48% of retirees end up leaving the workforce ahead of schedule, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute. The majority aren’t doing it by choice.

That’s why a conservative view of your plans is so important. If you can save more, keep your expenses in check and invest wisely today, you’ll likely be in better shape if you lose out on a few years of additional income and savings later.

Of course, don’t take this to mean that you have to live like a pauper: Just be aware that your careful planning might encounter some headwinds. If you can build some conservatism into your financial plan and spending plan for retirement, you’ll buy yourself the gift of flexibility should you face a rockier (or earlier) transition than you expected.

Mistake 3: Planning to retirement, then not having something to do in retirement

Professional athletes have to be extremely focused on their sport, and many of us are so busy living our lives that we forget to think ahead. Just like a large number of ex-athletes, many retirees struggle with what to do once the structure in their lives — meetings, career, getting the kids to school — falls away.

Some retirees expect to live leisurely and read books, only to find that they’re extremely bored. Others experience a loss of meaning, productivity and camaraderie that they used to get from work. Still others find that the cost of the lifestyle they want exceeds the reality of their means.

To avoid these problems, it’s helpful to start thinking about your post-retirement life well beforehand — and to start laying the groundwork for it. Whether it means a second act as a part-time consultant or a champion at the horse shows, figure out how you want to spend your time, and what impact your plans will have on your income, expenses and quality of life.

Help yourself transition with ease

Some people ease into retirement and others fall into it, and for many people the transition comes as a shock. Aside from being lucky in life, the best thing you can do for your retirement is plan. Planning makes it more likely you’ll enjoy a stress-free retirement because it forces you to consider what you would do if it’s a difficult one.

Whether you’re a star quarterback or a company administrator, the right financial plan will account for your budget, household finances and investment strategy. Unlike a life on the field (or in your chosen vocation), it’s also unlikely to be particularly exciting: Great financial planning is, more often than not, methodical, prudent and practical. It’s a long-term endeavor that requires attention and patience.

In other words, financial planning for retirement isn’t the winning Hail Mary pass at the end of the game: It’s the training camps, the research, the strategies and the endless number of practices that get you there.

Written by Bradford Pine with Anna B. Wroblewska.