As you near your retirement years, dreams of the daily freedoms and the life to come can certainly take over. Watching grandchildren grow, traveling the world, finding new hobbies or just enjoying days without schedules are just a few things that can excite us about life in the years ahead.
However, the uncertainty of the world we live in can distract us from dreams of a happy retirement. We fear that our visions may never be realized because of barriers such as continued volatility in the markets, lack of clarity surrounding future interest rates, inflation that we continue to see in our daily lives or even the social and geopolitical events of the day.
For those preparing for or already in retirement, these concerns are real. You work hard for many years and begin dreaming of the possibilities for this next phase of life, all while watching things around us happen without much clarity or certainty. Not knowing how the events of today will positively or negatively impact retirement can be a significant source of stress and worry for those not properly prepared.
It’s more important than ever, while you dream of the freedom and independence that retirement could bring, you start with and understand three things as you begin properly preparing for this journey. I call them the three P’s of your retirement: philosophy, planning and process. Consider these as a starting point as you prepare your dream retirement blueprint:
Philosophy
Take time to reflect and understand your own philosophy about what your financial life will be about during those golden years. If you’ve been a diligent saver and good steward with money, will life just be about having an uncoordinated basket of investment or insurance products that you hope will grow enough to last long into the future? Will you continue to have an investment-only focus, where happiness in retirement will be dependent primarily on positive market returns?
Compare that to having a mindset focused on retirement strategies such as preservation, distribution and coordination. Don’t get trapped into a belief that your investments, no matter how much you have saved, are a retirement plan. Make sure your philosophy is about being comprehensive and holistic when considering all areas of your financial life.
Sponsored Content
Planning
No matter what, the planning you do should be retirement “specific” and “customized” to you. Do not settle for using generic retirement rules and outdated advice. Realize that accumulating your wealth is significantly different than preserving and distributing your wealth. Many areas of your financial life should go from being set on “autopilot” to taking a more active and focused approach. Understand, you are going from “earning a living” to “creating a retirement,” both of which will require a very different mindset and sets of strategies.
Something as popular as the 4% rule, which came to be in the early 1990s as a suggestion for the best way to make your money last throughout retirement, may not apply to you when it comes to creating retirement income.
Other common considerations and decisions that need to be customized to you and not generic are things such as:
- When to begin Social Security benefits.
- Selecting your pension elections.
- Roth conversions and tax strategies.
- Properly using financial tools, such as annuities and life insurance for income or estate planning purposes.
- Establishing an estate plan that accounts for many of the “what-ifs” in life.
Too many considerations about retirement to list here should be customized and specific to give you the best opportunity to live the retirement you want to live.
Sponsored Content
Process
Now that you have begun to shift your mindset from one of “accumulation” to that of “distribution and preservation,” it’s time to determine what your process (or your financial adviser’s process) will be to implement retirement strategies that will help mitigate various types of financial risks as we age.
Designing your retirement “blueprint” should not feel overwhelming, complicated or confusing. Trying to design and implement strategies for all areas of our retirement, such as income, tax, health care and estate planning, can be intimidating and cause us to avoid having the right conversations. Quite often, it leads us back to focusing only on those things we feel comfortable with, such as our investment accounts and fixating on the market.
The process for creating your plan should be systematic, go step by step, brick by brick, addressing each of these areas one at a time. This will seem so much less intimidating and increase the likelihood you will keep your focus on having a comprehensive, holistic and coordinated retirement.
Determining who will help guide you through this maze of decisions and strategies will be one of the most important considerations you will have. Do you take on this responsibility yourself or seek the guidance of advisers who specialize in retirement preparation? Understand, financial advisers, just like doctors, can either be more general in their services and serve a wide range of clients, or they can be more focused and specialize in retirement planning. Do your research and understand what you need and what you want.
As the world we live in continues to feel out of control, take a deep breath, a few steps back and focus on these three P’s for an amazing retirement!
Investment Advisory Services offered through Trek Financial LLC., an (SEC) Registered Investment Advisor. Information presented is for educational purposes only. It should not be considered specific investment advice, does not take into consideration your specific situation, and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any securities or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and are not guaranteed, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. For specific tax advice on any strategy, consult with a qualified tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein. Trek 23-600
This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.
Sponsored Content
-
You Don't Have to Be Wealthy to Need a Wealth ManagerNavigating complex financial decisions is hard on your own, no matter how much money you have. A wealth manager can provide comprehensive financial planning, investment management, risk management and more.
-
Despite Tariffs, These Investment Experts Are Bullish on European EquitiesEuropean equities were one of the better-performing investments during the first half of 2025. They could be a good long-term prospect for U.S. investors needing to diversify, according to these investment managers.
-
How Do You Know You Are Ready for a Gray Divorce? 15 Yes-or-No QuestionsAs people 50 and older get more gray divorces, many splits are initiated by women who want a new path. Answer these 15 questions to see if you might need to think about how you should move forward.
-
'Buy Now, Pay Later' for Everyday Spending? This Financial Pro Thinks It's Risky'Buy Now, Pay Later' apps can get you out of a jam when you need money quickly. But using them regularly for small purchases could create problems.
-
Five Things to Consider Before Rolling Your 401(k) into a Roth IRAConverting at least some of an old 401(k) to a Roth IRA can offer long-term tax benefits and retirement flexibility, especially if you anticipate being in a higher tax bracket later or wish to leave a tax-free legacy.
-
From Dream Apartment to Nightmare: When Your Landlord Evicts You Through No Fault of Your OwnThis is what I suggested a tenant do to get out of her lease after her landlord's inexperience and lack of action made her rental situation unsafe. It's a legal situation called 'constructive eviction.'
-
Six Steps to Being Empowered and On Track: An Expert Financial Guide for WomenWhile most female investors feel on track with their financial goals and empowered by managing their investments, many regret not starting sooner. Here's how you can get started and take control of your financial future.
-
Selling Your Business? This Powerful Insurance Option Unlocks Multigenerational WealthPrivate placement life insurance (PPLI) offers almost unbelievable investment flexibility, estate planning and tax advantages. And it's completely legit.
