Retirement Seen Through Your Eyes
For some 2025 may be the year of retirement. If this applies to you, have you taken a moment to look ahead and assess what that could mean for you and your family? Now is the time to prepare by asking yourself some pointed questions like those listed in this article.
How do you picture your future?
Some see retirement as a time to start a new career. Others see it as a time to travel. Still others plan to spend more time with family and friends. With that in mind, here are some things to consider.
What do you absolutely need to accomplish?
If you could only get four or five things done in retirement, what would they be? Answering this question might lead you to compile a “short list” of life goals, and while they may have nothing to do with money, the financial decisions you make may be integral to pursuing them.
What would revitalize you?
Some people retire with no particular goals at all. After weeks or months of respite, ambition may return. They start to think about what pursuits or adventures they could embark on to make these years special. Others have known for decades what dreams they will follow … and yet, when the time to follow them arrives, those dreams may unfold differently than anticipated and may even be supplanted by new ones.
In retirement, time is really your most valuable asset. With more free time and opportunity for reflection, you might find your old dreams giving way to new ones.
Who should you share your time with?
Here is another profound choice you get to make in retirement. The quick answer to this question for many retirees would be “family.” Today, we have nuclear families, blended families, extended families; some people think of their friends or their employees as family.
How much do you anticipate spending?
We can’t control all retirement expenses, but we can manage some of them. The thought of downsizing your home may have crossed your mind. One benefit of downsizing is that it can potentially lead to no mortgage or a more manageable mortgage payment. It is important to have a realistic estimate of your expenses when going into retirement.
Could you leave a legacy?
Many of us would like to give our kids or grandkids a good start in life but leaving an inheritance can be trickier than many realize. Tax laws are constantly changing, and the strategies that worked years ago may have more limited benefits today. There are many ways to transfer wealth and set up charitable giving take time to understand the process.
How are you preparing for retirement?
This is the most important question of all. If you feel you need to prepare more for the future or reexamine your existing strategy in light of recent changes in your life, conferring with a financial professional experienced in retirement approaches may offer some guidance.
The advisors at WPC have been planning, coaching, advising clients into retirement since 1984. We are skilled in guiding you in answering these questions and others you may have.
The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. Some of this material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. Copyright FMG Suite.
