Non-Monetary Facet of Retirement … Are you prepared?
on Jul 17, 2025
Once we speak about retirement, most individuals instantly consider cash—how a lot you want, how lengthy it’ll final, and when you may lastly clock out for good. And whereas being financially ready is totally important, there’s one other aspect to retirement planning that always goes unnoticed: What is going to your life truly appear like when the work stops?
At MainStreet, we assist purchasers plan financially on daily basis. However we’ve additionally seen what occurs when somebody enters retirement with no plan for a way they’ll spend their time, discover objective, or keep related. That emotional and life-style transition may be simply as essential as your funding portfolio.
Listed here are some questions value asking as you put together:
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What is going to a typical day appear like in retirement?
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How will you spend your time—and with whom?
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What brings you pleasure, vitality, or a way of objective?
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What hobbies or actions do you need to discover?
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How is your well being, and what is going to it take to remain energetic?
From “What I Am” to “Who I Am”
As human beings, we undergo a number of phases in life—childhood, younger maturity, profession years—however retirement requires a shift many aren’t ready for. We’re not outlined by job titles or day by day routines. As a substitute, it turns into a query of identification: Who am I now, and the way do I need to reside?
That’s why we have been impressed by the work of Sara Zeff Geber, Ph.D., a retirement transition knowledgeable and founding father of LifeEncore. She focuses on serving to child boomers and solo agers navigate this actual transition, past the numbers.
Sara encourages folks to suppose in 4 classes:
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What you have (your assets—monetary and in any other case)
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What you get pleasure from (journey, hobbies, volunteering, creativity)
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What do you need to be taught (new abilities, passions, or experiences)
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How do you need to reside (your setting, neighborhood, and day by day rhythm)
Your Retirement, Your Design
The great thing about this part of life? There’s no one-size-fits-all mannequin. You get to decide on what it appears like—and the way it feels. The sooner you begin planning the non-financial aspect of retirement, the extra fulfilling it may be.
It’s by no means too late to start out asking the proper questions—and it’s all the time the proper time to construct a life you’re keen on.