What Does Your Retirement Look Like?

You and I are having a relaxed conversation. You’ve been thinkin’ of contacting me for quite awhile, and finally took the plunge. You’re now pondering the answer to my first question — What do you want your retirement to look like? As surprising as it may be, that question is a poser for lots of folks.

Try not to primarily think in terms of retirement income. Think lifestyle. How much of a traveler do ya wanna be? Wanna be a globe trotter, or are you more a see the grandkids type? What about how you’ll be traveling? Gonna be an ocean goer? Maybe you’ll be staying in the contiguous 48 and takin’ long trips in the cool RV — maybe a $400,000 RV? Hey, it’s your retirement, what do you want? You and I will make it happen. Our #1 weapons? Your vision and my Purposeful Plan.

See what I mean? It’s one thing to randomly think or even talk about your retirement, but try to answer the question concretely and it becomes a different tale altogether.

I bring this up to kinda sorta jump start your thought process. When constructing Purposeful Plans for our clients, we tell them not to sweat it if they change their minds a dozen times as the years come and go. You’d think it’s such a huge part of our financial lives that we’d know exactly what it should look like. Then we realize it’s not the money, though surely the money supports it. No, it’s the what, how, and when that makes us crazy.

Here’s your homework.

Take a notebook or legal pad and across the top write, “My (Our?) Retirement Will…”

Now paint the picture with your own brushstrokes, using your own colors, your own texture. Use the blank sheets of paper as an analogy to your blank retirement plans. The paper begins to taunt you. Pretty soon though, your mind will begin to get in touch with ‘Retirement You’ and off to the races you’ll be. I’ve had clients come back to me after completing this task, accusing me of costing them several sleepless nights. The results were well worth it though. Many have surprised even themselves with what they really wished to accomplish.

The real payoff for doing this homework well? There’s not a better engine to drive your own Purposeful Plan than the picture you’re able to keep in your mind — You — Retired — Doing exactly what you envisioned.

It doesn’t get any better than that.

BawldGuy Axiom: A great retirement starts not with a single step, but with filling in the first blank sheet of paper.

When you’re done, call or email me and we’ll get started. Oh, already know how it looks? How cool is that for you? You may call or write me immediately then.

OK — either get started with your blanks sheets of paper, or get ahold of me so there’s not a day’s more time wasted.

Related posts:

1. Happy With How Your Retirement Is Shaping Up?
2. What Does Retirement Mean To You?
3. You Can’t Go Back In Time, So You Better Get It Right Today — Retirement Income
4. Smile –Getting Your Retirement Plan In Gear After 50 Is Only a Decision Away
5. Retirement Income Can Bring Freedom OR A Life Sentence — Your Call