Like most Americans, you’ve probably spent years working to achieve the retirement of your dreams. Then there comes a point when this career milestone changes from a distant goal to an imminent reality.
You can make your first year away from work more rewarding and less stressful when you take the time to anticipate potential challenges and prepare for how you will handle this important life change.
Your state of mind
In your first weeks as a new retiree, it’s normal to feel both excitement and trepidation. You’re eager for more time to connect with friends and family, and to do the activities you love. Stepping away from your career can also reduce your stress level and free you from the burden of having competing priorities.
However, saying goodbye to your workplace, business associates, day-to-day responsibilities and regular paycheck may trigger anxiety and sadness. This is especially true for those who have really enjoyed their professional status and fulfilling career.
If your spouse or significant other is already at home, either as a homemaker or the first retiree, recognize that your new lifestyle may cause similar emotions for this person. Imagine your reaction if he or she were retiring to your “office.” The change would mean a departure from your schedule and habits, even if it does mean more time together.
For those experiencing mixed feelings, it’s helpful to acknowledge them, both to yourself and a partner or trusted friend. Remind yourself why you chose to retire and remember all that you accomplished to reach this point.
Your purpose
With your calendar clear of work obligations, it’s important to identify a few ways to fill your time. To start, keep the promises you’ve made to yourself, your spouse or others about what your retirement will include.
For example, if you’ve promised distant relatives that you’ll reconnect some time in the future, then organize a reunion.
Or set a date to fulfill your dream of visiting France’s wine country or find an instructor who can teach you to play the piano. Alternatively, you may decide to pursue an encore career, part-time job or an opportunity to open your own business.
With all your new possibilities, it’s important to avoid overcommitting yourself. Give yourself some breathing room in each day and ease into volunteer organizations or activities. Now that you have the freedom to do so, be sure that you’re choosing to spend your time in ways that are the most gratifying to you.
Your finances
Adjusting your mindset from building your nest egg to spending it can be challenging. To make your initiation to retiree life easier, create a plan for how you will pay yourself in retirement. Start by tallying your income sources before determining which ones you’ll tap into first.
Next, estimate your cash flow for year one. Planning this in advance can help ease worries and reduce your risk of overspending. As a benchmark, have enough cash to cover three years of potential unexpected expenses.
Once you’re in retirement, enjoy your newfound freedom, but make sure to monitor your cash reserves regularly to gauge your spending and make adjustments as you find necessary.
If you’re uneasy or need reassurance that your income and cash flow plans are sufficient, meet with a financial advisor. Together you can look at the impact of taxes, evaluate your portfolio diversification and prepare for the legacy you’d like to leave your community and family.
Becoming a retiree means both enjoying and enduring a lot of change. Although you can’t prepare for every challenge and opportunity you might face in your first year, planning for what you can control allows you to move into this new life stage with confidence.
MICHAEL W. K. YEE, CFP,® CFS,® CLTC, CRPC®
1585 Kapiolani Blvd., Ste. 1100, Honolulu, HI 96814
808-952-1222, ext. 1240 | michael.w.yee@ampf.com | www.ameripriseadvisors.com/michael.w.yee
Michael W. K. Yee, CFP®, CFS®, CLTC, CRPC ®, is a Private Wealth Advisor, Certified Financial Planner ™ practitioner with Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC in Honolulu, HI. He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 37 years. Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser. Investment products are not insured by the FDIC, NCUA or any federal agency, are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed by any financial institution, and involve investment risks including possible loss of principal and fluctuation in value. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC. ©2021 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.
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