We have given the entire month of August to the ladies! Since this is the last Wednesday in August, it is the last episode that we are dedicating to the theme of Women, Money, and Retirement. However, that doesn’t mean we’re going to stop taking questions from women. This is simply the last episode to focus solely on women’s questions. We want to ensure that no matter who you are, you have the confidence to rock retirement. 

Make sure to come back next month for the series, Retirement Planning for Non-Planners. This series will speak to those who have little interest in retirement. That means we’ll take out all the jargon and focus on the basics of what you need to know. Even if you don’t want to dive into the day-to-day details, it’s important to have an understanding of how to build a retirement plan. If you have any questions related to this theme please ask them at RogerWhitney.com/AskRoger. 

What does it mean to put the “I” in retirement?

We’re closing out this month with an episode titled, How Do I Put the I in Retirement? But what does the I in retirement really mean? 

Over the course of the retirement planning process, most people focus on their financial situation, but it is more important to understand what you want to do in retirement.

When planning your retirement, you are planning the next stage of your life and you have the opportunity to remake yourself to be anything you want. This is a fantastic time to uncover your deepest desires and make your voice heard. 

Live a life true to yourself

The most common regret that people have at the end of their lives is that they wish they had lived a life true to themselves. Many people simply do what is expected of them without ever thinking about what they want for themselves. 

Retirement is a fantastic time to set aside what others expect of you and explore what you genuinely want to do. 

Since the human condition tends to work in moderation, sometimes you have to peel away the layers to get to the bottom of what you want. Don’t stuff down your needs, dig deep to discover your true self.

Have you lived a life true to yourself or do you have a hard time voicing your desires? 

How to define what you really want

Peeling back the layers can be a challenge, but to live a life true to yourself you’ll have to define what you want out of life. If you don’t voice your desires you’ll never be able to achieve your dreams. 

Think about what you have always wanted to do that you haven’t had the time or space to think about. If you don’t have a clear vision yet, that’s okay, take the time to consider this question with wide-eyed curiosity. Retirement is a time of experimentation, so if you haven't completely defined what you want you’ll soon have an opportunity to further explore your desires. 

If you have a partner, explore this question with them in little conversations over time. Those little conversations can lead to big ideas and create the space to open up a world that you might not have dreamed of before. 

Once you have dreamed up your ideal retirement then you can see how your financial situation fits. You don’t want to go at this from a different perspective. First dream big, then work your retirement plan around your dreams. 

Why join the Rock Retirement Club?

The Rock Retirement Club has everything you need to create your retirement plan. When you join the club, you’ll gain access to education and tools to help you build your own plan. 

Not only that, the club gives you access to a team of professionals that are dedicated to helping you rock retirement. 

Last, but certainly not least, you’ll become part of an amazing community. The RRC is filled with a community of like-minded people who all want to rock retirement. When walking through a huge life change it helps to connect with those who are a bit ahead of you on the same journey. Come check out what the Rock Retirement Club is all about. 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

• [5:40] What does the I in retirement mean?
• [13:15] You have to speak up and voice what you want

LISTENER QUESTIONS WITH TANYA

• [19:20] What should you be doing within 6 months of retirement?
• [20:55] Making decisions immediately after the loss of a spouse
• [22:52] How to balance the load of caregiving
• [28:14] How to divvy up parental support between siblings
• [33:22] How to bring up retirement planning without the jargon
• [35:13] How to deal with an unexpected divorce in retirement

TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT

• [43:35] How will you put the “I” in retirement?

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Thinking Ahead Roadmap

BOOK - Moving Forward on Your Own by Kathleen Rehl

BOOKS - Suddenly Single

Rock Retirement Club

Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That

BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney

Work with Roger

Roger’s Retirement Learning Center