Last weekend, I made my way to Wilmot, South Dakota for something that’s become one of my favorite traditions: my annual Marine Corps reunion. This will be our 19th reunion and I’ve only missed one in all these years. What started as just three guys getting together has grown into a yearly gathering of twenty brothers.
We’re all getting a bit grayer around the edges, so, naturally, this year’s most popular topic of conversation was retirement. As you can imagine, they all had a few questions for me. I love talking about all things retirement, from savings strategies to tax implications, but there’s one thing that always surprises me.
Every single one of these guys had a completely different vision of what retirement should look like. Some were dreaming of cabins up North, fishing trips and grandkid visits. Others wanted to travel the country. There was even one guy who was planning to turn his woodworking hobby into a part-time business.
And then there’s me. I’m probably the odd one out. Because honestly? I love what I do so much that I don’t want to step away anytime soon. My ideal “retirement” looks like working 24/7 (that’s 24 hours a week, seven months a year). Still engaged, still helping people, just with a rhythm that allows for more time with family, and maybe a trip to the Kentucky Derby.
Your idea of retirement is unique to you, so why should you follow the exact same retirement planning advice as everyone else?
Too many people get one-size-fits-all advice that doesn’t match their actual dreams and goals. They’re told to save a certain percentage, retire at a certain age, and follow a certain withdrawal strategy, without anyone ever asking what they actually want their retirement to look like.
When my Marine buddies ask me for financial advice, I always tell them the same thing: find an advisor who takes the time to understand your unique retirement goals. Because the strategy that works for someone who wants to retire at 62 and never work again is completely different from someone who wants to ease into semi-retirement while pursuing a passion project.
Your retirement planning should be customized to your retirement dreams. So before you start crunching numbers or comparing investment options, take a step back and get crystal clear on what you actually want your retirement to look like. Then find a financial advisor who listens to those dreams and builds a plan around them.
Because at the end of the day, the best retirement plan isn’t the one that looks good on paper. It’s the one that helps you live the life you’ve always imagined.
Let’s make sure you’re set for your retirement dreams – whatever those dreams may be. Call us: 952-460-3290.
CUP OF JOE
From Joe Lucey, Founder of Secured Retirement
There’s something about sitting down with a steaming cup of coffee that always kicks my day into high gear. And it’s not just because of the caffeine it sends coursing through my veins.
Throughout my career, some of my biggest revelations have come to me in conversation with my mentor over a cup of joe. Good conversation and personal connection can pick you up in a special way. It’s that feeling that I’m hoping to bring to you with my series, your Cup of Joe.
