Non-Monetary Aspect of Retirement … Are you prepared?
on Jul 17, 2025
Once we discuss retirement, most individuals instantly consider cash—how a lot you want, how lengthy it’s going to final, and when you’ll be able to 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 seem like when the work stops?
At MainStreet, we assist purchasers plan financially each day. However we’ve additionally seen what occurs when somebody enters retirement with out a plan for the way they’ll spend their time, discover function, or keep related. That emotional and way of life transition could be simply as necessary 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 seem 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 function?
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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 lively?
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 now not outlined by job titles or every 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 professional and founding father of LifeEncore. She makes a speciality of serving to child boomers and solo agers navigate this actual transition, past the numbers.
Sara encourages individuals to assume in 4 classes:
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What you have (your assets—monetary and in any other case)
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What you take pleasure in (journey, hobbies, volunteering, creativity)
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What do you need to study (new expertise, passions, or experiences)
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How do you need to reside (your surroundings, group, and every day rhythm)
Your Retirement, Your Design
The fantastic thing about this section of life? There’s no one-size-fits-all mannequin. You get to decide on what it appears to be like 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 begin asking the best questions—and it’s all the time the best time to construct a life you’re keen on.