4 Key Questions to Ask in the Retirement Window скачать в хорошем качестве

4 Key Questions to Ask in the Retirement Window

Retirement doesn’t start on your last day of work. For most of our clients, it begins years earlier in conversations, spreadsheets, and unexpected questions. That 5-10-year window before retirement is when a sense of confidence is built, and it’s when we shift from abstract dreams to specific decisions. If you’re in that window, here are four key questions we like to work through with clients to help them prepare strategically and feel grounded in the plan they’re building. 1. What Are You Aiming For and When? Have you ever walked through a store when you’re not actively shopping for something? Take clothes for example. If I’m just walking through a store without any intent to buy, lots of things look appealing. Now, if you put me in that same store with a goal (and usually a budget), I quickly get far pickier on what I want and how much I’m willing to spend. I think retirement planning follows a similar pattern. In the 5-10 years before retirement, our planning shifts from abstract to specific. We shift from thinking about the beach house to modeling how much your plan can spend. Before we can run the numbers, we have to shape the vision. What does retirement look like? How soon could it realistically happen? And, just as importantly, do you want it to? With even a basic financial model, we can test a variety of scenarios. Is retirement possible in five years? Ten? Could small changes today, like saving more, spending differently, adjusting work plans, create the space to move sooner? 2. What If You Pulled the Ripcord Today? We often call this “the retirement ripcord.” Let’s say the numbers work. Let’s say the plan shows you could retire today and still live with a high degree of confidence. The next morning, when you go back to work, you’re no longer working because you have to. You’re working because you choose to. We have clients who enjoy the sense of leverage and optionality, knowing there is little to no financial pressure on their plan. It creates flexibility around decisions like: *Downshifting to less stressful or consuming roles *Leaving toxic workplace environments *Or even pushing your income because you have something like charitable giving as your fuel 3. Do You Trust the Plan Enough to Sleep on It? As retirement gets closer, the focus tightens. The financial plan gets more detailed, and the modeling is more nuanced. We test interest rate shocks, market downturns, and unexpected spending. We map out potential detours. But that’s only half of the process. The rest is emotional. You need to build familiarity with the plan. You cannot settle for understanding it intellectually as much as you need to feel comfortable living it. We find that confidence is a time-required outcome. Get your plan in place and wait to see if your sense of confidence becomes how you consistently feel. 4. What Will Life Look Like on the Other Side? The most overlooked part of retirement prep is often lifestyle design. We ask clients: What are you retiring to? After years of professional identity, structure, and purpose, it’s easy to underestimate what it takes to fill that space meaningfully. We meet very few people that feel fulfilled by a permanent vacation. We encourage clients to be specific about what will keep them engaged. What will give structure to their days? What relationships, activities, or goals will define this next chapter? A well-built retirement plan is sustainable, personal, and reflects a life still in motion, and not just a finish line crossed. Final Thought The five-to-ten-year stretch before retirement is your opportunity to test, explore, and gain clarity on what you’re aiming for. It’s not just whether you can retire, but on how you’ll thrive when you do. If you’re in that window, now is the time to do the work. That starts with asking better questions and building a plan that gives you the answers you need. We’re happy to take a look together.