EP # 206 | Am I Ready to Retire? Why the Hardest Part Isn't Financial
Your Retirement Planning SimplifiedShow Notes
In almost every episode of this series, the money was actually fine. The math worked. So what held people back? In this wrap-up episode, Joe names the thing that sits underneath the numbers, and explains why the final decision to retire is rarely just a financial one. The plan comes first, always. But here is what happens for a lot of people: the math says yes, and they still do not move. At that point, the real question was never whether they could afford to retire. It was whether they were allowed to stop, and who they would be when they did. Joe wraps up this unofficial series by walking through the emotional work that has to happen alongside the financial work, with real client examples that show just how many different paths there are to finally making the move.
In This Episode When the numbers work but you still will not pull the trigger, it is worth being honest about why. The one more year crowd, the business owner worried about clients and staff, the person who does not know what they would do with themselves - these are emotional questions, not financial ones, and they deserve the same serious attention as the spreadsheet.
A useful framework: you can only have three true priorities at any one time. If work has been one of yours and suddenly it is gone, you have an empty slot. Part of getting ready to retire is deciding on purpose what fills it - before you get there, not after.
There is no single right path. One client keeps working because the work genuinely fits his life. Another needed a succession plan in place before she could let go. Another just needed to see the numbers to give herself permission to even imagine what else was possible. Plenty land somewhere in between, doing part-time consulting that funds the bigger trips without touching the core plan.
The question worth sitting with is not just what you are retiring from, but what you are retiring to. A plan can hand you the financial freedom, but only you can decide what you do with it.
The order matters: get the plan right first so you know the numbers work, then do the second piece of work with equal seriousness. Get honest about whether you like what you are doing. Figure out your new priorities. And give the emotional preparation the same attention you gave the saving.
About: Your Retirement Planning Simplified is a weekly Canadian retirement planning podcast hosted by Joe Curry, CFP, CEPA, of Matthews and Associates, an independent wealth management firm. Each week, Joe breaks down retirement income, tax, and estate decisions in plain language for Canadians who are near or in retirement.
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Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are those of Joseph Curry, a registrant of Aligned Capital Partners Inc. (ACPI), and may not necessarily be those of ACPI. This podcast is for informational purposes only and not intended to be personalized investment advice. The views expressed are opinions of Joseph Curry and may not necessarily be those of ACPI. Content is prepared for general circulation and information contained does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any investment fund, security or other product or service.
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