FREE NEWSLETTER
My wife and I are 58 and 66, respectively. She’ll be retiring soon, but expects to launch herself in a new job for at least several years. I expect to continue working until just after turning 70. I’m in my dream job as the president of my local community bank. We are in our forever home enjoying single floor living. We’re both healthy and travel for a short and long vacation annually. Our four kids are launched in their careers and doing well; all live within a two-hour drive. One parent is receiving home care and she is well-covered by two LTC policies and ample savings.I’m delaying social security until I turn 70. If you could wind your life back to four years before retirement, do you have any wisdom to share on what you might have done differently to prepare for retirement?
Hire out any work that involves a ladder!
Wear an Apple watch (and verify ‘Fall Detection’ is turned on).
If the price of an Apple watch seems steep, for those like me who use an Android phone there are smart watches with health monitoring available for $50. I got one for my spouse and because of my very frequent labs I wore it and compared it to the official medical measurements (heart rate, BP and oxygen). It was accurate. If I got what seemed to be a blood pressure reading that was “off” I simply took another measurement or two. My spouse, who has a blood pressure issue now uses it and compares to a cuff on occasion.
Michael, You will get there soon enough, if not already there. Change your currency from money to your time and health. Good Luck
I’d make sure I have enough $ sooner than when you plan to retire. You’re probably fine but most in Corporate America employees may get “retired” by their employer many years earlier than planned. And by enough, I also mean whether you stay married or separate (sorry to be Debbie Downer). I’d also shift more tax deferred assets to Roth. I’d start good health habits as soon as possible. I’d invest in strong relationships and community.
I had traditional IRAs, ROTHs, and a 457 savings plan through my county employment. I would have put more into my ROTH, and, as a veteran I should have checked on buying my service early in my career to have added time to my pension, as later it got too expensive. I didn’t know that buying it was available at my county level.