Retirement Planning

The concept of retiring from work is relatively new. For most of the history of humanity, workers did not retire. They simply worked until they no longer could do so. Today however, unless you have assets in the millions, there is a good chance you will be at least somewhat concerned about having enough money during retirement.

As important as the financial aspect may be, it's probably not the most significant consideration. The biggest decisions you have to make involve determining what retirement looks like to you. In other words, when you consider your retirement years, what do you envision doing. Will you start a new business, go back to college, volunteer in a community service organization, change careers, travel, or plan to spend lots more time sitting on the front porch or working in the garden? Each of those options impacts the financial aspect of retirement.

Whatever shape retirement takes for you, it will have to be financed. Social Security will provide a significant amount of funding for many people. You may also have the benefit of an employer-sponsored pension plan. The rest of the funding will most likely come from savings and investments.

The links below can help you plan. Some of the reports can help you think through how you want your retirement to look. Others focus on the financial aspects. The Social Security links can give you a good approximation of what benefits you may receive. As is often the case, consulting with a trusted advisor makes good sense when planning for retirement. If you are looking for a planner, our Find a Planner page may help you.