Half our staff here at 228Main.com is under 40 years of age, and as you may realize, I’m… not 40.
And I plan to work to 92.
Suffice to say, my “retirement” plan won’t be the right model for everyone. But that doesn’t mean these younger staffers—and many clients their age—aren’t working on their own plans and planning.
A client’s age or generation matter to a certain extent in our line of work. What we’ve noticed, however, is that the most important part is how each person relates to their age.
Think about my goals again. Of course my age is a factor in my planning, but my intention to continue working changes things more. If I were only working for 2 more years, my strategy would require a totally different gear than my plan to earn an income for 20 more years!
Clients, I don’t mean to suggest you need to know your retirement date now—or even have an exact vision of your retirement lifestyle. In fact, what I want to suggest is that it’s okay if it feels like you’re saving for a fuzzy future self.
“But how do I know whether I’m track? I should’ve started years ago, right?” We’ve heard this before.
No guarantees, but if you’ve made it into a conversation where you’re asking someone you trust this question, you’re on your way. From here, it’s about working toward your goals. How your parents retired, how the plan goes in a chart in a pamphlet that gets stuffed into your hand… if you compare your plan to those examples, they can add more anxiety than applicability.
Reframe. Retirement planning is about your goals, your timeline, your lifestyle. No external marker.
Feeling behind? Arianna Huffington calls this sense of a ticking clock being in a “time famine,” a state where “your feeling is that it must be later than you think it is.” Feeling starved for time to do what you need to do is no foundation for a strong plan.
“Yeah but how will I…”
Ooh, good question! That’s where we come in, and we’d be honored to help you shape this vision. Reach out when you’re ready.
Want content like this in your inbox each week? Leave your email here.