Many of us seem to take a ‘more is more’ perspective when it comes to retirement, especially when it comes to assets. That’s why it was interesting to read another take on it. This piece on CNBC takes an interesting ‘yes, but with qualifications’ approach to what a person really needs to be happily retired:
Money: Yes, but not too much.
Family: Close, but not too close.
Home ownership: Yes, but not forever.
Friends: Yes, but make sure they’re the right friends.
Intimate relationships: Helpful, but not mandatory (especially if you’re a woman 60-65)
And here’s the most interesting part (in our minds) about age and health:
Retired or not, getting older can make you happier, period. Studies have found a happiness “u curve,” Don Ezra, author of “Happiness: The best is yet to come,” told AICPA attendees in another session on longevity risks. “Happiness comes from different circuits in the brain,” he said. Want-generating dopamine declines and like-inducing opioids increase with age. At age 70, you’re happier than you are at age 20, he said.
Finke said timing matters, however. “The peak happiness years of retirement tend to happen between 66 and 70,” he said. Retiring late can mean that you don’t have the health—or the desire—to travel and be more active. Once retirees hit age 70, they tend to sleep more and watch more TV. “Especially when you get those later years, it can be a trial to spend a lot of money,” he said.
That’s why we focus so much on what we call the “Go-go” season of retirement and why each client completes the Fit-to-Retire planning with our exclusive 100-Day Playbook. We want to help you capitalize on those all-important ‘peak happiness years of retirement.’ That’s when ‘more’ really is more!
Be First to Comment