Is it tough to talk about retirement because we haven’t saved enough… or because we’re not comfortable with getting older?
It’s an insightful question and helps us begin to understand why so many people delay the conversation altogether. Retirement hesitancy sits on two sides of the same coin: financial readiness and emotional readiness.
On the one hand, there’s the maths of it all. Rising costs, economic uncertainty, and shaky savings play a big role. Research shows that nearly a quarter of people over 50 are postponing retirement for these reasons. Numbers don’t lie, and sometimes they tell us we’re not ready.
But on the other hand, there’s meaning. A recent Kiplinger article explored the “one more year” trap, where people delay not because they can’t afford to stop working, but because they’re unsure who they’ll be once the structure of work is gone. Identity, purpose, community, these aren’t things you can calculate in a spreadsheet, but they matter just as much.
So maybe the better way to frame it is this: retirement readiness isn’t just about money, it’s also about mindset. It’s not only a question of how much we’ve saved, but how ready we feel to step into a new season of life.
The best conversations about retirement start here. What does retirement look and feel like for you? How might you choose to keep working, not because you have to, but because it still matters to you? And what might need to change for you to feel ready — both emotionally and financially?
Retirement isn’t a finish line. It’s a transition. And the smoother that passage, the more likely it is that your portfolio and your purpose can align. The truth is, this isn’t a conversation to avoid until “someday.” It’s one to lean into now. Not with fear, but with curiosity. Because when we face both the math and the meaning, we give ourselves the chance to plan not just for a retirement, but for a life worth living.
If you’d like to have that conversation, or revisit some previous conversations we’ve had, please feel free to get in touch. The best time to do it is when you’re ready!