How to Plan to Retire Well

Part 1: The Financial Foundation

• 1. The Magic Number: Calculating Your Retirement Goal

  • Estimate your annual expenses (including travel, hobbies, and healthcare).

  • Factor in inflation and life expectancy.

  • The 4% Rule: Understanding safe withdrawal rates.

• 2. Optimizing Your Retirement Accounts

  • 401(k)s and IRAs: Maximizing employer matches and catch-up contributions.

  • Roth vs. Traditional: Tax implications and when to choose which.

• 3. The Role of Social Security

  • When should you claim? The difference between age 62, Full Retirement Age (FRA), and age 70.

  • Strategies for spousal benefits.

Part 2: Health, Housing, and Healthcare

• 4. Mastering Medicare and Healthcare Costs

  • Understanding the different parts of Medicare (A, B, C, D).

  • Budgeting for long-term care insurance or self-funding.

• 5. Downsizing, Location, and Housing Equity

  • Should you pay off your mortgage before retiring?

  • Evaluating a move: Tax implications of different states/countries.

• 6. Prioritizing Your Physical and Mental Well-being

  • Treating health as a critical "asset" in retirement.

  • Budgeting for gym memberships, preventative care, and healthy food.

Part 3: The Lifestyle and Purpose Blueprint

• 7. Finding Purpose: The Non-Financial Side of Retirement

  • Avoiding the "honeymoon phase" crash.

  • Exploring new hobbies, volunteering, and part-time work (or "encore careers").

• 8. Budgeting for Fun: Travel and Hobbies

  • Creating a separate "fun" budget.

  • The difference between early-retirement travel (active) and later-retirement travel (leisure).

• 9. Legacy and Estate Planning

  • Simple wills and trusts.

  • Ensuring your loved ones are protected.