What if we told you that most of what you know about retirement won’t help you with the transition? What if the very thing you have been chasing for the last 30-40 years doesn’t measure up to your expectations and worse, you can’t tell anyone about it?
This may feel like a lousy way to invite you to our upcoming retreat at the MEA Santa Fe campus from Sept 2-7, 2024 but we find it takes coming out of auto-pilot and spending focused time, to avoid learning it all the hard way.
The 1/2
Fractions and decimal points are typically part of the financial side of the retirement planning process, but they are also a cornerstone to the personal side as well. You see, traditional planning often only covers half of the issues. For example:
Half of the plan: Retirement isn’t just about replacing your paycheck. Retirement creates a hole in almost every aspect of your daily life, including what roles you play, where you spend your time, how you spend your time, and with whom. There is a dark side and social stigma that can be more harmful than a stock market crash. This means there’s an equal if not more important reason to spend some time working on what’s going on inside you rather than just polishing the outside.
Half the insight: Whether you have been together for 10 years or 40 years, couples often have some vague thoughts and ideas about what retirement may look and feel like. However, without some regular discussions and coordinated planning, many couples quickly realize that they aren’t on the same page, let alone, they’re not reading the same book. It’s critical to have both partners sharing and developing a coordinated plan.
We can’t emphasize enough that retirement is a significant life transition that comes with a rollercoaster of challenges and emotions. Without the right time or place to process them, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
The other 4 key things that no one tells you about include:
Lost & Found Table. Ever been to your kids or grandkids elementary school and seen the lost and found table? It’s littered with good stuff that doesn’t have a place. Well, that could be you if you don’t find a tribe for support and that fosters a sense of belonging.
Knock-Knock, Who’s There? What’s your response when you’re not working? Too often people confuse who they are with what they do. Retirement can have big impacts on our identity and all that goes with it from years of work including loss of: Position. Roles. Title. Standing. Status. Influence. Respect. Sense of Relevance.
Bad Directions. Many people get to retirement by following someone else’s directions or expectations. GPS coordinates that suddenly end once you arrive. Too often people haven’t taken the time nor had a process to critically question what they know about retirement to make sure that the place they are headed toward is where they want to be. Don’t end up a stranger in a strange place.
Signed Permission Slip. Sometimes we just need permission to do things a little differently. In the case of retirement, that means time to pause and accept the messiness of the journey. To not know what’s next…To recognize that you may be depleted and need time to recharge…and, most of all, to treat yourself to a guided planning process with a new tribe that is in the same place and space you are!
These are just a few of the many things no one tells you about retirement, let alone helps you plan for. So don’t do retirement alone…don’t learn things the hard way…and don’t be afraid to put as much time and effort into the personal side as you do the financial side like these inspiring alumni who attended our previous MEA retreats:
“Attending the Reframing Retirement workshop changed my life…With the help of my cohort, I created a new vision of myself and my life. I've used the workshop's wisdom to guide my journey during this first year of retirement and it has made all the difference!” - Denise Vedder
“When my retirement was approaching, I was seeking to develop a community of like-minded people, those who are also in this phase of life, and to peek around the corner and understand what I might not have considered as I prepared for this milestone. This session delivered on both and gave me so much more. I met the most amazing people and on our monthly cohort calls, they continue to share my excitement, listen to my fears and provide thought partnership as I talk through my plans. Hands-down, one of the best investments I’ve made in myself.” – Stephanie Armistead
“Bob and Colleen's retirement workshop was a fabulous experience... I walked away with a fresh perspective on retirement and have already put into practice new ideas I gleaned from the workshop. I highly recommend it to anyone thinking about their retirement plans!” – MeMe Jacobs
Your new chapter starts now. Learn more about co-facilitators Bob Laura and Colleen Drummond, as well as details for the Santa Fe Reframing Retirement workshop Sept 2-7 HERE. It’s a beautiful time of year in Santa Fe.
Colleen Drummond is a former KPMG partner, business innovation executive and thought leader. She brings human-centered design to help rethink, reframe and innovate retirement so that retirees can better navigate transitions toward richer, more meaningful lives. Robert Laura is a pioneer in the psychology and social science of retirement and legacy planning. He is a five-time best-selling author, nationally syndicated columnist and recognized presenter at retirement conferences and events across the country and the founder of the Retirement Coaches Association.