Retirement planning is so much more than deciding when to stop working or how much money you have saved.
It’s about taking the time to think about how you want to live your next chapter — and making plans before life requires you to make decisions.
ProActive ProAgers Make the Time to Plan
There are a lot of decisions that can come with retirement.
When should you begin Social Security? What will healthcare and Medicare look like? Have you considered long-term care? Where do you want to live? Does your current home still fit the life you want? Would you like to travel more, live closer to family, downsize or simplify?
You don’t have to have every answer today.
But you do need to make the time to ask the questions.
That’s part of choosing The ProAge Smart Life™ — being proactive about Life’s Golden Transitions™ while you have the time and freedom to explore your options.
You Need a Retirement Team
One of the points I shared during my Boomer Bytes conversation with Kerry Fink of Helping Seniors was simple:
You need a team.
Retirement involves decisions in areas where most of us aren’t experts — and we shouldn’t expect ourselves to be.
Your team may include financial and tax professionals, Social Security and Medicare resources, an estate-planning attorney, insurance and long-term-care professionals, healthcare providers and a knowledgeable real estate professional.
The goal isn’t to become an expert in every aspect of retirement.
The goal is to surround yourself with the right people, ask good questions and make informed decisions.
Don’t Marry the House 
Our homes can become very emotional, particularly when we’ve lived in them for many years.
But one of the questions worth asking as you plan for retirement is:
Does my home still support the life I want to live?
Maybe the answer is absolutely yes.
Perhaps you want to age in place and your home can be adapted to make that possible.
Or maybe maintaining the house, yard, pool, stairs or unused rooms is beginning to feel more like an obligation than something you enjoy.
That’s why I like to say: “Don’t Marry the House”
Your house should support your life — your life shouldn’t have to revolve around your house.
Staying may be the right choice. Downsizing may be the right choice. Moving closer to family, relocating to another community or choosing a more maintenance-free lifestyle may be the right choice.
The important thing is to consider your options before circumstances make the decision for you.
Is Selling Your Home Part of Your Retirement Plan?
For many Baby Boomers and Gen Xers, their home is one of their largest assets.
That makes housing an important part of the retirement conversation.
Ask yourself:
- Do I want to stay in this home for the next 5, 10 or 20 years?
- Does this home fit the lifestyle I want in retirement?
- What will it take — financially and physically — to maintain it?
- Would downsizing give me more freedom?
- Would I rather live closer to family, friends, healthcare or activities I enjoy?
- Could the equity in my home play a role in my retirement plans?
- If I eventually want to sell, should I begin preparing the home now?
There isn’t one right answer.
What matters is making the decision intentionally instead of waiting until a health issue, financial change, family need or other life transition forces you to make it quickly.
Is Selling Is Part of the Plan?
Selling your longtime home isn’t simply a real estate transaction. It can be part of a much larger Life’s Golden Transition™.
That’s why preparation matters.
If selling your home may be part of your next chapter, explore my Life Transition Selling Strategies for ideas about preparing your home, understanding your options and approaching the sale proactively.
→ Explore Life Transition Selling Strategies
A Retirement Resource Worth Exploring
You don’t have to do all the research yourself.
One resource I recommend is Retired.Living, created by Jay Thompson. Jay shares practical retirement information and resources covering many of the decisions people encounter as they prepare for and live in retirement.
Explore the Best Retirement Planning Posts
I’m also continually reading and sharing information that can help Baby Boomers and Gen Xers make informed decisions about retirement.
I’ve created Best Retirement Planning, where I curate useful articles and resources related to Social Security, Medicare, retirement finances, housing, downsizing, long-term care, estate planning, lifestyle and other retirement considerations.
It’s an easy way to continue learning, discover different perspectives and find questions you may want to discuss with members of your retirement team.
→ Explore Best Retirement Planning
Bottom Line … Make the Time to Plan 
You don’t need to know exactly what the next 20 or 30 years will bring.
None of us does.
But you can make the time today to think about what you want, explore your options, build your team and begin preparing.
ProActive ProAgers don’t wait for life to make every decision for them.
We make the time to plan.
And one of the most important questions to include in that conversation may be:
If selling your home part of your retirement plan … Look at my Pro Seller Plan
Be Proactive. Age with Joy. Live Your Best Life.
Choose to be a ProAger, not an Old Ager and Live Your Best Life.
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