My Husband’s Retirement Plan Is Just One Word – It Changed How I See Life After Work
What the science says
Retirement is not just a financial milestone. Retirement is a psychological and social transformation. Researchers have found that the most successful retirees are not just those who have enough money. Successful retirees have a plan for how to spend their time, energy, and emotional capital.
A Transamerica Institute (2023) report found that fewer than 25% of pre-retirees have a written retirement strategy. Those with a retirement strategy plan experience far greater confidence and satisfaction in the retirement transition (Collinson, 2023). Similarly, the Retirement Income Institute (2024) showed that retirees with guaranteed income sources such as pensions or annuities tend to spend more freely and enjoy life more, reducing anxiety about “outliving” their assets (Blanchett & Finke, 2024).
Beyond money, research from the Urban Institute and J.P. Morgan Asset Management (J.P. Morgan Asset Management, 2024) emphasizes that how you spend your time matters deeply. Retirees who cultivate purpose, social connection, and daily structure report higher life satisfaction, better health, and longer longevity.
The science tells us that retirement well-being comes from three intertwined elements:
- Financial readiness – a stable and confident base.
- Purpose and clarity – knowing what matters to you.
- Active experimentation – practicing the lifestyle before the paycheck stops.
What I think
When my husband, TC, and I met with our CFP® professional, Venus, a few months ago. Venus asked, “What will you do during retirement?” TC smiled and said one word: “Fishing.“
TC is 62 and just three years from his target retirement in December 2028. He is eligible for a small pension in Spring 2028. Financially, he could retire even if I didn’t exist. Emotionally, TC is learning what “retirement” feels like.
 | TC bought a foldable kayak a few weeks ago. On crisp Carolina mornings, he practices casting his fishing rod on Lake Norman. In his first try, he caught a catfish, and the catfish broke his fishing rod. What TC is really catching is clarity about rhythm, solitude, joy, and meaning. |
 | I see this as a “trial-and-error” pre-retirement experiment.TC is not waiting until 2028 to discover what a fulfilling retirement looks like. He’s experimenting now. His approach is intentional, hands-on, and purpose-driven. The behavioral scientists describe this as a “psychological rehearsal” or an experiment that reduces uncertainty. The experiment helps TC’s retirement transition feel natural instead of abrupt. |
What strikes me most is that the story is not about TC’s fishing. It’s about change agency. TC is taking control of how he will spend not just his money, but his life. We are in the driver’s seat about spending in retirement: our time, relationships, and contributions.
What you can do
If you are in a pre-retirement window (three to five years or earlier), here are some steps you can take to prepare both your finances and your fulfillment:
- Clarify your retirement meaning and purpose. Meet with a CFP® professional. As, “Could I retire comfortably if I were alone?” Knowing that answer brings peace and flexibility.
- Define your retirement vision. Write a short paragraph describing an ideal day in retirement. Where are you? Who’s with you? What are you doing at 10 a.m.? 3 p.m.? Clarity breeds commitment.
- Experiment early. Start doing pieces of your retirement life now. Volunteer, teach, fish, paint, garden, mentor, travel, or take a part-time role that brings joy. Adjust based on what feels authentic.
- Diversify your resources. Beyond money, think about other resources you will spend: time, health, relationships, service, and fulfillment. Balance them intentionally.
- Reflect and recalibrate. Review your retirement strategy plan yearly. What changed financially? Emotionally? Spiritually? Successful retirees continuously edit their “life portfolio.”
As Oprah might say, “the biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams” (Johnson & Zitz, 2025). And as a financial planning professor, I’d add, “that dream needs a data-driven budget and a test run.”
Want to learn more?
Please find the list of research in the References section if you would like to learn more about pre-retirement planning. If you’d like to take this further, try journaling your “ideal retirement week.” I’ll be sharing a downloadable version soon on the blog and YouTube channel.
Final thought
You’ve worked a lifetime earning, saving, and giving. Now it’s time to design the life you will spend. With intention, grace, and a little curiosity, just like TC is testing his fishing on Lake Norman.
References:
Blanchett, D., & Finke, M. (2024). Guaranteed income: A license to spend. Retirement Income Institute. Retrieved from https://www.protectedincome.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/RP-28_BlanchettFinke_v2.pdf
Butrica, B. A., Goldwyn, J., & Johnson, R. W. (2005). Understanding expenditure patterns in retirement. Urban Institute. https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/51766/411130-understanding-expenditure-patterns-in-retirement.pdf
Johnson, E., & Zitz, S. (2025, Sep 11). 100 Quotes About Life to Inspire and Motivate You. Retrieved from Hearst Magazines, Inc.: https://www.prevention.com/life/a44189224/life-quotes/
J.P. Morgan Asset Management. (2024). Guide to Retirement. Retrieved from https://am.jpmorgan.com/content/dam/jpm-am-aem/global/en/insights/retirement-insights/guide-to-retirement-us.pdf
Transamerica Institute. (2023). Retirement life: Pre-retiree expectations and retiree realities. Retrieved from https://www.transamericainstitute.org/docs/library/research/life-in-retirement-preretirees-expectations-retiree-realities-report-september-2023.pdf