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I've been thinking lately about what separates people who thrive in retirement from those who simply survive it. After working with thousands of retirees through Oath, I've noticed it comes down to three things that have nothing to do with account balances.
Stay Level-Headed When Markets Move
The market will do what it always does: go up, go down, and keep us guessing. But here's what I've learned watching retirees navigate volatility—the ones who do well aren't the ones with perfect timing. They're the ones who don't panic.
There's something almost meditative about a stoic approach to investing in retirement. You've spent decades building your nest egg. The daily swings don't change what you've accomplished. A 10% drop doesn't erase your discipline. A rally doesn't validate your worth.
The portfolios that succeed over time belong to people who can hear the news, feel the flutter of anxiety, and then... do nothing. They trust the plan they built when they were thinking clearly, not the impulse they feel when the news cycle is flashing red.
Your retirement account is a tool for funding your life, not a scoreboard for how well you're doing at being human. Check it less. Live more. Let compound interest do its quiet work while you focus on what actually matters.
Build Something That Outlasts You
Retirement isn't just the end of your working years. It's the beginning of your legacy years.
I've sat across from too many retirees who got the money part right but haven't thought about what happens next—for their kids, their grandkids, the values they want to pass down. And here's the thing: legacy isn't just about inheritance. It's about intention.
What do you want your family to know? Not just about money, but about resilience, generosity, what you learned the hard way? How do you want them to remember you?
Some of the most meaningful planning conversations I've had aren't about estate documents. They're about a grandfather who wants to fund his grandson's first business. A grandmother creating a college fund for her grandchildren. A couple who decides to bring their adult children into conversations about money while they're still here to guide them.
Your legacy is being written right now, in how you spend your time, who you invest in, and what you choose to make important. The question isn't whether you'll leave something behind. It's whether you'll do it thoughtfully.
Find Your Reason to Get Up
This one keeps me up at night because I've seen what happens when someone retires without it figured out.
You spend 40 years with structure. Alarm clocks. Meetings. Deadlines. Projects that give you a reason to show up. Then one day, it's all gone. And if you haven't replaced it with something, you're left with a dangerous amount of empty space.
Money may solve the problem of survival. It doesn't solve the problem of purpose.
The retirees I know who are genuinely thriving aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest portfolios. They're the ones who found something to care about after the paycheck stopped. They mentor. They volunteer. They have hobbies. They travel with intention. They're present for their adult children and grandkids.
There's no dashboard for meaning. You can't track fulfillment in a spreadsheet. But you can feel it in your bones when your days line up with your values.
The question I'd ask you to sit with: when you wake up tomorrow and you don't have to go to work, what will make you want to get out of bed?
The Through Line
These three things—staying grounded, building legacy, and finding purpose—they're all connected by the same truth: retirement isn't all about money. It's about making sure your money serves the life you want, instead of becoming the point of the life you have.
You've worked hard to get here. Don't waste it worrying about things you can't control, or worse, reaching the finish line only to realize you've somehow lost the game.
The world is changing. Markets will move. Life will throw you curveballs. But if you stay steady, invest in what matters, and wake up with a reason to be here, you'll be just fine.
Better than fine, actually. You'll be free.
Disclaimer: This blogpost provides general information about estate and financial planning and is not intended as legal or financial advice. It’s essential to consult with a qualified estate planning attorney and financial advisor to discuss your specific needs and create a plan that’s right for you.
