Saying goodbye to your 9-to-5 may also feel like you’re saying goodbye to a piece of yourself.

Mark and Tracy were raised in working-class families that never talked about money. At ages of 63 and 56, the two college-educated software engineers were enjoying the life they had worked hard for. But even without kids, the first-generation success stories had not saved as much as they had hoped.

Retirement marks a new exciting chapter of life. One that should be filled with the things that you love and value; whether that be sampling the cuisine of a foreign country or playing board games in the garden with family.

No matter who you are, retirement is a big deal. Planning for retirement can take up a lot of time, and that means it’s important to approach it in the right way.

By now, you’ve probably either read one of Marie Kondo’s books or watched her show “Tidying Up” on Netflix. Kondo’s philosophy is that a cluttered household also clutters your mind. This principle of ridding of items that no longer serve you in order to maximize happiness should also be applied to your personal retirement plan.

As you enter a new chapter of your life, a number of changes from your day-to-day habits to your spending patterns will likely change. As you’re getting used to your new way of life, it’s important to keep up with your exercise so you can fully enjoy retirement, mentally and financially.

When you think of retirement, you may automatically hear sounds of Jimmy Buffett playing in the background as you sit on a white-sand beach with a piña colada in your hand.

You’ve saved for years to reach this milestone, and enjoying retirement is something we all deserve. However, letting dreams overtake reality can lead to stressful financial years ahead.

Don’t stop fine-tuning your personal retirement plan once you quit your 9-5. Rather, continue practicing smart financial habits, and watch for the following seven signs that may indicate your retirement lifestyle needs a reality check.

• How to strategically use your IRA Funds for Travel
• How travel fits into your retirement planning with IRA funds

If you’ve spent years “paying yourself first” and growing your funds through a taxable investment account, you might be ready to reap the rewards of your hard work.  Many retirees use an IRA as their “fun” account and start withdrawing to fund travel and leisure.

This can be a great financial plan to help you enjoy your golden years, but as with anything financial, there is a strategy to follow to ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck

When thinking about retirement, where you plan to live is a big factor. There’s a lot to consider when picking the place you want to live after retirement. Depending on your lifestyle, you may consider living abroad. Retiree’s who are interested in living abroad have a lot more factors to take into account, such as healthcare, transportation and language. Here are some important issues to think about before you make the move abroad:

By: Lucille Rosetti (l_rosetti@thebereaved.org)