Common Sense Financial Podcast The Missing Link in Retirement Planning: Why Purpose Matters
Brian Skrobonja talks about the true meaning of purpose in retirement. He shares why aligning your financial strategy with your life's purpose is key to a fulfilling retirement and how purpose, not just money, impacts your longevity and satisfaction. Tune in to discover practical insights on creating a retirement plan that empowers you to live with confidence, clarity, and meaning.
- Brian starts by explaining why the modern approach to retirement is wrong.
- Retirement isn't about reaching a final stop. It's about transitioning—and if we don't plan that transition right, what starts as a dream can easily become a nightmare.
- Brian talks about the loss of purpose and explains how, for many, retirement isn't just about leaving a job; it's the loss of purpose, too.
- According to Brian, the big problem with most retirees is that they retire financially ready but emotionally unprepared. They focus on leaving the job behind but forget to plan for what's next.
- Brian shares an analogy: retirement is like halftime in a game. If you retire at 60 and live until 100, you're just getting to the halfway point.
- The first half of life is all about building your career. The second half is about finding purpose, making an impact, and creating a new legacy. However, this only works if you stop seeing retirement as an "escape" and start seeing it as a fresh start.
- The question to ask instead of "When can I retire?" Brian urges a mindset shift: instead of asking when you can retire, ask, what's in store for me in this next phase of life?
- How retirement without a purpose can lead to unexpected struggles.
- Brian reveals what happens when people retire without purpose.
- At first, it's all fun—sleeping in, golfing, traveling, but eventually, that excitement fades. The days blur together, and with them, the feeling of purpose begins to fade, too. Studies show that 28% of retirees experience depression, often due to this loss of direction.
- Brian explains why purpose isn't just good for your soul, it's the key to living longer.
- Brian stresses that your purpose needs financial backing. A strong purpose without funding is like a car without gas—it won't get you far.
- Brian explains that without clarity on what you want retirement to look like, all the money in the world will be useless. A fulfilling retirement is not just about the financials—it's about how your money can empower you to live a purposeful life.
- How to plan for retirement in a way that actually works. Brian reveals why traditional retirement planning falls short. It's not just about accumulating wealth for the future—it's about adjusting your mindset for the next phase of life.
- Brian highlights the biggest challenge many retirees face: moving from a growth-only mindset to an income-first approach.
- According to Brian, planning shouldn't begin with the numbers. It should begin with YOU—your values and your purpose. When your financial strategy aligns with your purpose, that's when you start creating the legacy you've always dreamed of.
- Brian on legacy: Stop stressing too much about the money you leave behind. Focus more on the lessons you teach, the values you model, and the inspiration you provide while you're still here.
- Brian explains that estate planning is important, but it's not enough. It secures your assets and legal wishes, but it doesn't pass on your values. It doesn't prepare your family emotionally or relationally for the responsibility they'll inherit. To create a lasting legacy, you need intentional generational planning.
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References for this episode:
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