This Insights article was contributed by Katie Henderson, Marketing Director at Pathfinder Wealth Consulting.

You have been counting down the days to retirement for the past year. You have wrapped up all your major projects, delegated your tasks, and planned a party for your last day. Or perhaps you are a part of more than half of workers who leave their jobs earlier than expected due to health issues, family needs, or job elimination. Whether by choice or unexpected circumstance, you find yourself nearing the retirement deadline with both excitement and apprehension.

You find yourself wondering what you are going to with your newfound freedom from the 9-5 grind. In most situations, your career has been the staple of your life for over four decades. You are stumped. What are you going to do all day?

As you plan ahead for your retirement years, especially the “go go” years of early retirement, it is important to have intentionally set plans that will force you to deviate from the well-establish routine of your career days and proactively pursue meaningful activities.  If not, you may get caught in a cycle that doesn’t differ from your days at the office, except for getting more sleep and having more time to run errands.

A quick Google search brings up a plethora of articles on “what to do in retirement.” This impressive list means one thing: a lot of people have this same question.

According to recent findings by Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, retirees are finding a wide variety of activities to fill their time, including “spending more time with family and friends (61 percent), pursuing hobbies (44 percent), and traveling (39 percent). Twenty-one percent are doing volunteer work and 15 percent are taking care of their grandchildren.”

A big part of retirement planning is making sure you are intentional about it. Retirement is not just a milestone achievement in your career. It is establishing a new way of life.

But retirement is not a one size fits all. When you think of your perfect retirement, what comes to mind? Traveling the world? Becoming a Master Gardener?  Perfecting your golf game? Whatever hobbies and interests you want to devote your time, energy, and financial resources to during your post-career years are all part of your personal definition of retirement.

As you purposefully plan out the activities you hope to pursue in your new life in retirement, it is important to define your goals and, just as importantly, live within your means. Knowing the amount of spending your resources can support, as well as proactively planning for major retirement risks, is critical to peace of mind. That’s where we come in. At Pathfinder Wealth Consulting we offer comprehensive financial planning to guide you to and through retirement. Our team of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals are passionate about helping you navigate the path to an intentional retirement: one that is built on a solid financial plan and fulfills the design you chose for your life.

For more information on planning purposefully as you Navigate the Path to Retirement, we invite you visit us on our website, or email us at [email protected] to hear about our upcoming events.  

Jason Wheeler is currently the CEO and a Wealth Consultant at Pathfinder Wealth Consulting. Pathfinder specializes in comprehensive financial, estate and tax planning services, investment management, and risk management (insurance) for business owners and successful executives. Jason Wheeler offers securities and advisory services through Commonwealth Financial Network®. Member FINRA, SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. To learn more about Pathfinder Wealth Consulting, visit www.pwcpath.com. Jason can be reached at [email protected] or 910-793-0616.