As we get further into summer, we have had several friends tell us about their vacation plans. Listening to them, it’s clear they’ve put a lot of thought and effort into planning for their trip.

 

That got us thinking: what if people put as much time into planning their retirement as they do for their vacations?

 

Unfortunately, this isn’t usually the case. That’s a problem because the average vacation only lasts a few weeks. Retirement, on the other hand, can span decades.

 

We think one reason for this is because many people don’t know how to start planning for retirement … or they’re a bit intimidated by the thought of it. But planning isn’t what should intimidate anyone. Retiring without a plan is what’s really scary.

 

The good news, of course, is that we have already spent a lot of time and effort on your retirement plan. But it occurred to us that you may have family members who can’t say the same thing. Family members who are either behind on their retirement planning or haven’t even started yet.

 

Fortunately, it’s easy to get started—and some aspects of retirement planning are actually fun! When you get right down to it, all you really have to do is apply the principles of good vacation planning to your retirement. We will give an example. Before writing this letter, we looked at a number of different travel websites. Most of them gave tips on how to go on vacation. We were amazed at how similar these tips were to planning for retirement. So, we’ve listed some of them below, along with how to make them suitable for a person’s golden years:

 

VP=Vacation Planning RP=Retirement Planning

VP:Tip #1 – Make a list of places you want to visit. Write down the activities you want to do in each location, and what you like about them. RP:Tip #1 – Make a list of goals you want to pursue during retirement. Write down why they’re important to you.   VP:Tip #2 – Rank these places in order of how important each one is to you. RP:Tip #2 – Rank these goals in order of how important each one is to you. Have fun with these first two steps.   VP:Tip #3 – Determine your budget. Factor in travel, hotel, and food costs. Then determine how much it will cost to do the various activities you listed in Tip #1. Don’t forget to include how much you plan to spend on souvenirs and things like that. RP Tip #3 – Determine your budget. First start with expenses; where do you want to live, and how much will it cost to live there. What are your utilities like? What medical costs do you anticipate having? What debts do you owe? Finally, estimate how much it will cost to pursue the goals you listed in Tip #1. (It’s okay if it’s a rough estimate.)   VP Tip #4 – After determining what your vacation will cost, calculate your current budget by adding up your income minus expenses. Whatever’s left is what you have, to put towards your vacation. RP Tip #4 – Calculate your current budget by adding up your income minus expenses. Whatever’s left is what you have, to put towards your retirement on a monthly basis.   VP Tip #5 – Go online, consult with a travel agent, or check out a travel book and try to find ways to bring your costs down. Savvy vacationers can find deals, coupons, and tour companies that really make a trip easier on your wallet. – Get together with us and bring everything you’ve written down so far. We can discuss possible ways to further fund your retirement, whether it’s through investing or something else.   VP Tip #6 – Book your vacation! RP Tip #6 – Set your retirement date!

Planning a vacation and planning for retirement aren’t exactly the same, but they’re not too far apart, either. In the end, what’s really important is that people devote the same energy to their retirement as they do their summer excursions. For both, the solution is the same: Plan ahead, don’t wing it.

 

If you have any family members who are “winging” their retirement planning, however, we would like to offer our help. Of course, you might not think of anyone right now, but if a loved one ever expresses doubts or concerns about their retirement, please feel free to give them our name or even forward a copy of this message. We would be happy to help them create a plan that shows not only how to fund their retirement, but enjoy their retirement, too!

 

Remember: planning a vacation is great for spending a few weeks in the sun. But planning for retirement can lead to a holiday that lasts for years. Please let us know if there is ever anyone in your life whom we can help.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

Omell Financial Group

 

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