10 Steps to Get You Ready for Retirement

En español | A happy and fulfilling retirement means different things to different people. For you, it may mean transitioning from a full-time career into meaningful part-time work. Or perhaps you envision yourself spending more time with family, starting a garden or making regular visits to the golf course. Once you determine what will give you peace of mind in retirement, it's important to know how you can get there financially. We'll help you get started with some simple (and fun) steps.

See also: Social Security Benefits Calculator.

Step 1: Define Your Retirement

You probably have some idea of how you'd like to spend retirement. Here's where you write your objectives down, listing the most important goals first. For now, don't focus on budget. Focus on ideas, and be as specific as you can. For example, instead of "travel," list "trips to the lake" or "walking tours of foreign countries." Instead of "stay involved in my community," write down "volunteer with kids one day a week."

Try to limit the list to your top five goals. Keep a scrapbook or start a journal depicting how you envision your retirement. Be practical: Your list should rule out unnecessary expenses. Make sure all your financial needs are met as you brainstorm. The more descriptive you are, the more tangible your retirement will be. This will help keep you focused on a realistic set of goals, which will make each of them more attainable.

If your goals are still general or vague, that's OK, too. You can simply start by outlining how you envision enjoying your retirement.

Step 2: Take Stock of Your 'Assets'

You know how much you bring home each month, how much you have in the bank and how much you have in your retirement account. But what about those other nontraditional assets that could help fund your retirement? Maybe you collect antiques or restore cars. Perhaps you're an accomplished pianist or have a half-written novel you want to finish.  

Many hobbies and skills can be turned into real income in your retirement years — trading antiques or teaching piano lessons, for example. Take the time to list all of your hobbies and skills. Don't worry if your list is small, but do list all of your passions and untraditional "assets." After that, start thinking about how you can morph those skills and hobbies into money-making endeavors.

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