Retirement Shouldn't Start at 65

Why I Believe Financial Planning Should Create Freedom Long Before Traditional Retirement

Sitting in a cooking class in Thailand recently, I had one of those moments where time slows down a little.

We were learning recipes from a local chef, surrounded by people from all over the world, sharing stories and experiences over food. A few years earlier, I found myself in Paris doing something similar — walking through local markets, trying incredible restaurants, and taking another cooking class that reminded me how much there is still to experience in life.

And it reinforced something I believe deeply:

Too many people postpone living until “someday.”

As a financial advisor, I spend a lot of time helping busy professionals prepare for retirement. Many of the people I work with are successful, hardworking, and responsible. They've built strong careers, raised families, saved diligently, and often accumulated significant retirement assets along the way.

But somewhere between careers, college tuition, work deadlines, and everyday responsibilities, many people start treating life like something that begins later.

After retirement.
After the next promotion.
After the kids graduate.
After things finally slow down.

The problem is life does not always unfold on our preferred timeline.

Retirement Is Changing

For decades, retirement was viewed as a finish line. Work hard for 40 years, stop working completely at 65, and then hopefully enjoy life afterward.

But retirement today looks very different.

Many people no longer want a traditional retirement where they completely stop working. Instead, they want flexibility. Freedom. The ability to travel more, spend time with family, pursue hobbies, volunteer, consult part-time, or simply have more control over their schedule.

I believe retirement planning should support that kind of life.

The goal is not simply to retire. The goal is to build freedom.

The Best Years May Not Be Later

One thing I’ve noticed personally and professionally is that the years between 50 and 70 can be some of the best years financially, emotionally, and physically.

You may still have your health.
You may have more financial stability.
Your children may be more independent.
You may finally have the ability to prioritize yourself a little more.

That’s why I don’t believe people should wait until they are “old” to begin enjoying life experiences they care about.

Travel.
Learning new things.
Seeing the world.
Spending meaningful time with people you love.

Those things matter.

And they should not always be pushed into a distant future that is never guaranteed.

Financial Planning Should Include Experiences

I believe experiences should be intentionally built into a financial plan — not treated as a reward you might someday earn if everything goes perfectly.

That does not mean spending irresponsibly or ignoring long-term goals. It means designing a financial life that balances preparing for tomorrow while still living today.

For some people, that may mean budgeting for one meaningful trip every year.
For others, it may mean building flexibility to work remotely for part of the year.
For some, it could mean transitioning gradually into retirement instead of stopping work all at once.

Retirement planning is no longer only about reaching a number.

It is about creating options.

Busy Professionals Often Need Permission to Enjoy Their Success

Many high-income professionals are excellent at accumulating wealth, but not always as intentional about using it to create meaningful experiences.

There is always another obligation:
Work.
Kids.
College expenses.
A bigger financial target.
Another reason to delay.

But eventually, many people realize time is becoming more valuable than money.

That perspective shift is important.

One of the reasons I enjoy travel so much is because it creates memories and experiences that stay with you long after the trip is over. I still think about the people I met, the meals I shared, and the moments that forced me to slow down and simply be present.

That has value too.

Retirement Today Can Be More Flexible

One of the biggest misconceptions about retirement is that it has to be all or nothing.

For many people, the ideal retirement may include:

• Part-time work
• Consulting
• Remote work
• Seasonal schedules
• Extended travel
• More freedom over when and how they work

That kind of flexibility often requires intentional financial planning long before retirement officially begins.

The most successful retirement plans are not always the ones with the largest account balances.

Often, they are the ones that create the most freedom.

Designing Wealth Means Designing a Life

At Designing Wealth, I believe financial planning should help people build a life they can actually enjoy — not simply accumulate assets indefinitely.

Yes, saving matters.
Investing matters.
Planning matters.

But so does living.

Maybe that means taking the trip.
Learning something new.
Trying the restaurant.
Taking the cooking class.
Working differently.
Creating more flexibility in your life before traditional retirement ever arrives.

Because retirement is not simply about eventually stopping work.

It is about creating the freedom to live more intentionally — now and later.

This content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information provided is not written or intended as tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for purposes of avoiding any Federal tax penalties. Individuals are encouraged to seek advice from their own tax or legal counsel. Individuals involved in the estate planning process should work with an estate planning team, including their own personal legal or tax counsel. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a representation by us of a specific investment or the purchase or sale of any securities. Asset allocation and diversification do not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.