Go-Go Years Starts Now

Go-Go Years Starts Now

I was having a great check-up meeting with one of my favorites the other day, and I must include his twin brother in this as well.  He reminded me of some advice I had given a while ago, and I liked it so much I rushed to put pen to paper (or keyboard to screen?) The advice stemmed from the old adage that retirement has 3 stages: the go-go years, the slow-go years, and the no-go years.

The Three Stages of Retirement

Let’s dig deeper, shall we?  The referenced saying speaks to the fact that retirement generally has 3 stages.  The first is the go-go years when you retire and set the world on fire.  You travel, buy things, are uber active, and really are all over the place, living your best life.  As a matter of fact, studies have suggested that ages 69 and 23 are the two happiest years of a person’s life.  This is when they are firmly in those go-go years.

Next up, the slow-go years.  This is the second stage of retirement, when you no longer have the zest and energy to spend and travel as you once did.  Still good living, of course, but think more of doing a cruise, or renting a house for the family at the Jersey shore.  These ages, your world shrinks and so does your energy to spend.

Finally, we have the no-go years.  My client, who was the inspiration for this blog, has their parents here as clients as well. I highly suggest it 😊.  Anyway, his parents are much older and firmly in those no-go years.  There is not much ability or zest to spend, and we will all get to this stage in life.

Start Now

I tell you all this for background, as now comes the advice.  My friend reminded me years ago that I told him, “Listen, you don’t have to wait until you are retired to start the go-go years.”  That simple statement had a huge effect on his life.  Shortly thereafter after I started seeing images and hearing stories of his latest travels or exploits.  Did a motorcycle trip with this group.  Traveled overseas with his wife here.  Did a cool excursion with his son there.  It was truly great seeing him start those go-go years now, years before he retires, which he still hasn’t even done. 

This advice was born out of the fact that all too often I see people working their behinds off with that retirement end in sight so they can start to live that amazing retirement lifestyle.  But what if you can start to live that retirement lifestyle before you actually retire?  What impact would that have on your life?  Would it even extend your working life some more, having more balance and energy to spend/live?  These are questions I got to see play out in front of my very eyes over the past few years, and boy, it is rewarding for me. 

Therein lies the message or concept of today.  We will all go through these 3 stages of life, as Father Time doesn’t stop for any of us.  If I am going to give you some of the best practical advice I can, why not start those go-go years early?  Think of retirement in 2 stages: mentally retiring and physically retiring.  You can have that mental retirement for years before you actually retire.  For example, we all work with that colleague who seems to take “too many” vacations.  It makes us mad to some degree, as you are stuck slogging away, and this jocke is off jet setting around the world living their best life.

Well, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em is my advice.  That can be you, too, and the change of mindset starts now.  As Andy Dufresne said to Red in every guy’s favorite movie Shawshank Redemption, “get busy living or get busy dying.” 

Disclaimer

Now, final thought and disclaimer here is that this is where working closely with your advisor can really help.  We can model out an increased lifestyle today and show you what is possible under different circumstances.  Most people don’t realize the limits to the possibilities and even the options that are presented to us.  Yes, sometimes these things have tradeoffs, but understand what they are so you can make an informed decision as to how to live your best, most ideal life.  As you know, my favorite saying stay wealthy, healthy, and happy.