What Type of Retiree Are You?
Everyone Approaches this New Chapter of Life with a Different Outlook
Retirements are like snowflakes; no two are going to look the same. Some people dream of a retirement that’s full of adventure and travel, while others imagine their retirement surrounded by family and good books. And just as there are many ways to envision retirement, there are multiple types of retirees, too.
Nancy K. Schlossberg, author and former counseling professor, discovered throughout her work that there are six main types of retirees. Read on to learn more about each one – and to determine which type of retiree you may be.
The Adventurer
Adventurers are bold, curious, and dive into this new stage of life head-first. This type of retiree is quick to venture into the unknown, often taking up a new job in a completely different career path once they retire.
Finding a new job or hobby in retirement can be an exciting and invigorating time. If you’re interested in trying something new but are anxious about how to break into the field, consider becoming an intern to learn the ropes and make connections.
SEE ALSO: Adjusting Your Retirement Mindset
The Continuer
Continuers are retirees who find it difficult to leave their work and their work lifestyle behind. If this sounds like you, you’ll likely find yourself continuing the work you had been doing but in a different way. For instance, maybe you’re a professor who stops teaching but continues doing research in your field.
The Easy Glider
Easy gliders are those who have no agenda or serious plan for how they’re going to fill their days in retirement. They’re content to relax, enjoy the sunshine, and see where each new day takes them. This type of retiree may have always been laid back and relaxed, or perhaps they had a physically demanding job and are finally able to find relief from their work and enjoy a slower pace of life.
The Involved Spectator
Involved spectators are the type of people who weren’t able to retire from their passions, even as they left the workforce. Perhaps they taught art history and now spend their days obsessing over new art exhibits in town, or they retired from a career in politics and now spend their days trying to help people register to vote. They stay involved and committed to their fields, but as spectators.
SEE ALSO: Adjusting to Retirement: 8 Helpful Tips
The Searcher
Searchers are those retirees who may be struggling to come up with their next move. It’s common for all of us to experience this kind of state, even outside of retirement. However, for many who are accustomed to a routine and set schedule for so many years, adjusting to life in retirement can be especially difficult. If you find yourself searching for direction in retirement, consider taking a class, picking up a new hoppy, or joining a local club to meet new people.
The Retreater
Similar to searchers, the retreaters are retirees who aren’t completely sure what to do with their free time in retirement. While some embrace the unknown, retreaters may feel overwhelmed or scared by it and find themselves retreating into their homes and into themselves. There’s nothing wrong with needing to take some time to grieve your old lifestyle and adjust to a new one, but be sure to not waste your retired years living in the past. After decades of hard work and saving, you deserve a retirement that’s full of all those things you’ve always dreamed of.
Creating the Right Retirement for You
Retirement is a time in your life that’s meant for exploration and curiosity. So often, we have to put our desires and interests on the back burner so that we can focus on our careers and long-term goals. But in retirement, all of that hard work and forward planning are finished. Try to relish in this new chapter of your life, explore your interests, try out new hobbies, find out what you’re passionate about and pursue it.
As you explore your options in retirement – and consider what type of retiree you’ll be – it’s important to be realistic about how much money you’ll need to support your lifestyle. You’ll want to make sure that you’re able to afford this new path as well as the necessities of retirement, such as housing, food, utilities, and more.
If you’d like to speak with one of our professionals about adjusting your retirement savings to fund your new ambitions, contact us today. At Peak Financial Freedom Group, we help our clients design customized retirement income plans to suit their dream retirement lifestyles. We look forward to hearing from you!
