To Be Happier in Retirement, Start Preparing Yourself Now – Presented by Mark K. Lund, Financial Advisor in Utah

Before the internet, booking travel accommodations could be risky. If you simply picked an out-of-town motel out of the yellow pages, you could be in for an unpleasant surprise—a cramped room, worn out furnishings, and a noisy street right out your window. This is why many people opted to stay only at accommodations that were part of a national chain. At least you could be sure your room would meet a predictable standard of quality.

But even riskier than staying at an unfamiliar motor lodge would be renting a private party’s vacation house. Who knows what conditions you’ll have to live under for the length of your stay?

Now booking platforms like AirBnB have eliminated much of that risk of the unknown. Their listings for most properties include photos from every angle inside and out, a catalog of amenities, and detailed reviews from people who recently stayed there. You have access to so much information that when you pull up to your vacation cabin for the first time, it already feels familiar.

When it comes to the future, we all crave certainty. And this is especially true when planning for retirement. We think a lot about the financial component, which plays a big part. But in some ways this may be the most predictable. While you can’t know which way the stock market will be going, you can run specific scenarios about what you can do if X, Y, or Z happens. It’s just crunching numbers.

But planning for how you’ll experience your retirement is much less concrete. After all, you’ve never done it before. Will quitting work give you a new outlook on life? Will a health challenge limit what you can do? Will you change your mind about where you want to live?

Since you can’t know the answers to these and a dozen other major questions about your future life, the best thing you can do is to prepare yourself to be flexible and resilient. And the best time to start is now.

Albert Costill, a financial writer for Entrepreneur, has compiled a list of five traits that are most likely to make you happier in retirement.1

1. Have a realistic view of money. You need enough to live comfortably and meet the unexpected, but having twice as much won’t make you twice as happy.

2. Make your health a priority. Preventable diseases can have a big impact on your quality of life.

3. Stay connected. Close relationships are the key to happiness at every stage of life.

4. Have multiple income sources. Diversification can give you the most flexibility when the inevitable financial challenges arise.

5. Maintain a schedule. It doesn’t have to be like when you were working, but no matter how much free time you have, you won’t appreciate it if you’re not utilizing it.

These are all ways to help you be ready for the unexpected. By developing these traits and healthy mindsets now, you can give your future self a better chance at happiness in your well-earned retirement years.

If you ever have any questions about your investments or retirement plans, please feel free to give me a call at 801-545-0696.

Regards,
Mark Lund
Stonecreek Wealth Advisors, Inc., A Financial Advisor in Utah
11576 S State Street, Bldg. 1002
Draper, UT 84020

Sources:
1. http://go.pardot.com/e/91522/article-421568/8f6tr3/1713789254?h=s_CfJZh-9K5xNjTQa6OyTVovGI-GkHsudWWeRndlrCg

This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. Market indices discussed are unmanaged. Investors cannot invest in unmanaged indices. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This material was prepared by Efficient Advisors, LLC (“EA’) for Mark Lund, Mark is a Financial Advisor in Utah. He is known as a Wealth Advisor, The 401k Advisor, Investor Coach, Financial Planner, Investment Advisor and author of The Effective Investor. Mark offers investment advisory services through Stonecreek Wealth Advisors, Inc. a fiduciary, independent, fee-only, Registered Investment Advisor firm providing investment management and retirement planning for individuals and 401k consulting for small businesses. Mark’s newsletter is called The Effective Investor Newsletter. Cities served in Utah are: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah County, Park City, Murray City, West Jordan City, Sandy City, Draper City, South Jordan City, Provo City, Orem City, Lehi City, Highland City, Alpine City, American Fork City. The views expressed herein are exclusively those of Efficient Advisors, LLC (‘EA’), and are not meant as investment advice and are subject to change. All charts and graphs are presented for informational and analytical purposes only. No chart or graph is intended to be used as a guide to investing. EA portfolios may contain specific securities that have been mentioned herein. EA makes no claim as to the suitability of these securities. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Information contained herein is derived from sources we believe to be reliable, however, we do not represent that this information is complete or accurate and it should not be relied upon as such. All opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. This information is prepared for general information only. It does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and the particular needs of any specific person who may receive this report. You should seek financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any security or investment strategy discussed or recommended in this report and should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized. You should note that security values may fluctuate and that each security’s price or value may rise or fall. Accordingly, investors may receive back less than originally invested. Investing in any security involves certain systematic risks including, but not limited to, market risk, interest-rate risk, inflation risk, and event risk. These risks are in addition to any unsystematic risks associated with particular investment styles or strategies.

Category: Blog, Newsletters

About the Author ()

Mark K. Lund is the author of The Effective Investor, a #1 Best Seller, and founder of Stonecreek Wealth Advisors, Inc. an independent, fee-only, Registered Investment Advisory firm. He has provided articles for or been quoted in: The Wall Street Journal, The Salt Lake Tribune, The Enterprise Newspaper, The Utah Business Connect Magazine, US News & World Report, and Newsmax.com, just to name a few.  Mark publishes two newsletters called, “The Mark Lund Growth Report” and “Mark Lund on Money.”  Mark provides CPE (continuing professional education) courses for CPAs.  You may also have seen him on KUTV Channel 2, or as a guest speaker at a local association or business. Mark provides investment and retirement planning services for individuals and 401(k) consulting for small businesses. In his book, The Effective Investor, Mark exposes the false narrative magazines, media, big Wall Street firms, and most advisors want you to believe. The good news is that Mark will show you that you don’t need their speculative ways of investing in order to be a successful investor. Get a free copy when you schedule your initial consultation.

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