{"id":3169,"date":"2023-10-23T17:16:37","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T17:16:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/franklegan.com\/?p=3169"},"modified":"2023-11-20T14:10:34","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T14:10:34","slug":"retirement-dream-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/franklegan.com\/retirement-dream-now\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can You Start Working Toward Your Retirement Dream Now?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By Frank Legan<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many of us long to fast-forward to our retirement years so we can finally do all the things we\u2019ve dreamed of. But what if it\u2019s not about reaching your retirement years, but about making choices today that bring you closer to the life you\u2019ve always envisioned?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let us explore the intentional steps you can take to live a fuller life now by spending more quality time with loved ones, unearthing your true purpose, and shifting your focus toward a life of fulfillment. Don\u2019t wait for retirement\u2014start working toward your dream life today!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Do You Want Your Life to Look Like?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial conversations can often be left-brain dominant. But since money impacts every area of your life, it\u2019s critical that financial discussions also include your hopes and dreams for life. That means we need to dig into the emotional side of our thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One simple way we can do this is by asking our clients specific questions about what their retirement goals look like, this includes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tangible goals:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> What would you like to have?\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Conceptual goals:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> What would you like your life to be like?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Freedom goals:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> What would you like to be able to do?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Principle in Action<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people don\u2019t even know where to begin when faced with the above questions and will sometimes provide a surface-level answer, such as \u201cI\u2019d like to travel\u201d or \u201cI\u2019d like to spend more time with my family.\u201d These are great starts, but it may take some time to truly uncover what\u2019s most important to you. That\u2019s okay. Even if you don\u2019t know exactly what you want, there are ways to take practical steps toward leading a happier, more fulfilled life now.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expect Less<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s no secret that money can help reduce stress. But can money buy you happiness? The answer is: to an extent. Researchers have found that increased income is associated with increased levels of happiness and life satisfaction up to a point\u2014<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gobankingrates.com\/money\/wealth\/minimum-salary-to-be-happy-state\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$105,000<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to be exact. Beyond that threshold, happiness levels plateau and additional increases in income result in negligible changes in happiness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of focusing on the ultimate retirement dream (e.g., a certain amount of money in the bank, or a specific car or household item), try <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/franklegan.com\/a-healthier-way-to-look-at-your-financial-future-measure-backward\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">focusing on what you do have<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and live in the moment as much as possible. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helpguide.org\/harvard\/benefits-of-mindfulness.htm#\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practicing meditation or mindfulness<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can have significant impacts on your overall sense of happiness and well-being, and letting go of expectations of what your life <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">should<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> look like can be a great first step in envisioning your retirement dream now.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Set Sub-Goals<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your dreams are more on the tangible side, that\u2019s great too. To help with these goals, try setting smaller sub-goals that can be achieved more quickly than the ultimate retirement dream. For instance, if your retirement dream consists of retiring in a condo on a beach in South Florida, maybe set a sub-goal of vacationing in South Florida first. Taking that trip could inspire you even more to make your ultimate dream a reality, while also allowing you to experience your dream in the moment as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find Purpose<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studies show that individuals who live a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/living.medicareful.com\/finding-a-purpose-makes-you-happier-healthier\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">purpose-driven life<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/psychcentral.com\/news\/life-purpose-linked-to-better-brain-health\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">happier and healthier<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on average than those who don\u2019t. Not only that, they also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hrs.isr.umich.edu\/publications\/biblio\/11635\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">live longer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">! A purposeful life is commonly associated with fulfillment and motivation, and can be found in many ways. Volunteering for a local nonprofit or church, spending time with your children, or pursuing a newfound hobby are great ways to find purpose in your day-to-day life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prioritize Family &amp; Friends<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This one sounds obvious, but it\u2019s often one of the hardest things to do. Life gets in the way and before you know it, you\u2019ve spent a whole month getting stuff done but not really spending any true quality time with the people who matter most. Experiencing your retirement dream now often comes in the form of just slowing down for a moment. Realizing that the laundry list of stuff to buy, deadlines to meet, and things to do is important, but so is connecting with and learning from those around you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The great news is, you don\u2019t have to wait until retirement to do that. You can start setting aside time every week to check in with your loved ones and find meaningful ways to connect. You might just find that in doing so, your to-do list becomes a little lighter and maybe even easier to accomplish.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get Started Today<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your path to a fulfilling life is entirely within your grasp. It\u2019s about cherishing the moments with loved ones, seeking your purpose, and embracing the richness of every day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re ready to take the next step on your journey toward a more meaningful life, we\u2019re here to guide you. Reach out to us at 440-683-9213 or via email at <\/span><a href=\"mailto:flegan@cedarbrookfinancial.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flegan@cedarbrookfinancial.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/calendly.com\/franklegan\/meeting-with-frank-legan?month=2021-11\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">schedule a complimentary introductory call online<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Let\u2019s work together to help turn your dreams into reality\u2014starting today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Securities offered through Cadaret, Grant &amp; Co., Inc., an SEC Registered Investment Advisor and member FINRA\/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Cadaret, Grant &amp; Co., Inc. and Cedar Brook Group, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Cadaret, Grant &amp; Co. and Cedar Brook are separate entities. <\/span><\/i><b><i>Please remember that securities cannot be purchased, sold or traded via e-mail or voice message<\/i><\/b> <b><i>system<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Please contact our office at <\/span><\/i><b><i>440.683.9213<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> should you need assistance in placing a trade. This email transmission and any documents, files or previous email messages attached to it may contain information that is confidential or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you must not read this transmission and that any disclosure, copying, printing, distribution, or any action or omission of this transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please immediately notify the sender by telephone at <\/span><\/i><b><i>440.683.9213<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or return and delete the original transmission and its attachments without reading or saving in any manner.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Frank Legan Many of us long to fast-forward to our retirement years so we can finally do all the things we\u2019ve dreamed of. But what if it\u2019s not about reaching your retirement years, but about making choices today that bring you closer to the life you\u2019ve always envisioned?\u00a0 Let us explore the intentional steps [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3188,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"How Can You Start Working Towards Your Retirement Dream Now?","_seopress_titles_desc":"Discover how to start working towards your dream life now without having to wait for retirement.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/franklegan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3169"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/franklegan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/franklegan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/franklegan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/franklegan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3169"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/franklegan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3190,"href":"https:\/\/franklegan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3169\/revisions\/3190"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/franklegan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/franklegan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/franklegan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/franklegan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}