Investing, Student of the Market
Ryan Weiser
Student of the Market - May 2025
Student of the Market - May 2025

Life Planning

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Navigating the Emotional Side of Retirement

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Navigating the Emotional Side of Retirement

You've been working towards this moment for decades.

But have you really prepared for it?

Once the countdown is over and you've left your retirement party, the reality of retirement is going to set in. And many new retirees are surprised by the waves of emotions they feel, especially in those first few days without work. The initial euphoria and sense of freedom can give way pretty quickly to feelings of loss, aimlessness, anxiety, and even depression.

Getting ready for this emotional side of retirement is every bit as important as preparing financially. Many of the most successful retirees focus their emotional prep on these three areas:

Transitioning Into Fall Intentionally

Transitioning Into Fall Intentionally

While summer 2025 doesn't officially end until September 22nd, the leaves have probably started falling in your neighborhood. Your local big box retailer swapped out its back-to-school corner for Halloween costumes. It's pumpkin spice season at Starbucks and Dunkin'. And your Labor Day party capped off another summer of good times in the backyard.

For many families, planning ahead is the secret to a great summer. We don't always apply the same forethought to the fall. But between school, extra curriculars, working teens, your company's big Q4 push, and holidays on the horizon, it's just as important to make some plans now before your autumn blows by.

Use these three steps to bring your family closer together this fall.

Three Keys to Purposeful Wealth

Three Keys to Purposeful Wealth

What is your money for?

Financial security and comfortable living are very important. But if you aren't making purposeful investments in the things that matter most, you might find yourself surrounded by stuff that doesn't bring you any joy and money that just earns more money.

Consider adding these important investments to your Life-Centered Financial Planning portfolio to boost more than just your bottom line.

Start a Family Tradition

Start a Family Tradition

We tend to think of "family traditions" as things that we do around holidays and celebrations. But the more your family grows, the more it tends to pull itself in different directions. Work, school, sports, and arts can divide the family calendar into individual to-do lists. Sprinkling a few more traditions throughout the year could help your family be more intentional about how you spend your time together and make lasting memories you'll all pass down through generations.

Use this three-step process to create new family traditions that will compound your family's Return on Life (ROL)...

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Pursue Hobbies with Friends and Family in Retirement

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Pursue Hobbies with Friends and Family in Retirement

Retirement can be isolating for some seniors. Even if you're married, your spouse might still be working or going about their own daily schedule. Your adult children are busy raising their own families. Some of your older friends and family might be on different retirement timelines than you are. And as you step away from work you're also stepping away from the camaraderie and teamwork that filled your days with purpose. 

Turning hobbies and interests into more social experiences can help seniors maintain their connections to other people. Here are three reasons why those interactions are important to maintaining a high ROL in retirement:

Three Overlooked Areas of a Solid Financial Plan

Three Overlooked Areas of a Solid Financial Plan

Many nearing retirement focus on investments, but a Life-Centered Financial Plan covers key "What If?" scenarios often missed. Review income sustainability, healthcare costs, and legacy goals with your advisor for complete security.

The next time you meet with your financial advisor, review how your plan handles these three important areas:

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Try a Mini Retirement for ROL

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Try a Mini Retirement for ROL

A mini-retirement is a planned, intentional break from your normal work schedule that can help you recharge and rethink your career trajectory.

Your mini-retirement might mean downshifting to a four-day work week. It could be an extended stay-at-home vacation. Or it could be a longer break from work, like a sabbatical. Older workers who are nearing the "traditional" retirement window might also use mini-retirement to test drive their vision of what life without work will be like. 

Use this three-step process to plan your mini-retirement and make the most of the experience:

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What Does Financial Independence Mean to You?

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What Does Financial Independence Mean to You?

According to a recent poll of 2,000 U.S. adults, "financial independence" equates to earning $94,000 per year, or about $20,000 more than the median income in 2023.

Some folks might feel like they're just a promotion or two away from achieving that kind of independence. Others might not feel like $94,000 is enough to feel truly free. And still others might wonder how they'd ever spend that much money in the first place.

That's because true financial independence isn't a number. It's feeling confident enough in your money to do things that will improve your Return on Life, such as:

What Makes a Good Life?

What Makes a Good Life?

You have a steady job that pays the bills and puts your abilities to good use. You have loving relationships with your spouse, your children, extended family, and close friends. Your house provides enough space and security. Your golf league gives you a chance to unwind. Your volunteer work improves your community.

The specific details might vary, but most people would consider this scenario the basis for a pretty good life. Yet many of us who do check these boxes often feel like there's something missing.

A fascinating new study published by Affective Science asked nearly 4,000 people from 9 countries what kind of life they wanted. The results suggest that there's an important dimension to improving life that many of us may be overlooking.

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When Adult Children Move Back Home

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When Adult Children Move Back Home

School is out, and perhaps your college graduate is trading in the dorms for their old room - back at mom and dad’s house. The rising trend of adult children moving back in with their parents—often called “boomerang children”—is reshaping family life and financial dynamics. Driven by high housing costs, inflation, and mounting student debt, this arrangement can provide a much-needed safety net for the child, but it can also create challenges for the household. The following tips can help you support your children while maintaining healthy boundaries.