Retirement

I live in The Pacific Northwest in USA and 2026 is my first full year in retirement. Started to plan it in August 2024 based on two spreadsheets. Started to retire in February 2025 and moved from one part of Western Washington State to another to a peninsula that lends itself to retirement as the environment is idyllic lending itself to a slower pace of life without being isolated from society. The summers with lakes, oceans and mountains are as good as it gets. The other seasons are picturesque but are a good time to explore places outside the State and/or countries while one is physically able enough.Most of my time is spent on the continuation of retirement making sure that one is as healthy as one can get, financially secure and enjoy life as much as one can do. There are many aspects of retirement and I am working on structuring it to the best as I can with plenty of thought. Many changes have happened and retirees are in a space of their own. I am looking for a small handful of p

Always said I'd write mine down once I retired. Haven't written a page lol.Anybody actually done it? How'd you go about it, and what got in the way?Maple

I would like to see AARP push for a legislative change in Beneficiary Accounts being counted as assets for seniors.

Discussion created on April 18, 2021 9:50am EST.Adventurer - ventures into the unknown.Continuer - continues to do what they have been doing.Easy Glider - no  agenda.Searcher - figuring out next move.Lol, you are unique and do not have a type!!! 😂🤣Stop by to read the comments and/or leave a comment. We luv hearing from you!

Discussion created on May 18, 2021 9:30am EST.Let's have some fun!!!Add your responses to - I know I am getting old because...Keep adding each day if you want to 😁

Discussion was created on May 18, 2021.With retirement, some of us now have time to think, explore, change and so on.Any aha moments to share with us?Stop by to read the comments and/or add a comment.We luv hearing from you!

Discussion created on April 18, 2021.Stop by to read our comments and/or add a comment.We luv hearing from you!Lol, cute .gif of an old lady driving with her dog looking petrified is attached to this post!! 🤣😂 Poor furbaby. 😞  

▶️To reply, click on reply button at bottom of this post. Enter your text. Click reply button again.◀️ ***READ comments and/or ADD a comment*** (1) Still WORKING - what are YOUR concerns while planning? 🤔 (2) RETIRED - YOUR concerns? 🤔 Thanks, Nicole 👴👵 (Retirement Forum)

[Tuesday 10/20/26]You are NEVER too old to return to school & we get to do it for FREE at age 60+.Stop by to tell us about YOUR school life. Maybe your story may INSPIRE another senior to return to school.They say this keeps our mind YOUNG. 😉Take care,Nicole (Retirement Forum)

I’ve been researching the challenges people face as they approach retirement, and I keep coming back to one question.There are already resources for Social Security, Medicare, finances, healthcare, estate planning and more—yet many people still seem overwhelmed.Do you think the problem is not enough information, or that there’s already so much information that it’s difficult to know what applies to you and what to do next?I’d really like to hear from people who are retired or approaching retirement.

My husband and I have found ourselves just a few years from retirement and realizing our adult children are not yet financially independent and struggling in today's economy. Can any of you relate to this? The hardest part is having the conversations related to finances and the potential impact these could have on our relationships. We know we have to take responsibility for our own retirement future, but want to be able to support them in achieving their own financial success and happiness. Really want to connect with people who are sharing a similar life experience and navigating this challenging circumstance.

3 comments ➡️To reply, click on reply button at bottom of this post. Enter your text. Click reply button again. ⬅️ Read comments and/or comment. Do YOU agree or DISagree? 🤔 Feel free to ADD to this list! (1) Social Security. (2) Company or government pension. (3) Annuities. (4) 401(k) or IRA. (5) Roth accounts. (6) Stocks and mutual funds. (7) Bonds. (8) Savings accounts and CDs. (9) Part-time retirement job. (10) Paid-off house.

We have five kids. Although we are not millionaires, I have determined that our finances at our current ages (86 and 80) are such that we can give the kids some money now, and not be left in financial straits. I would like the pleasure of doing that while we are still living. The problem is that three of our kids just scrape by, and the other two are quite well off. Have others faced this dilemma, and if so, did you give equal amounts to avoid any possible ill feelings, or did you give based on need? 

Trying to find out if anyone thinks this retirement plan will work.My wife and I have a modest income of just under $50k a year. I am 59 and still working. She is 58 and on Disability. I plan on retiring early at 62. Our house is paid off and we have no major debt but owe some back taxes plus some consumer debt totaling around $25k.Our combined monthly income in retirement will be about $2,500 a month.I have a small 401k that nearly matches our total debt mentioned above and I plan on using it to pay that debt off at age 59 1/2.When my wife turns 62 we plan on doing a reverse mortgage on our $200k+ home. What do you think?

Raising the IRMA threshold  income limits are a very important issue for those of us on medicare and fixed incomes.    Is AARP putting resources towards support of this bill

I've had a funeral service business for 40 years and I like working with the people and working, but I'm getting to retirement age and think I will have to sell.  Is anyone in a similar situation where they have a company are seriously thinking about selling?

Hello! I'm new to this community. How many of you pre-retirees or retirees are still supporting adult children? I'd love to know your story and if you've had success making money online?

A few days ago, I learned that there is a regulation that the federal government is proposing that would allow private equity companies to access funds in retirement accounts. Public comment on the proposed regulation ends today, June 1st at 11:59 PM.. If you have a retirement account and don't want private equity companies to access the funds in the account, then you might want to provide public comments. Here is the link to the Federal Register to provide public comment. Please share this with other people you may know.

Hi- I decided to self-direct our retirement portfolio and would like a second opinion on my AA. I had my head buried in the sand until recently when I decided to take a proactive approach to our retirement portfolio, now that we are 5 yrs from retirement. 57 yo, plan to retire in 5 yearsSet my target allocation to 70/30. Staying somewhat aggressive b/c anticipate having enough in savings for first 2 years of retirement.Using 3-fund strategy 1) US Stocks 2) Int'l Stock 3)BondAA: 1) 56% 2) 14% 3) 40%Entire portfolio approach: 3 different accounts, 1)my work 2) spouse work 3) Individual Roths. Instead of treating each account as a stand-alone, taking holistic view for 3 accts as 1 portfolio.This is our current portfolio, would appreciate any feedback/critique:

I’ve been trying to wrap my head around how the recent legislation could affect retirement income, especially when it comes to taxes, Medicare premiums, and withdrawals.A few things I keep coming back to:How long current tax rates might stick aroundHow income ties into Medicare costs (IRMAA)When it actually makes sense to take withdrawals vs waitIt feels like one of those areas where small decisions now could have a bigger impact later.I came across a free info session led by a former White House policy expert that breaks this down in a really straightforward way. One Big Beautiful Bill Webinar Retirement Income Webinar Curious if anyone here has adjusted their approach recently or is thinking about this differently.

As an oncology RN, I see how much kids do to help their parents as they age. I also see how much my sister has done for my mother. Kids are no guarantee, but they can be a great source of support and a safety net.Concerned about being able to care for myself due to physical and possible cognitive changes. Also concerned about protecting my money who might identify as someone w/o family to watch over things or about someone trying to become my guardian.

FROM THE ARTICLE. 8 Costly Tax Mistakes Retirees Make. Find out how to avoid these pitfalls. By Martha C. White, AARP. Published February 03, 2026. Retirement might free you from the grind of working daily, but when it comes to preparing your tax return, a little extra legwork can prevent you from making some expensive errors. This year in particular, retirees — and taxpayers 65 and older who are still in the workforce — have a slew of new rules, deductions and changes to keep in mind.Here are eight costly mistakes tax pros say you should avoid and their recommendations for what to do instead. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/avoid-costly-tax-mistakes/

FROM THE ARTICLE: We’ve endorsed federal legislation that addresses the financial vulnerability of women retirees. By Emily Paulin & Natalie Missakian, AARP. Published March 18, 2025. Women often earn less money than men throughout their careers and are more likely to leave the workforce to take on family caregiving responsibilities. That may leave them in a precarious position as they approach retirement.That’s why AARP is backing federal legislation that would improve financial security for older American women and provide resources to help them be independent in retirement. USE THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-2025/protect-womens-retirement-savings.html

There is a wide and growing, gap between those who have in the world, and those who don't.  Not only is the gap growing but so is the un-willingness to address it in any meaningful way that gets toward actual resolution of the problems at hand and/or, especially, its root causes, which are many, by those who have.  The 2014 economic conference at Davos, Switzerland was supposedly focused on issues of the widening gap between the rich and poor and how to work toward alleviating it.   Almost no time was devoted to this.  Hmmmmm. In the US are many new retirees who are stuck at  minimum Social Security benefits forever, due to having to start their payments early at 62 in order to have ANY income at all.  These decisions are not made of freedom but of necessity - decisions made under duress.  With no other income, the arithmetic does not work out at all for living.  This is existence, not living!  If one is forced to do file early and

▶️‌To reply, click on reply button at bottom of this post. Enter your text. Click reply button again.◀️ ***READ the comments and/or ADD a comment*** Here are 10 affordable places to retire on the water: (1) Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. (2)Miami. (3)Tampa, Florida. (4)Virginia Beach, Virginia. (5)Jacksonville, Florida. (6)Orlando, Florida. (7)Melbourne, Florida. (8)Chicago. (9)Cape Coral, Florida. (10)Sarasota, Florida. 🗣By Rachel Hartman and Emily Brandon. Reviewed by Katy Marquardt. March 28, 2023. 👉Link to online information