UNSTUCK – How to Get out of Your Money Rut and Start Living the Life you Want
by Karin Mizgala and Sheila Walkington

(Excerpt from: Chapter 11 –  Don’t Give up on Retirement Yet)

Here are the five biggest retirement mistakes that people make. You’ll want to do your best to avoid them:

1. Avoiding the Conversation—That conversation could be with yourself. It could be with a spouse or it could be with an advisor. Having a conversation about retirement helps to bring some clarity to what your goals are. If the conversation is with your spouse or partner, it will give you a sense of whether or not your spouse is on the same page or if they have different ideas about retirement. It doesn’t mean you have to have exactly the same vision, but it’s very, very useful to have an idea of what direction each of you wants to go.

2. Not being clear about what you want—It’s very hard in our day-to-day frenzy of activities to take that step back and say, “Hey, what do I want now and what do I want in the future?” Clarity provides direction and motivation to make good decisions along the way.

3. Being afraid to look at the numbers—Yes, it’s a little scary to shed light on what your true situation is, but it’s also liberating. When you actually know what your circumstances are, you can figure out what you need to do and then it’s easier to take action.

4. Not having control over your expenses—The most important thing you can do to have a healthy financial life now and in the future is to have control over your expenses. It’s not easy in light of all the competing demands for your money but learning to live within your means is critical for a comfortable retirement.

5. Carrying debt into retirement—It may not be avoidable, but carrying debt into retirement really limits your flexibility in the future. Aim to be debt-free before you retire.

Ready to explore your retirement options?  Book a free consultation with a Money Coach Retirement Specialist or check out our Rethinking Retirement eLearning Program.