Some people have one, and some don't, but if you have a bucket list of things you want to do or accomplish, how are you doing with it? Whatever, wherever your list is taking you, and who is involved makes you…you!
In talking to hundreds of clients every year and visiting with friends and family, it seems everyone has a few goals they want to accomplish before we take the proverbial dirt nap. When visiting my office, clients observe a dozen knick knacks on my walls and shelves and ask where they came from. This often leads to the question of my favorite trip, adventure, country, or city I've visited. That's a hard one to answer due to all the adventures I've had with my sweetie of 43 years, visiting over 40 countries around the globe.
Among our travels was an African photography safari in Kenya, Rome, London, Berlin, Paris, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, Iceland, Greece, Turkey, Vienna, and Venice, not to mention most of the 50 United States. Travel was my goal. I didn't want to wind up later dreaming that I'd wish I had taken that trip to…..well….wherever.
Maybe travel isn't your thing; it is more about some other type of accomplishment. You may want to explore an interest or skill more deeply or become an expert at something to share with other people. Longing for that PhD or maybe restore that hot rod sitting in the barn?
Or is your bucket list as simple as just enjoying time with friends at the weekly poker or bridge game? Remember, 'later' is no defined time. Now is the time to make your list.
Whatever your bucket list is comprised of, it makes you….you! Why not start planning for those dreams today?
By David Edge
David Edge is a retirement lifestyle writer and contributor to the ARA monthly newsletter. His articles blend personal stories with practical insights on living well in retirement.
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Easy Eddie's Take
David's travel adventures really show something important about retirement planning that a lot of people don't think about. When folks ask me "How much do I need to retire comfortably?" I always ask them back, "What does comfortable look like for you?" Your bucket list dreams, whether that's international travel, going back to school, or spending more time with grandkids, should be part of your retirement income planning from day one.
Here's what I see all the time: people focus so much on the basics like Social Security benefits and 401k withdrawals that they forget to budget for the fun stuff. If your dream is traveling like David did, that might mean setting aside extra money in a Roth IRA for tax-free withdrawals, or looking into travel rewards credit cards that work well on a fixed income. If you want to go back to school, many colleges offer senior audit programs or reduced tuition for folks over 65.
The key is being specific about your goals and then working backward to figure out the money part. A little dreaming today can make retirement a whole lot more interesting tomorrow.