4 Things To Consider When Preparing for Retirement
How to Map the Path Between Now and Retirement
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You make good money, have a goal of retiring, and it's important that you maintain your lifestyle but you have no idea what you need to do to make that happen we're gonna start off in this episode in helping you bridge that gap. Where you are and the goal of retiring, there is a path between those two points, and right now, that path is a blur. And in this episode, I'm gonna help you understand what may be on your path, why it's important to define your path, and we'll jump into some questions that will help you begin to see what you need to plan and prepare for. Because as long as you don't address the what's in between, you're going to continue to have uncertainty. Because it's the thoughts in your brain of, okay, between now and then, and as a responsible human being, okay, there's other things, there's other... that's a long time. Even if you're five years, it's still, what's going on? And so between now and retirement, there can be a multiple- a multitude of things as you're thinking about it and looking at them as the next milestones, and that will help you better understand what you need to plan and prepare for. Also defining it, you're gonna see the connection between now and retirement, and that piece alone is going to be huge, knowing where we are and knowing where we want to go is important, and I've talked about that a lot which if you need support on calculating those two things, I talk about that more in episode 139. The specific topic is four things to know about retirement planning, and that is important. But today's episode, we are going to dive into the in between. Recently, I was working with a client, and she knows when she wants to retire. She had taken my workshop, done all of that work, knew her beginning point, her ending point, and so we were working on, getting her system into place, and then I'm like, "Okay, it's time to start clearing this path." And as we did, as we dove into what's going to happen for her between the next 15 to 20 years she has about, a few of the things that she's "Yes, these are what we're desiring, what we're possibly dealing with," and one of them is a home purchase. There's circumstances with the home they're living in and so they need to make a home purchase. They need to look at college plans for one more child, and she says, we just wanna try and enjoy the next years and not just work for retirement." It is essential to understand what is in between that, okay? But the first step is, yes, you need to know what your vision is for retirement. That can be effective, too. Knowing where you are is also important. Then this would be the third step of, okay, what's in between? So every- everyone's path will be different. We discussed a client of mine. Yours may not have those same things. So it's important that you see the path from starting to ending with you. And as you do, this is going to help you move forward on your way to retirement because now you've just made a clear line from beginning to end, you're just-- It's gonna go, "Oh, that was what my mind was saying. Ah, there's other things. Ah, there's other concerns." And as you then put them into place, you now have that plan, it's like saying, "Okay, you're gonna run a race. Here's where sh- you're starting, here's where you're ending," and they don't give you anything in between. And then your mind's going I can't do that. I can't do that." No, you can't, and this is the same. So as you think about your path, you might already have some things that you know of, some people have those down. And so start there, write those down before you dive into the questions, 'cause we're gonna dive into some questions that are going to help make your path less blurry, you're gonna see other things that you need to be concerned about that are going to, yes, support you on your path to retirement. Okay, so the first question that I want you to dive into on this path is most people want to maintain their lifestyle, and as you think about that, and I've shared this before, most people are like, "Yep, I wanna maintain my lifestyle." And I'm like, "Great. What is that?" And then they look at me. They're like I just like the way I'm living." And that is okay, but you have to define that. What things are specific about the way you're living your life now that is important for you to carry into retirement? And as you think about that, what specific expenses are going to contribute to that? Though that's important, especially if that's so important to you that you want to maintain that lifestyle. And again, this is different for everybody. And really if you're living this already, it's going to be super easy to carry it forward. You just need to plan with that correct number. All right, next question. If retirement is you've probably got five, 10, 15 maybe you're lucky and you still have 20 years away. Now, that is important to know, how long? But I want you to think about what needs to happen between now and then. And as you think about that, does that stretch of time feel blank? This may take some time to start putting pieces together because we spend a lot of time, especially with money, worried about the now, we're putting out the fires, we're saving for the immediate, and honestly, I don't think most of us know how to look ahead, even if you are saving for retirement, we don't know how to look ahead five or plush years. So as you think about the time between where you're at now and when you want to retire- Here are some possible things for you to start thinking that would be on your path, and hopefully this will help you think of the things that are most important to you. Do you plan on supporting your kids in college? I know some of you are still raising young kids, and you're like, "I need to get them through college." Maybe you don't, but that's important, number one, for you to know and for them to know, okay? And then as you think about it, I know a lot of people are like I wanna buy a second home where we can vacation at, and that's as part of retirement." Are you waiting until retirement to buy it, or are you gonna buy it before? Again, important. As you think of, yes, these are the things, you're going to make that list. Another one for you to consider is do you want or need to do a home remodel in those number of years, homes get old. Homes need not only maintenance, but do you have a desire of changing it as kids move out, as you are moving into your older age, there's might be some things where you can actually move, and relocate. Those are things that are important to think about, and is that happening in that path between here and now, or would that happen later? Ideally, it is so important to start beginning, to think about these things. Do you have a big family vacation that you wanna take one last time before your kids have grown, grown up, moved on, and that opportunity isn't there anymore, maybe it still could be, but you wanna make sure that's going to happen. So with each thing you identify, you need to write it down, okay? So we're just gonna make a list, and then we're going to make that list into a better, clearer path, meaning when are they gonna happen? Which one is first? Which one is second? Which one is third? How do these outline along the path? As you begin to do that, your brain is going to go, "I can do this." Because we're not just starting about this, not just talking about the starting point and the ending point, but we're talking about everything in between. Now, here's the one thing I don't want you to do at this point. I don't want you to think about, "I don't know that I can afford all of this." These are steps on your path, and then as you focus on one step at a time, that is where you make your system work for you. Collectively, we've got to start looking at all of these future things. I think so many people are so unhappy with money because they're constantly living and surviving in the now. This may be, individuals who make great money, but because they're so worried about, and we talked about it in last episode, that paycheck to paycheck and that progress they're trying to make, that they really have this myopic vision, this closed off vision. And if that's you're like, "Yeah, I don't look beyond," I want you to identify what that is. So as you begin to look beyond, the next thing that's going to come up is, "I can't afford this." That's not what you're solving right now. You're solving, "What does my path look like? What are the steps I need to do the things I need to do to go from now until retirement?" Because just like my client, you want to enjoy the now, right? It's not just about retirement, but we need to not ignore that as well, and putting all these things together on a path helps you begin to see how it can all come together. Once you see that path, it's like once the light is turned on, hopefully you can tell that little voice in your head to stop telling you that you can't do this in whatever way, shape, or form that comes in, and that is most likely gonna say, "You can't afford it." We don't know that yet. We don't know that yet. We've gotta figure that out. But for this episode only, I want you to lay out your path. I want you to know what is happening in five years, and that might be one or two things. Maybe you're like, "Nope, I'm good for five years." And your next one out is eight or 10. But you need to see that path. You need to feel that path and, s- and your brain will be like, "Okay, this is where we're going," and then tell it, "Yes, we're gonna do this." So if you're still feeling like, "Okay, I'm not sure how all of these things are going to come together," we talked about clearing out the path and avoiding that question of "I can't afford this." I would love to have you join my free webinar hold in July, From Guessing to Knowing: Your Retirement Diagnosis. So I mentioned one topic last episode. This episode, or this episode I'm telling you this topic is the one question that reveals whether your current money system is actually working for your future or just keeping you busy. So once you identify this path, it's important that your system help you get down that path, those things work hand in hand. So if you're curious to, and want to learn more about this webinar, head over to elevatefinances.us\webinar. All of the details are there. You can get registered. It is a live webinar, but I will be having limited replay videos be sent out. So if you're interested, read through all, there's five bullet points we're gonna be covering and helping you understand like what it is that you need to do to make retirement happen. And if that's, defining the path, that's one thing. But if it's getting your system in a place, that's another. So head over there, read those details, get yourself registered. This monthly training, not this one specifically will be held, but there will be a monthly training every month. So if you're listening to this after July 21st, you can still head over to that web- website and find out the most recent training and what it is we're gonna be talking about. They're 60 minutes long. They'll support you on your retirement journey, and I would love to have you join me. So today's action step, make a clear path that you can see from where you are to retirement, ? Not just identifying those two pieces, but what does that path look like? And what do you need to do or want to do before you get to retirement? Because it's not only about now and later, it's also about the journey in between. Thank you for tuning in. We'll see you next week
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I make good money… I know I want to retire… but I don’t know if I’m on track or what I need to do next,” you’re not alone.
This is one of the most common challenges for Gen X women and couples who are in the middle years of life. You’re responsible, you’re saving, you’re managing life well, but when it comes to preparing for retirement, the path often feels unclear.
You can see the starting point (where you are now). You can see the ending point (retirement). But what’s missing is everything in between. And that “in-between” is exactly where confidence is built or lost.
In this post, I’m going to walk through 4 things to consider when preparing for retirement, so you can begin building a clear retirement roadmap instead of staying stuck in uncertainty.
This is how you move from guessing to knowing.
Why Preparing for Retirement Feels So Confusing
One of the biggest reasons GenXers struggle with retirement planning is not because they’re doing everything wrong financially. It’s because they’ve been taught to think about retirement as a single destination.
So the mindset becomes:
“Am I saving enough?”
“When can I retire?”
“What number do I need?”
But that leaves out the most important part: life between now and retirement.
Without a clear retirement roadmap, your brain fills in the gaps with uncertainty, fear, and worst-case scenarios. That’s what creates the feeling of being behind, even when you’re doing many things right.
This blog post helps you start to bridge that gap so you can move toward being truly retirement ready.
1. Start by Defining What “Life Now” Actually Includes
Most people say they want to “maintain their lifestyle” in retirement, but when asked what that means, they struggle to define it.
Ask yourself:
What do I value most in my current lifestyle?
What experiences, habits, or comforts matter most to keep?
What expenses are tied directly to the life I want to continue?
This step matters because your retirement number isn’t just a savings target, it’s a reflection of your actual life. If you don’t define this, your preparing for retirement process will always feel vague. Clarity here turns confusion into direction.
2. Identify What Will Happen Between Now and Retirement
One of the biggest mistakes in genX retirement planning is skipping the middle. Most people think now and then retirement, but the truth is, life happens in the space between.
Think about things like:
Helping kids through college
Buying or maintaining a home
Home renovations or relocations
Major travel or “bucket list” experiences
Career transitions or caregiving responsibilities
These aren’t distractions from retirement planning, they are retirement planning.
When you begin mapping these out, you start building a retirement roadmap that reflects your actual life, not an idealized version of it. This is where you begin to feel more retirement ready, because you can finally see the path clearly.
3. Stop Assuming You Can’t Afford It (For Now)
Here’s where many people get stuck. As soon as they start mapping their future, the brain immediately jumps to: “I can’t afford all of this.” But choosing to listen to that thought too can cause issues.
Right now, the goal is not to solve the budget. The goal is to understand the path.
This is a critical shift in preparing for retirement. You are not deciding “yes or no” to your future you are identifying what your future includes.
Once you have clarity on the full picture, then you can:
Prioritize
Adjust timing
Make strategic financial decisions
But without the roadmap, you’re just guessing.
And guessing is what keeps people stuck in anxiety instead of progress.
4. Turn Your List Into a Timeline You Can See
Once you’ve identified what’s between now and retirement, the next step is to organize it.
Ask:
What happens in the next 5 years?
What happens in 5–10 years?
What might happen closer to retirement?
This is where your retirement roadmap becomes real.
You are no longer just thinking: “I hope this works out.”
Instead, you’re thinking: “Here is what’s ahead, and here is how I’ll move through it.”
This shift is powerful in genX retirement planning because it moves you from reactive to intentional. And intentional is what creates confidence.
This is what it truly means to be retirement ready. Not perfect, not finished, but clear and intentional about the direction you’re moving.
How to Start Planning for Retirement (The Real Shift)
If you take nothing else from this episode, take this:
How to start planning for retirement is not about knowing your exact number, it’s about understanding your path.
When you see:
Where you are now
What life includes between now and retirement
And how those pieces connect over time
You stop feeling behind. You stop guessing. And you start building confidence in your decisions today. That’s the real transformation.
Next Step
If this blog post helped you start thinking differently about preparing for retirement, the next step is getting clarity on your own numbers.
That’s exactly what we do inside the free webinar: From Guessing to Knowing: Your Retirement Diagnosis.
Inside, you’ll identify whether your current money system is supporting your retirement goals, gain clarity on what’s missing in your plan, and walk away with a clearer understanding of what needs to change so you can move toward being truly retirement ready with confidence.
Because once you see the gap clearly, you can finally start building a retirement roadmap that actually works for your life, not just your savings account.
Click the button below to learn more and get registered for the webinar.
P.S. Every month I host a free live webinar. If you’re reading this after July 2026, the button below will take you to the current month’s webinar and registration page.
