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Retirement Diaries: Diane Says Start Your Planning Early

“Don’t feel guilty about having a ‘do nothing’ day.” — Diane
Aug.14.2022
  • Lifestyle
  • Retirement
  • Retirement Diaries
    • Aug.14.2022

    Retirement Snapshot

    Diane P with her husband
    Diane P with her husband
    Photo credit: Diane P.
    • Location: Phoenix, Arizona (7 months/year) & Minneapolis, Minnesota (5 months/year)
    • Age: 72
    • Retired At: 70
    • Marital Status: Married
    • Profession: Continuous Improvement-Finance and Engineering

    For most of her career, Diane traveled extensively, so naturally, she fell in love with getting better acquainted with various regions in the United States and Europe and meeting people. Retirement has given her the opportunity to spend more time with her family and old friends, make new ones, enjoy her hobbies, and, of course, travel. We talked with Diane about her retirement.

    Retirement Reality

    Retirement Awaits: What does a day in retirement look like for you?

    Diane: It varies. Some days are spent on the golf course, on my bike, or boating or kayaking on the lake. Other days involve household chores. I love to be active. Working out is part of my routine.

    Your Retirement Plan

    Retirement Awaits: Did you have a solid plan going into retirement? 

    Diane: A sound financial plan, yes, which provided opportunities for all the things we enjoy doing.

    Best Part About Retirement

    Retirement Awaits: What’s the best part about retirement? 

    Diane: The freedom and flexibility to participate in those things which bring us pleasure. Experiencing new adventures.

    Challenges In Retirement

    Retirement Awaits: What’s the biggest challenge in retirement?

    Diane: Not feeling guilty about having a “do nothing” day. Not stressing too much about economic conditions since our wage-earning days are mostly in the past.

    Travel In Retirement

    Retirement Awaits: What’s your favorite vacation spot?

    Diane: I have two! Lake Okoboji, Iowa — a beautiful lake region in northwest Iowa. I grew up in that area. We enjoy it because it’s just plain FUN. We go at least once per summer.

    Also Europe. Germany and surrounding countries specifically. I lived there for 3 years and love to go back and explore the areas I wasn’t able to see when I lived there and enjoy those things I enjoyed years ago.

    Cost Of Retirement

    Retirement Awaits: We want people to understand how much retirement really costs. How do you manage your money now? Do you have a budget, meet with your advisor on a regular basis, et cetera?

    Diane: We have a financial advisor who we trust. It took us three or four changes in advisors to feel comfortable with our financial security. We do have a budget and meet with our advisor one or two times a year, in addition to phone consultations when we have questions.

    Retirement Advice

    Retirement Awaits: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give someone about to retire?

    Diane: Start early to find an advisor who you trust with your financial future. Be clear about what you can and cannot afford once retired. Set goals, keep a checklist, et cetera to ensure you can retire without financial stress.

    Things I Wish I Would Have Known

    Retirement Awaits: What are a few things you wish someone would have told you about retirement/this season of life/transition?

    Diane: I wish we would have started our financial planning with an expert sooner.

    If you’d like to connect with fellow retirees, join our Retirement Awaits Community!

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    To learn more about retirement, check out:

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    • Image of Allison Godlove Allison Godlove View Full Profile

      Allison loves learning about new people and places and always jumps at the chance to take a trip. Whether it's visiting a town in her area or traveling across the country, she's up to explore!

      She has traveled outside the U.S. several times including trips to London, Switzerland, and a cruise through the Western Caribbean. Her favorite travel memory is visiting Sundsvall, Sweden, her great grandfather's birthplace. Growing up, she spent a lot of time with him, so it was special to see where he was born. It looked very similar to the town where she grew up in New York. Within the U.S., she continues to check states off the list, most recently making a trip to Alaska for her honeymoon.

      Allison spent almost 20 years of her career as a TV news anchor. She’s covered everything from political conventions to Super Bowl LV to hurricanes and, most recently, the pandemic. She is a two-time Emmy award-winning journalist. She's been recognized for her work nationally and regionally by organizations including the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists.