Beyond the Numbers: Retirement Happiness, Housing, Pensions, and 401(k)s

Retirement planning is often about more than reaching a number; it’s also about what life looks like once you get there. On this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase explore the financial decisions, relationships, and sense of purpose that may factor into retirement life. Explore research on retirement happiness and the factors often associated with well-being as we age. Examine sobering trends involving suicide, overdose deaths, and social isolation among older Americans. Discover how purpose, community, and meaningful connections may relate to retirement well-being. Consider the “friendship recession” and what shrinking social circles may mean for life after work. Start meaningful conversations with loved ones about some of the tougher realities of aging and retirement. Compare the financial considerations of upsizing in retirement versus staying put. Weigh renting versus buying and the financial trade-offs that may come with each option. Review concentrated stock positions, step-up in basis, capital gains, and inheritance considerations. Clarify factors to consider when consolidating multiple 401(k) accounts after changing jobs. Evaluate pension lump sums versus monthly payments, including the 6% test as one way to compare the options. Explore factors to consider when deciding whether to invest HSA assets for potential long-term healthcare expenses. Balance retirement account contributions against the financial trade-offs of paying down a mortgage. Compare target-date funds with customized portfolios during the retirement accumulation and distribution phases. Read Wes’s new book, The Retire Sooner Method, and explore the research behind the financial and lifestyle characteristics often associated with a happier retirement. Listen and subscribe to the Retire Sooner Podcast for an engaging, educational conversation about retirement planning, financial independence, and life beyond the paycheck.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices