Understanding the foundations of an epic retirement
In this book extract, Bec Wilson shares some secrets for enjoying your second half of life.
This is an extract from How to Have an Epic Retirement by Bec Wilson (Hachette Australia, $34.99).
Members can pre-order a copy of How To Have An Epic Retirement and save 19%.
When you finish this book, you’ll have created an honest picture of what is really important to you in the next thirty to forty years of life ahead of you. You’ll also have discussed it and reflected on whether it really is possible and, hopefully, laughed about it with someone you care about.
Don’t worry about whether it’s ‘right’ or if you change your mind. Your mind is certainly going to change as you work through the chapters and sections in this book. But the thoughts you have while reading this book are your baseline – or your ‘epic retirement vision’.
I’m writing this book for people who can see retirement in their future, or those in the early stages of it trying to find their way. It’s not really for those in their early 40s – there’s a different set of rules for you to work with because of the time you have ahead. And if you’re in your 70s, you will probably recognise some of this advice as hard- learned lessons you had to trip up to learn. But I hope the advice is useful, even if a bit late.
Before we really get into the swing of things, I want to set up the framework for an Epic Retirement.
This is not a finance book. Nor is it a self-help manual. I prefer to think of it as a guidebook, like a Lonely Planet is for travellers.
I’m not a finance guru or a health expert. I’m a passionate advocate for modern, older Australians and an expert on what you need and want in the last half of your life. As the founder of Starts at 60, over-60s told me all their problems for more than ten years.
And to write this book, I’ve searched the world to find the best ways to solve them, giving you the opportunity to have an Epic Retirement. I’ve drawn together scientific research, factual information, expert advice and real, hard-learned experiences from retirees to weave what I hope is a helpful and practical guidebook.
I now want to introduce you to the six really important pillars of an Epic Retirement. And I think everyone will agree that they are all essential:
1. Time
2. Money
3. Health
4. Happiness and fulfilment
5. Travel
6. Your home
TIME
Know how long you’re likely to live so you can allocate your time and money purposefully to things you want to do.
MONEY
Ignorance is not bliss. Understand how the retirement finance system works. It controls the next thirty-plus years of your life – so you might as well master it.
HEALTH
Your health is your most important priority. Learn how you can live longer and keep your body in good condition for the epic excitement ahead.
HAPPINESS AND FULFILMENT
Everybody wants to find true happiness and fulfilment. Learn to embrace the things you enjoy doing, grow the pursuits that use your skills and seek out a greater sense of meaning.
TRAVEL
You’ve got two or three decades of holidays left – make 'em epic! Be inspired by the bucket-list holidays retirees dream of, and the closer-to-home trips that make up an Epic Retirement.
YOUR HOME
As you age, the things you will need and want from the home you live in will change. Think about the types of homes you’ll want to live in at different stages of your life, long before you get there.
Bec Wilson is the founder of Starts at 60, the largest online community for Baby Boomers in Australia and New Zealand. Since 2012, she has turned a fledgling website and popular Facebook brand into a market-dominating content powerhouse for digitally savvy older generations in Australia.
Members can pre-order a copy of How To Have An Epic Retirement and save 19%.
