9 Point Checklist to Prepare for Retirement

Throughout our adult lives, we work hard trying to make ends meet and save for our futures. For all the years spent working we often dream of retirement. For some, when retirement does come, they are unprepared and do not reap the benefits of all that hard work. So, to prevent this from happening to you, here are nine tips to help you get ready for retirement.

1) Define Your Retirement Goals

Most people have some idea of how they would like to spend their retirement days. This is where you start. Write down your goals, starting with the most important ones first. Do not worry about focusing on a budget at this point. The main point is to focus on ideas, and to be as specific as you can. A great example is instead of “travel”, you could right down “trips to (desired location)”. Try to limit your list to only the top five goals. From here you should keep or journal or start a scrapbook. This helps you depict how you envision your retirement. Be practical and make sure your list rules out unnecessary expenses. Remember, the more descriptive you are, the better chance of reaching your dream retirement. All of this will help keep you focused on a set of realistic and obtainable goals.