Skip to main content
Created: August 15, 2025
Modified: August 14, 2025

Podcast Episode 415: Retiring Soon? How to Adjust to Life Without Work

Prefer to watch? Click here to watch and listen on YouTube.

Retirement isn’t just a financial milestone; it’s a major life transition. After decades of building a career, how do you redefine your identity outside of a job title and still find ways to build purpose and community?

In this episode of Money Wisdom, Jake Doser, CFP®, CPWA® and Nicholas J. Colantuono, CFP® go beyond the numbers to explore the psychological and practical steps for navigating life without work.

Retirement Is More Than Just Numbers

Planning for retirement has a lot more to do with psychology than you may think. You must consider what the next 20 to 30 years will look like. What are you going to do? How are you going to keep yourself busy? How will you find a new sense of purpose?

The transition to retirement is arguably the most difficult financial as well as mental transitions. Your identity for the past 30 to 40 years has been wrapped up in work and the social connections you made there. When all of that stops, facing this new reality can feel daunting.

Finding Identity and Purpose Again

The first step is to assess where you define your identity. If it’s rooted exclusively in your career, you’ll either work until you die or struggle to enjoy retirement. Surrounding yourself with people is key — whether through your faith, town, or social community.

Community involvement also provides purpose. Giving back through volunteering or helping a neighbor not only creates a meaningful impact, but it also gives you a renewed sense of fulfillment.

Finding the Right Planning Support

As advisors, our role is to build a supportive relationship and ensure you have a comprehensive strategy in place. Retirement is ever evolving, and it requires flexibility in your planning. That’s why we stress the importance of having an income plan that not only adapts as life changes but also fuels your retirement dreams.

Ultimately, retirement planning is both math and mindset. Together, we’ll define your spending capacity based on what you’ve saved, identify what you want to leave behind, and plan how you want to spend your time in this next chapter.

Are you wondering if you’re ready to retire? Get your free Are You Ready to Retire? Starter Kit by texting “KIT” to 800-757-0436.

Information presented in our podcasts is considered current as of the created date. Over time, some information presented may become stale. We recommend you consult with your Financial Professional before making any changes based on information contained here.

Johnson Brunetti is a marketing name for the businesses of JB Capital and JN Financial.

Investment Advisory Services offered through JB Capital, LLC. Insurance Products offered through JN Financial, LLC.
The guarantees provided by any type of insurance contract are based on the claims-paying ability of the insurance company.

Resources by Topic

Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel

Share

Related Resources

  • Retirement Planning FAQ

    Planning for retirement often raises important questions about managing your finances wisely, reducing your tax burden, protecting your wealth, and making the right decisions for you and your fami…
  • Podcast Episode 414: What Does the Big Beautiful Bill Really Mean for Your Retirement?

    Prefer to watch? Click here to watch and listen on YouTube. There’s been a lot of noise around the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), an 887-page piece of legislation that just reshaped key el…
  • How Much Money Do I Need to Retire Comfortably?

    You’re not alone in wondering how much you need to save for a comfortable retirement. After all, you’ve worked hard to reach this milestone, and there’s peace of mind in knowing you’ve taken all t…
  • 3 Avoidable Retirement Surprises

    Even the most carefully crafted retirement plans can go off track if you haven’t accounted for some of the biggest surprises along the way. While many factors can impact your retirement, the good …
  • Social Security Myths Debunked

    With so many rules and choices involved, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or intimidated by Social Security. As a key source of retirement income, this decision deserves careful consideration, which …
  • Podcast Episode 413: Will Social Security Run Out?

    Prefer to watch? Click here to watch and listen on YouTube. Social Security has been making headlines lately, and for good reasons. According to current estimates, the Social Security Trust Fun…
  • How Does the Big Beautiful Bill Affect Me?

    On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law, bringing significant changes to the U.S. tax code. But what does it mean for you? What actions should you consider? And…
  • Preparing for RMDs

    Regardless of where you are in your retirement planning journey, required minimum distributions (RMDs) are a key factor to keep in mind. Gaining clarity on RMDs now can help you make more informed…
  • Tariffs and Your Retirement

    With growing concerns about rising tariffs and ongoing trade disputes, you may be wondering how these policy shifts could impact your retirement. While the situation around tariffs has stabilized …
  • Can I Still Retire Comfortably If I’m Behind on Saving?

    You’ve worked hard to reach retirement, and you deserve to enjoy it comfortably. But what if you discover you’re behind on your savings goal? In this week’s Money Wisdom Question Series, Nichol…
    Back to top
    Our Locations
    Johnson Brunetti
    Welcome to Our New Website!
    Everything was designed with you in mind, making our retirement planning resources more easily accessible to you.
    Check out your new resource center, where everything can be organized by article type or topic
    Are you ready to speak with a financial advisor?
    Skip to content