10 Things Successful Retirees Do Differently

These habits and characteristics can help put you on the track to success in your golden years.

Marilyn Lewis • January 28, 2022

The most successful retirees seem to have it all: not just financial security, but also health, happiness and peace of mind.

How do they do it? Here are habits, approaches and characteristics that can help put you on the track to success in retirement.

1. They’ve made end-of-life plans

Did you know that only 32% of retirees have designated someone they trust as their medical power of attorney (or medical proxy) in case they can’t make medical decisions for themselves? The rest of us who don’t do this leave our loved ones’ hands tied when it comes to carrying out our wishes if we can’t communicate.

Likewise, just 30% of retirees have a living will (or advance directive) telling family and health care providers what end-of-life care they do and don’t want. Fewer still — 28% — have assigned someone they trust to have financial power of attorney for them if (and only if) they can’t make their own financial decisions for themselves.

Caring for family and close friends includes not requiring them to make these difficult decisions for you. Make such decisions for yourself now, while you are able.

If you’re unsure where to start, check out “8 Documents That Are Essential to Planning Your Estate.”

2. They spend time with loved ones

Time spent with those you love is the top way people find fulfillment in their later years, a study commissioned by financial services company Edward Jones finds.

As we reported:

“A whopping 61% of pre-retirees and a full two-thirds (67%) of retirees name spending time with loved ones as a source of purpose and meaning in retirement.”

3. They’ve planned ahead for health care costs

To sleep better at night in retirement, you’ll need a solid plan for meeting the high cost of health care.

Financial services company Fidelity says that a couple who retired in 2021, both at the age of 65, would need $300,000 in assets to cover their medical costs in retirement.

How can you plan for this big hit? A few proven tactics:

·        Buy long-term care insurance and time the purchase so you don’t spend too much. Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson discusses who can benefit from the purchase in “Should I Buy Long-Term Care Insurance?“

·        Amassing a fat health savings account before retiring is smart. You save the money tax-free while you’re working and spend it on medical costs in retirement, when your tax rate is likely lower. Find out more in “3 Ways a Health Savings Account Can Improve Your Finances.”

·        Simply saving enough to cover health care costs in retirement is the most basic approach.

4. They spend less than they earn

Retirees typically have no choice but to learn to live on a fixed income. That can mean getting tough about being frugal.

If you haven’t retired yet, plan on spending 100% of your working income in retirement, so you have a buffer, rather than the 80% often suggested by retirement experts, writers personal finance columnist Richard Quinn, at MarketWatch. Quinn, a retiree, writes from personal experience.

Fortunately, at this stage, you’ve been around the block a few times by now. Experience can make it easier to rein in the impulse to spend.

Here’s help with planning and managing costs in retirement: “8 Tips to Retire Comfortably on Social Security Alone”

5. They have a Social Security claiming strategy

Studies have shown Americans’ ignorance about basic aspects of Social Security — like when to claim it and how much you’ll receive — is pretty scary.

Squeezing the most possible from Social Security requires getting help or understanding basics about how the system works. When you claim your benefits often makes a big difference. Here’s help:

·        “7 Things You Should Do Before Claiming Social Security“

·        “A Simple Way to Maximize Your Social Security“

6. They have a plan to minimize taxes in retirement

Taxes often become more complex, not less so, for retirees.

You may have new types of income to report: Social Security, pension income and retirement account withdrawals. These can be taxed differently than your familiar paycheck income.

One example: If your money is in a tax-deferred retirement plan, like a 401(k) or IRA, you must withdraw a minimum amount each year (a required minimum distribution, or RMD) beginning the year you turn 72. Miss taking an RMD, and you can face a penalty.

These factors can increase or lower your tax bill, so planning matters. Get help if you’re unclear about any of it. Failing to plan for taxes in retirement is one of “8 Mistakes That Can Sabotage Your Retirement.”

In Money Talks News’ Solutions Center, you’ll find financial advisers to help craft your strategy, taking taxable retirement income into account. When hiring advisers, be sure to learn if they have expertise in tax planning.

7. They exercise

One looming fear of aging is a loss of independence. We’ve all seen elders lose the ability to perform basic functions, like eating, walking, dressing and bathing. They become reliant on others’ help.

Some of that may come with the territory, of course. But there’s a cheap, simple habit that helps seniors stay active and independent: exercise. It also helps us feel happier, think clearly and reduce bone and muscle loss that’s common with aging.

Seniors on limited incomes will be happy to know that exercise also drives down retirees’ spending on medical care. Even life insurance rates can be affected, since maintaining a healthy weight may help keep premiums lower.

Learn more: “7 Surprising Benefits of Staying Fit in Retirement.”

8. They keep learning

Continuing to learn well into old age has payoffs beyond acquiring new information. Among them: a better ability to stave off the onset of cognitive decline, according to the University of Washington’s Memory & Brain Wellness Center.

Other benefits of continuing to learn include social engagement, as well as the satisfaction of learning and growing.

Many colleges and universities invite seniors to audit classes tuition-free, which could even lead to a college degree. You will find a few in “10 Colleges That Offer Free Tuition for Seniors.”

9. They adapt to change

You’ve surely heard some version of the saying (widely attributed to film legend Bette Davis), “Getting old ain’t for sissies.” It’s true. Retirement is a life stage when losses — of status, income, friends, family, a spouse, or physical or cognitive ability, to name just a few — are all but guaranteed.

How to endure and enjoy, despite that? Resilience — the ability to recover from difficulties — is key. One part of that is the willingness to adapt to change. Successful retirees typically dust themselves off and try a new approach after hitting one of the obstacles that inevitably arise with aging.

You will find ideas for how to cope in “Regret Retiring? Try These 7 Things.”

10. They are generous

The slower pace of life in retirement often gives retirees a chance to look deeper and find meaning. Helping others by sharing your time or money brings tremendous fulfillment, many retirees learn.

Being generous is a source of purpose and fulfillment for 40% of retirees and 31% of pre-retirees, the Edward Jones survey found.

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