Ready to Retire in 5 Years? Here’s Your Checklist

This article appears as part of Casey Weade's Weekend Reading for Retirees series. Every Friday, Casey highlights four hand-picked articles on trending retirement topics and delivers them straight to your email inbox. Get on the list here.
Weekend reading 5 years from retirement checklist Weekend reading 5 years from retirement checklist

Weekend Reading

If you’re dreaming of retirement in the next five years, now’s the time to shift from autopilot to intentional planning.

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Here, prior podcast guest Christine Benz shares a practical checklist to help you bridge the gap between your current life and the retirement you envision.

Key takeaways to consider:

📌 Reimagine “Retirement Work”: Will you work for income, purpose, or both? Have a plan, but don’t rely on it.

📌 Know Your Numbers: Tracking spending today helps you project with more confidence for tomorrow

📌 Get Social Security Savvy: Check your data and experiment with claiming strategies tailored to you

📌 Test Your Withdrawal Rate: If you’re withdrawing more than 4%, it may be time to adjust course

📌 Build a Buffer: Start “derisking” now to protect your nest egg from market shocks early in retirement

Remember: Your preparation is not about perfection—it’s about planning with intention so your retirement reflects not just your savings, but your life’s purpose.