For many people, planning for retirement focuses on the financial side—saving enough, investing wisely, and ensuring income that lasts a lifetime. But after years of helping people prepare for and transition into retirement, we’ve noticed something powerful: those who have a clear purpose in retirement tend to be happier, healthier, and more financially secure.
When people retire with a sense of what they want life to look like—how they’ll spend their time, who they’ll spend it with, and what will give their days meaning—their financial plan feels like a tool to support that vision. Their spending aligns with their values. They’re intentional, not impulsive.
By contrast, those who enter retirement without that vision often try to fill the void left by work with activity and consumption. They buy things, take trips, or chase experiences hoping to rediscover a sense of fulfillment that money alone can’t buy.
That’s why we encourage clients to think about purpose as part of financial planning. Purpose gives context to your goals, meaning to your spending, and confidence in your decisions.
One exercise we love is building a “List of 100 Things.” It’s exactly what it sounds like—a list of 100 things you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t had time for yet. It might include travel goals (“Visit Scotland”), creative pursuits (“Learn to throw pottery”), community engagement (“Volunteer as a math tutor”), or wellness habits (“Walk 25 miles a week”).
The point isn’t to check off every item—it’s to reconnect with what brings you joy and to imagine how you want to spend your time meaningfully. People who begin reflecting on these things early—well before retirement—tend to live more fulfilled lives in every stage.
At Arbor Investment Advisors, we believe financial planning is about more than numbers. It’s about helping you live a life that feels rich in every sense of the word—today and in the future.