Don’t Retire Until You Answer These 4 Questions

April 15, 2019
Michael Maerz
Client Services and Marketing Director

Whether you plan to stay put or move for retirement, you must answer these questions if you hope to enjoy a high quality of life.

It's fun to dream and enjoy reading lists of the best places to retire.  Do not let the pictures and the lists of places flood your mind as to rush into retirement.  The questions below insightfully help you determine if any of your dream (retirement) places will work for your retirement. 

1. Who will help care for me? 

No one wants to burden children or friends. But, in reality, loved ones often must step up when elders need care. So, make things easier for your kids and be realistic when you make a move. Adult children who are holding down jobs and rearing children will be severely burdened if they must travel long distances to help elderly loved ones.

2. Is good medical care nearby?

Living longer usually means living with a chronic disease. About 80 percent of older adults have at least one chronic disease, according to the nonprofit National Council on Aging. And 77 percent of older Americans have two or more (source).

With age, medical tests become more frequent. So do visits to specialists like oncologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists and orthopedists. Managing a chronic condition well — avoiding hospital stays and emergency room visits — requires easy access to care you trust.

​The joys of living in a scenic but remote retirement mecca are diminished if you have to drive hundreds of miles — frequently — for expert care. So again, consider not only what you need today but what you’ll need in the future.

3. How safe is this place?

Research crime rates in the area before deciding to relocate there. You’ll find plenty of free tools online. Check data from local law-enforcement agencies. Some departments post their crime data online. Do a web search for words like: “College Station (choose your city) police department crime statistics.”

Look also for maps showing the prevalence of crime by area, and look for local news reports about crime in the city or town.

If you strike out searching online for crime data, call the local law-enforcement agency and ask how to learn about crime in specific neighborhoods. Visit neighborhoods you’ve got your eye on numerous times at various times of the day and evening, as well. 

4. How will I get around if I can’t drive?

At some point in their elder years, drivers have to face a hard truth: It may be time to hang up the car keys.

• Moving in your later years means thinking ahead about the availability of public transportation, something that might not have mattered to you as a driver. So, check out articles like “The 30 U.S. Cities With the Best Public Transit."

Considering retirement?  Contact Brien L. Smith, CFP® at Traditions Wealth Advisors [email protected] for questions about retirement or other financial advice you may have.
 
Source: Marilyn Lewis • December 30, 2018