From Finances to Fulfillment: Designing a Retirement You’ll Love

Have you ever wondered what retirement could look like—beyond the numbers?

In a recent conversation with Certified Financial Planner™ Derek Mazzarella, with Gateway Financial Partners, I had the chance to explore this very question. While many people spend years preparing for the financial side of retirement few stop to ask: What will give my life meaning and structure once the career chapter closes? 

Let’s dive into what we uncovered in this podcast episode, Retiring on Purpose: Designing Your Next Chapter with Intention—because retirement isn’t the end of the story. It’s the beginning of a whole new chapter that you get to write your own way.

Retirement Isn’t Just About Money

In addition to his podcasts, Derek is the author of  Just Retire Already - An Unconventional Retirement Guide,  a book that “gives you the confidence and tools to overcome the fear of running out of money.” There’s no question that having a solid financial plan is critical—and it’s not the whole picture. As Derek so insightfully said, “Retirement isn’t just a financial transition—it’s a mental one.”

In fact, many people find that without purpose, even a well-funded retirement can feel surprisingly empty. That’s why it’s so important to prepare your inner landscape just as thoughtfully as your financial one.

So, What Does That Look Like?

During our podcast conversation, we explored four key themes that help bring clarity and direction to this next chapter:

1. Uncovering What Matters Most

Before you know what you want to do, you have to know what really matters to you. I encourage my clients to start with a simple reflection: What lights you up? What gives you a sense of peace or pride?

When you identify your core values, you create a strong foundation for making choices—about how to spend your time, where to invest your energy, and who to invite into your circle.

2. Creating a Vision for Your Life

Many people say things like, “I’ll travel more,” or “I’ll spend time with family.” That’s a great start—but it’s not yet a vision or even a plan.

In our conversation, Derek and I talked about how powerful it can be to imagine your ideal day or week in retirement. Where are you? Who are you with? What are you doing? What’s bringing you joy?

Without a clear picture, it’s easy to drift. With one, you can start to steer.

3. Staying Engaged and Energized

One of the surprising truths about retirement is that it’s not always relaxing. For people who’ve spent decades in fast-paced, achievement-oriented roles, the sudden stillness can feel unsettling.

Keeping your brain active and engaged is vital—whether that’s through starting consulting practice, volunteering, mentoring, learning a new skill, or simply pursuing something that challenges you in a healthy way. The goal isn’t to stay busy, but to stay connected to your curiosity and sense of purpose.

4. Repurposing Your Skills

Just because you’ve left the workplace doesn’t mean your talents and experience no longer matter. Quite the opposite! Retirement can be the perfect time to take those skills and apply them in fresh, meaningful ways—through causes you care about, part-time opportunities, or creative ventures you never had time to explore before.

How to Get Started

If all of this sounds good, but a bit overwhelming, here are a few gentle first steps you can take today:

• Reflect on your proudest and most joyful moments, what do they reveal about your values?

• Visualize a typical week in your ideal retirement—what rhythms would feel good for you?

• Experiment with one new activity that sparks your interest, such as taking a class, a volunteer role, or a hobby.

• Connect with me to being to clarify your next steps.

A Personal Note…

One of my favorite places to reflect on life is by the water. My husband and I spend time each summer at the beach. I love relaxing to the sound of ocean waves or enjoying a kayak ride on the lake. It is the simple things that we enjoy most, like spending time with our granddaughter at the playground and sharing s’mores by the campfire with my family that reminds me: simple moments can have incredible meaning.

That’s the essence of retirement done with intention—it’s not about grand gestures; it’s about living aligned with what truly matters to you.

Ready to Design Your Own Journey?

If you’re beginning to think about life after work, I’d love to support you. Visit RetiringOnPurpose.com to download my free guide, Three Things No One Tells You About Retirement—or take the Retirement Readiness Quiz to see how prepared you really are for this important transition.

Because your next chapter deserves to be just as meaningful, even more so than the last.