When to Start Planning for Retirement and How to Prepare Emotionally and Financially. In this video, Dana Anspach, CEO and founder of Sensible Money, joins Finstream TV Co-Founder to discuss the often-overlooked “pre-go years” phase of retirement planning—the critical period when people first seriously contemplate retirement. Unlike traditional financial planning timelines that focus on specific ages, Anspach explains how the pre-go phase begins with an emotional “aha moment” that varies for each individual, whether triggered by life events like empty nesting, job changes, or simply reaching milestone ages.
The video explores three distinct retirement pathways: the gradual wind-down (common among business owners and medical professionals), the corporate “hard stop” retirement, and forced retirement due to health, industry changes, or layoffs. Dana emphasizes that while many people plan to work until 65, research shows most actually retire by 62, creating a three-year financial gap that requires careful preparation.
Key discussion points include the importance of addressing both financial and emotional retirement readiness, managing catastrophic risks through proper insurance coverage, and planning for multiple retirement scenarios rather than fixating on a single date. Anspach also shares her collaboration with retirement blogger Fritz Gilbert and her upcoming book “Living Off Your Acorns: Your Guide to the Four Phases of Retirement,” which will detail the pre-go, go-go, slow-go, and no-go phases of retirement.
The overarching message: When to Start Planning for Retirement requires both financial preparation and emotional readiness, with the pre-go years serving as the crucial bridge between full-time work and actual retirement. To watch more finStream videos featuring Dana Anspach, please click this link: https://www.finstream.tv/featured/dana-anspach/ or check out Dana’s website: https://www.sensiblemoney.com/financial-planners/