How to stop drifting and start planning for retirement
Plus, watch a free lesson from the upcoming Epic Retirement UK Flagship Course
For years, retirement can be something you think about rather passively. It sits in the future, as a hazy “one day” idea. You imagine the trips you’ll take, the hobbies you’ll finally have time for, maybe even the relief of stepping away from work. But that’s different from actually planning for it.
But at some point, you want to know how you get there. And that requires a vision, so you can work on the numbers and start to plot your path.
Making that move from drifting to deliberate planning is one of the most important steps you can take in the lead-up to retirement. And once you’ve made it, here are some ways to get the most out of the planning phase.
1. Start with writing out your vision
It’s hard to plan for something you haven’t got a mental picture of. What does an epic retirement look like in your head? Is it adventure and travel? A slower, local rhythm? A portfolio of projects and pursuits with an annual holiday thrown in? Once you have that picture, you can start asking the real questions: How much do you need? When could you comfortably cut back work? What would life actually cost, week to week? Having a vision, even a sketchy one, gives your planning a direction to work toward.
2. Put shape around your spending
Rather than telling yourself “we’ll probably need less when we stop work,” get specific. Track what you’re spending now and sketch out what will actually change over the coming years. Kids finally leaving home? Mortgage nearly done? More travel in the mix? Less need for work clothes and transport? Downsizing? Yes, that means building a budget. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it will give you a clearer picture of whether you’re in good shape already, or whether there are gaps to fill.
3. Test out some different income scenarios
This is where your pensions, ISAs and investments stop being abstract numbers and start to feel real. Start testing what retirement could actually look like - financially. Run through a few “what ifs.” If you drew £40,000 or £60,000 a year, how long would your savings last? What happens if markets fall in the first few years? What changes if you work part-time for longer, downsize later on, or delay accessing certain pensions? Far from being frightening, playing with different scenarios in private can actually feel empowering. It helps you understand the levers you can pull, and reminds you that retirement is often more flexible than people first assume.
4. Use the “excess years” in your Prime Time wisely
For many people, there’s a window in midlife where cash flow suddenly starts to improve - the children become more independent, the mortgage is shrinking, and peak earning years are often still ahead of you. It’s tempting to let lifestyle creep take over with bigger holidays, home upgrades or expensive treats. But if you instead treat these years as your retirement setup phase - boosting pension contributions, building ISA investments, reducing debt or creating a healthy cash buffer - you can give yourself far more flexibility and freedom later on.
5. Don’t forget the emotional side
Money is only half the picture you need when you think about retirement. Planning is also about shaping your days, your reasons for getting out of bed and the things you get a kick out of. Ask yourself: What will give me purpose? How will I stay connected? What do I want to be known for in this next chapter? And what experiences are important to plan for? Answering those questions now will make the transition into retirement smoother, more exciting, and more fulfilling.
The moment you stop drifting and start diving in is the true beginning of retirement planning. From there, every step you take isn’t just about the numbers - it’s about building the kind of future you can’t wait to step into.
And this is exactly why I created the Epic Retirement UK Flagship Course, which kicks off on the 28th of May. It is designed to give you a way to think more clearly about the years ahead with a solid framework to start turning vague thoughts into real plans.
Across six weeks, we explore the six pillars of an Epic Retirement, from pensions, budgeting and retirement income, through to purpose, health, relationships, travel and the role your home plays as you age.
But perhaps most importantly, the course helps you move from: “I should probably think about retirement someday…” to: “Right. Here’s the kind of life I want to build — and here’s how I might actually get there.”
And to celebrate the launch of the UK course, I wanted to share a free preview lesson with you today.
This lesson comes from Week 1 of the program and explores one of the most powerful frameworks in the course: The five stages of retirement.
Understanding these stages helps people stop viewing retirement as one giant leap into the unknown, and instead start seeing it as a transition that unfolds over time. Interestingly, these stages have very little to do with age, and much more to do with mindset, priorities and the way you make decisions.
If this resonates with you, the UK Pilot Edition of the How to Have an Epic Retirement Flagship Course is now open for enrolments at a special discounted pilot rate.
And because this is our very first UK cohort, we’re intentionally keeping the pilot small (only 200 spots are available!) so we can shape the future of the program together.
The course has already helped thousands of Australians feel more confident and optimistic about retirement, and this is the very first time we’re bringing a version built specifically for the UK retirement system to life.
Curious to learn more?
This is the only comprehensive, modern, 6-week ‘get ready for retirement’ program available in the UK. But it isn’t just about money.
The course runs over six weeks and includes around 100 lessons, interactive exercises, live expert Q&As, and a private community where participants can learn alongside others navigating this same transition.
Download a copy of our brochure to learn more about what’s included.
I am so excited for you to come on this journey with me. It all kicks off on the 28th of May and runs for six weeks.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with your questions to bec@epicretirement.net
Cheers - let’s make it epic!
P.S. To celebrate the launch of the UK Course, we’re also giving away 5 free seats in the program. To go into the draw, simply give our Epic Retirement UK Facebook page a like and follow along.
Author, podcast host, columnist, retirement educator, and guest speaker