Are you ready to retire quiz

Most Australians enjoy at least a little work in their life-work balance, but how much is enough – and have you done the planning that’s necessary before beginning your transition?

Use YOURLifeChoices quick 25-questions quiz to check the health of your retirement planning

The holistic approach is good not just for your health and wellbeing, but also when planning for your retirement.

You’re continually being told you need a secure retirement nest egg (say, $1 million). So you decide that, until you have this certain amount, you’re not ready to clock off. While there’s no doubt being financially secure is incredibly important, though, there’s much more to a happy and fulfilling later life than the money.

First and foremost is a sense of choice. Next is independence, with a readiness and willingness to move (rather than be pushed) to the next stage not far behind.

Research confirms that those who plan their transition into retirement are much more likely to create a satisfying life-balance. Sound financial planning is indeed an integral part of the process, but there’s much more to consider than just the dollars.

Answer Yes/No to the following questions.

Activities

1. Have you researched what you plan to do? Playing golf seven days a week may be less fulfilling than you think.
2. Do you have a work component in the mix?
3. Do you have hobbies?
4. Do you have activities which make you feel of value, apart from your day job?

Purpose

5. Do you have goals?
6. Does your partner have goals?
7. Are these goals compatible?
8. Are you mentally able to ‘leave’ work?
9. Are you leaving because you want to?
10. Is this your decision and not someone else’s?

Preparation
Have you done your homework on:

11. Financial planning
12. Housing
13. Activities
14. Entitlements, including the Age Pension
15. Future work or business opportunities
16. Have you considered a transition into retirement (part-time work, part-time play?)

Relationships

17. Do you have close relationships?
18. Have you discussed your plans with your partner/nearest and dearest?
19. Have they discussed their plans with you?
20. Are you in agreement?
21. Will you be happy if one of you remains in the workforce and the other does not?

Wellbeing

22. Are you in good physical health?
23. Are you getting regular (three times per week) exercise?
24. Is your mental health positive?
25. Are you happy spiritually?

How did you go?

• If you answered “yes” to 18 or more questions, your transition to retirement is well underway.
• “Yes” responses to 12-18 questions means you are moving toward a happy post-work life, but need to further address the questions to which you answered “no”.
• A “yes” to 12 or fewer questions means you have given little consideration to the later years of your life; now is as good a time as any to consider the big picture aspects of life after 50.

And it’s not just about quantity, the quality of your responses is important, too.

Apart from assessing your overall score, consider your responses to questions 5, 16 and 18. These are critical considerations for those contemplating leaving full-time work – and if you haven’t answered “yes”, then do yourself (and those around you) a favour and stay at work until you can!