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Planning Your Retirement Goals

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Are you wondering how to meet your retirement goals? Or maybe you're wondering what to consider in coming up with a plan? This article provides answers to these questions and more, offering reasons why planning is so important today and how a financial professional can help.

January 10, 2026
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Important Disclosure: Content on our website and in our newsletters is for informational purposes only. The information provided may (or may not) directly apply to your situation. We recommend that readers work directly with a professional advisor when making decisions in the context of their specific situation.

Understand Why Planning is Needed

If you ask yourself what retirement will look like, the answer may be a comfortable home near a golf course. Or perhaps it’s free time to spend with grandchildren, or maybe it’s a cross-country journey or trip around the world? The dreams you have today about the future can be yours tomorrow--if you understand what is required to fulfill them, set a course to meet the challenge, and seek solid professional assistance along the way.

With a retirement date several years in the future, it’s a good time to begin preparation. A look at factors affecting the future of all retirees can help potential retirees focus on the importance of preparing for the future. Consider the following:

  • Increased longevity and early retirement are giving Americans more "golden years" to enjoy—and a greater need to plan.
    • Inflation, whether high or low,it impactsinvestment dollars, year-after-year reducing"real" valueand, thereby, reducing the purchasing power to make retirement dreams a reality.
    • Escalating medical costs affect both young and old, but can be devastating to retirees on a fixed income.

    A Checklist for Retirement Planning 

    Once goals have been identified, assign a monetary value to them, and then review progress towards the goals. The following checklist is a good starting point.  

    • Analyze the present situation, including income, expenses, assets, and liabilities.  
    • Find out how much Social Security, veteran’s benefits, and employer-sponsored plans are expected to provide in retirement. 
    • Estimate interest earned on savings, investments, and life insurance, as well as any from real estate rentals. 
    • Review any life, health, and disability insurance policies to see whether they meet present and future needs. 
    • Try to pay off significantly large bills now to avoid facing them once retired. 
    • Determine which expenses are likely to decrease after retirement and which are likely to increase. 

    A financial professional can help work through items on the checklist, as well as assist in the following areas: 

    • Time Needed to Build a "Nest Egg." Many people need assistance understanding the right choice of investments needed to meet the retirement timeline. Options to consider include investments designed for growth, income, or a combination of both. 
    • Investment Personality. Understanding this factor is a critical, but often an overlooked ingredient in financial planning. Insight into individual risk tolerance will guide decisions on choosing the right investment vehicles to meet the funding goals.  
    • Projected Retirement Needs. The determinations previously made will affect how much is needed to invest in order to reach full funding for retirement goals. 

    A financial professional can personalize a plan that works for your unique situation and set you on a path towards your future retirement dreams, whether it’s a home on the golf course, time with grandkids, or that trip around the world. 

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