What 81% of Retirees Say is Most Important for a Happy Retirement

Here's an interesting discovery I made last week...81 percent of retirees say that good health is the #1 ingredient for a HAPPY retirement.

Wait...good health? I thought it was money? $$$??

If that's true, why do most people spend so much time and effort investing in their 401K, but then neglect their health?

I'm not saying that you shouldn't grow a financial nest egg for your golden years - but I am suggesting that good health is just as valuable to invest in. Unfortunately, that's simply not happening.

We're taught to put money in our retirement accounts as soon as we start working. Our employers do 401k matches to encourage retirement prep. It's considered "irresponsible" to not set money aside for when you will need it later in life.

Yet, most people do very little throughout their lives to protect their health. Sure, there are fad diets and a cascade of medications that make promises of "health", but most of that is just an illusion.

If you think about it, it's actually quite sad.

Consider Mark. He was a successful businessman in St. Louis. He kept his nose to the grindstone for his entire career and accumulated a considerable nest egg. He was smart with his money, investing it in all the right places. And he wasn't frivolous with his spending.

Great job, right?

Yes. Until he suffered a heart attack. It happened within the first year of his early retirement at the age of 55. Suddenly, the money didn't matter as much. In an instant, his health became his #1 priority. His money was now funding his sick care...important, but not exactly the life he had envisioned. ​

I don't want you to end up in this place.

People are finally realizing that building a financial nest egg is only HALF of the equation.

Having all the money in the world can’t buy vibrant health. So a comprehensive, satisfying retirement plan must include BOTH health & wealth.

That’s why our clients are saying “NO MORE” to putting their health on the back burner...and why they are starting to INVEST in their wellness.

That’s why our clients are deciding to stop the downward spiral in their health...and finally taking CONTROL of their health trend.

That’s why our clients are going from worrying about their risk of chronic disease...to finding the PEACE OF MIND that they are on the right track for good.

That’s why our clients are enjoying FREEDOM as the pounds melt away and their confidence soars.

In short, our clients are turning their health from a liability...into their most valuable ASSET.

They're using a financial approach to wellness to create short term results with long term DIVIDENDS. But, best of all, they aren’t going to the gym or dieting. Instead, they are putting their habits & physiology to work for them so they can work smarter, not harder.

Here are 4 questions to ask yourself when getting started on creating your health retirement plan:​

1. What does my daily low-level movement look like?

You don't have to work out hard. Give yourself some grace here. "Go hard or go home" is a false concept for long term health. Frequent low-level activity feathered throughout your day is far more beneficial to preventing chronic disease and maintaining your weight.


2. How am I mananging my stress?

Everyone has stress. It can't be avoided. However, how you can learn how to recognize and dissolve your stress before it wreaks havoc on your health. Taking 5 minutes to yourself several times a day to breathe, stretch, or sit in a massage chair isn't being lazy. It's boosting your resilience, immune function, and good hormones.


3. Am I getting enough nourishing food into my body?

Switch your focus away from trying not to eat "bad" foods. Instead, seek out opportunities to eat as many of the healthiest foods you can find. This simple shift in thinking will add years of happiness to your life. By filling up on the good stuff, the less healthy foods are naturally crowded out of your diet...no will power needed.


4. How do I measure success?

Success is what you define it as. It doesn't really matter what the measurement is as much as it matters that there is a measurement on your radar. Sure, there are universally accepted benchmarks like BMI, weight, and bloodwork numbers that you can try to adhere to. But the best measure is one that means something to you and that you will be able to keep an eye on yourself to know if your health is trending in the right direction. I have a few measurements that I rely on for myself and my clients, but if your's is clothing size or strength, or how you feel - that works as long as you are in tune with that measure and checking in on a regular basis. ​

Keep Growing Wellthy

​Ask yourself these 4 questions on a regular basis and watch your habits improve. You will begin to build a robust health retirement plan that will continue to serve you many years from now.

If you would like some help brainstorming answers to these questions for your unique situation, then I would love to help you. The first step is to do a health assessment and find out where you are. The second step is to find out what your short term and long term goals are. And then we can create a road map together to get you where you want to go.

​It's free to do this. Just  book a free call with me by clicking the button below. In case it isn't showing up for some odd reason, just click here: www.growwellthy.com/talk

BOOK A CALL

References:​

1. https://www.marinerwealthadvisors.com/insights/health-vs-wealth-why-not-both/
   

About the author

I'm Stevyn - a financial advisor's daughter who became an exercise physiologist and certified wellness coach. As a Wellth Advisor, I explore health as a form of wealth. ​