EVENT

Going into retirement can be like a sonic boom.  You’re in a plane and you’re increasing speed heading toward this amazing, very new goal/threshold.  As you reach the goal/event (retirement) there is a huge reverberation that shakes everything around you. 

I recall reading that upon nearing the first Mach 1 threshold the test pilots had some shaky flights up to and beyond the sound barrier.  Is retirement turbulent once you breach the event threshold?

Effort Above and Beyond

I put in extra effort for this post and found this paragraph:

“As an aircraft flies at supersonic speeds it is continually generating shock waves, dropping sonic boom along its flight path, similar to someone dropping objects from a moving vehicle. From the perspective of the aircraft, the boom appears to be swept backwards as it travels away from the aircraft. If the plane makes a sharp turn or pulls up, the boom will hit the ground in front of the aircraft.” Link

The last sentence shook me.  “…sharp turn or pulls up…”   Whoa, isn’t that what retirement is—a sharp change?

I’m now thinking of a frequently shared statement “Don’t make any big changes right after a large life event” or at least try and limit reactive actions.

Earthquake

Speaking of shaky, what about shaky ground?  I think about the earthquake graph.  Before the event the graph is flat and calm, nothing too noticeable, then BAM—huge spikes in movement & earth-shaking activity. 

Retirement can often be the same.  Instant shockwaves.

Effort Above and Beyond #2

I wanted to see seismographs from real earthquakes to see if my retirement comparison may make some sense (not scientifically correlated) so I asked the google.

The charts validated the aftershocks from the event (retirement date).  What shocked me (good pun, right?) was on some some charts was the activity leading up to the big event.

The action of the retirement day–then the following days–makes total sense.  However, the activity, the stress, and the seismographic activity BEFORE the event were significant in some earthquakes with some warning jitters.  Some were calm before and some were foretelling a shakeup.

The interesting thing about post-earthquake (and retirement) is that there usually seems to be continued shockwaves happening after the event. 

As with breaking the sound barrier and especially earthquakes, there continue to be after-effects from the instance.  Smooth sailing ahead is not guaranteed, not in the least.  Vigilance and forethought should be maintained throughout the post-event period.

Glide Path

Now, back to the pilots who break the sound barrier.  At some point, those pilots have to return to the ground.  They need to get to their safe baseline of life–even if they don’t want to.

To me, this is similar to the Glide Path methodology many retirement planners and researchers talk about.  It’s often thought that your financial peak may be at the point you stop earning your working income.  That may (should?) be the point many people stop saving and adding to their portfolio.

The logic here is then you will (hopefully systematically) draw down your financial assets to support the lifestyle you want to live. 

The drawdown can be a slow descent if you wish to End of Plan with a large legacy gift (to the HOGs).  Or it could be a decent more towards a zeroing (or significantly lowering) one’s asset value over the course of a planned long life.

Validity?

I do believe the Glide Path is real and is a valuable planning strategy to plan out and pursue for many of us.

I also realize now the instability that comes from the retirement event.  The instability happens for a noticeable period after the actual retirement event. 

I was very surprised and absolutely, totally agree that instability does occur leading up to the retirement event, just as it does in the real world with breaking the sound barriers and earthquakes.

Realizing this instability in the process can only help you plan for it and be a little more ready for it as it occurs.  When I think about the retirement transition (event), I see this so clearly now.  I didn’t realize much of this for myself, but after talking with so many people about their transition, it all seems so clear and natural and something we can handle with a little more intention on our part.

Being close to retiring–leaving a career is a remarkable accomplishment, just as flying humans above the ground. Both required long-term planning and commitment.

*** Nothing in this article is to be construed as financial advice.  I am not a financial planner, nor do I pretend to be.  You should always consult your own professional when seeking advice. This post is not a piece of literary mastery, just a random thought I had.