I am excited to share the very first issue of my newsletter with you. I promise that each email will be short, inspiring and useful.

Let’s jump in ...

Today I share one of the best retirement articles I read in 2024. It discusses the true experiences of two people's transition into retirement.

One person thrived. The other struggled.

Irene discovered new experiences, passions and relationships.

Unfortunately, Lawrence found frustration, boredom and loneliness.

Irene found purpose in helping her new beach community. “A life centered around the ocean”. Lawrence found himself checked into a residential rehab program 😳.

The researchers for the article followed 14 Americans (including Irene and Lawrence) through their retirement transition.
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​“One clear lesson emerged: It takes work to stop working. Leaving a career and crafting a fulfilling retirement takes thought, time, and effort. The process can be enjoyable, but it cannot be avoided”.

As a retirement adviser, I too have found that the transition from working to retirement is a crucial step towards a happy and rewarding retirement. Even more important than how much money you saved.

I have seen people thrive in retirement with $500k, $1M or $5M.

But I have never seen someone thrive who did not first successfully transition.

Whether you are already retired or are 10 years, 10 months or 10 weeks away from retirement, you will find something helpful for your journey in this week's article. “HBR’s Retire Without Regrets.

(Pro Tip: Try the “Listen to This Article” feature).

That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. See you next week ...

😎 Azul

PS - My favorite video that I published in December was “Don’t Wait. Do it in 2025!”. If you did not have a chance to watch it, consider taking a few minutes to tune in. The video weaves my 6 hour hike to see an erupting volcano with me sharing a few points about taking full advantage of The Youth Of Our Senior Years™. You can watch it here.