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How to Live a Remarkable Retirement

Writer's picture: Mark Fonville, CFP®Mark Fonville, CFP®

Updated: Dec 6, 2024


How to live a remarkable retirement

You've worked hard your entire life.


You've been appreciated at times. You've failed other times. And, looking back, you might even be proud of what you've accomplished.


But, what will you accomplish in retirement? What will be your identity? Will you recreate yourself or simply wither away?


If you don't know the answers, I implore you to think harder. You haven't poured sweat and tears into the first two thirds of your life just to be unremarkable the latter one third.


I'm not trying to be negative.


Actually, it's quite the opposite. My goal is to motivate you to think bigger and more creatively about making your life remarkable in retirement.


 

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It's going to take some thinking, hard work, and vision. If that makes you shiver, then stop reading.


For the rest of you, here are my ten thoughts on how to live a remarkable retirement.



1. It Won't Happen By Chance


Myth vs fact: You can't enjoy a remarkable retirement by chance

The first step to a remarkable retirement is to understand that it won't happen by chance.


You can't coast into it, hoping that the momentum from your working years will carry you through.


It's a new phase, a new beginning. Embrace it. Plan it.


2. Live Your Values


A remarkable retirement isn't about extravagant world cruises or buying a vineyard in Tuscany (unless that's your thing).


It's about crafting a life that's true to your values, your curiosities, your untapped potential. Authenticity trumps opulence every time.


3. Don't Half-Heart It


Throw yourself wholeheartedly into what makes your retirement remarkable.


If it's mastering the art of woodworking, then become the Michelangelo of maple.


If it's writing that novel, then pour your soul onto the pages. Half-hearted attempts lead to half-hearted results.


4. Find Your Growth Zone


The edges are where the magic happens.


Stretch yourself. Learn Mandarin. Take up sky diving. Volunteer in a remote village.


The comfort zone is overrated. The growth zone is where remarkable lives.


5. Be Remarkable to You


How to find your remarkable retirement flow chart

Remarkable doesn't mean remarkable to your neighbor or your golfing buddy. It means remarkable to you. What will make you excited to wake up each morning?


If it doesn't ignite a passion within you, then it's not worth pursuing.


6. Impress Yourself


Some may question your unconventional retirement choices. That's okay. It's your retirement, not theirs.


The opinions that matter are those of the people who matter to you. Focus on impressing yourself.


7. Don't Follow the Herd


Forget the retirement clichés. You won't find remarkable in a brochure or a 'Top 10' list.


Remarkable is personal, original, unique. It's not about following the herd, it's about blazing your own trail.


8. Make It Happen


The biggest risk isn't pursuing a remarkable retirement, it's settling for an unremarkable one. Regret is far more haunting than failure. Dare to attempt something worthy of your one wild and precious retirement.


9. Find Your Joy


Build your remarkable retirement around what lights you up, not what the masses consider 'sensible'. Enthusiasm is contagious. When you radiate joy and purpose, you attract the people and opportunities that enrich your journey.


10. Evolve


A remarkable retirement isn't a static state. It's an evolution. As you grow and change, so too will your definition of remarkable. Embrace the journey. Keep exploring, keep learning, keep challenging yourself. That's the secret to a retirement that stays remarkable year after year.


 

See How Our Financial Advisors Can Help You Plan for Retirement


  • Retirement Planning - unlock retirement strategies and optimize your cash flows.

  • Investment Management - our team designs, builds, and manages custom portfolios tied to your life.

  • Tax Planning - Creative tax strategies, Roth conversions, RMDs, charitable giving and more...




 

Conclusion

Here are the steps to live a remarkable retirement

In the end, a remarkable retirement is about living life on your own terms, pursuing passions that set your soul on fire, and leaving an indelible mark on the world. It's about stepping out of your comfort zone, defying expectations, and daring to be extraordinary.


Remember, you are the architect of your retirement. You have the power to design a life that is rich in meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. Don't settle for the ordinary when you have the potential for the extraordinary.


Embrace the challenge of creating a retirement that is truly remarkable. Be bold, be curious, be authentic. Surround yourself with people who inspire you, experiences that enrich you, and pursuits that ignite your spirit.


Your remarkable retirement awaits. It's time to start writing the next chapter of your life story – a chapter filled with adventure, growth, and unbridled joy. The best is yet to come.


So, what are you waiting for? Let's start crafting your remarkable retirement today. Take that first step, and watch as the journey unfolds before you. The world is waiting to be dazzled by the remarkable retiree you were always meant to be.


Ready to get started with your remarkable retirement? Request a free retirement consultation today. We're here to help.



 

Mark Fonville financial advisor in Richmond VA

About the author:

CEO and Senior Financial Advisor


Mark is the CEO of Covenant Wealth Advisors and a Senior Financial Advisor helping individuals age 50+ plan, invest, and enjoy retirement comfortably. Forbes nominated Mark as a Best-In-State Wealth Advisor* and he has been featured in the New York Times, Barron's, Forbes, and Kiplinger Magazine.



 

Disclosures: Covenant Wealth Advisors is a registered investment advisor with offices in Richmond, Reston, and Williamsburg, VA. Registration of an investment advisor does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. The views and opinions expressed in this content are as of the date of the posting, are subject to change based on market and other conditions. This content contains certain statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. Please note that nothing in this content should be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase an interest in any security or separate account. Nothing is intended to be, and you should not consider anything to be, investment, accounting, tax, or legal advice. If you would like accounting, tax, or legal advice, you should consult with your own accountants or attorneys regarding your individual circumstances and needs. This article was written and edited by a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with the assistance of AI. No advice may be rendered by Covenant Wealth Advisors unless a client service agreement is in place. Hypothetical examples are fictitious and are only used to illustrate a specific point of view. Diversification does not guarantee against risk of loss. While this guide attempts to be as comprehensive as possible but no article can cover all aspects of retirement planning. Be sure to consult an advisor for comprehensive advice.

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Disclosures:

Services offered by Covenant Wealth Advisors (CWA), a fee only financial planner and registered investment adviser with offices in Richmond, Va and Williamsburg, Va. Registration of an investment advisor does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.
Investments involve risk and there is no guarantee that investments will appreciate. Past performance is not indicative of future results. By entering your info into our forms, you are consenting to receive our email newsletter and/or calls regarding our products and services from CWA. This agreement is not a condition to proceed forward. Case studies presented are purely hypothetical examples only and do not represent actual clients or results. These studies are provided for educational purposes only. Similar, or even positive results, cannot be guaranteed.

 

*Award Winning: Covenant Wealth Advisors was nominated by Newsweek/Plant-A-Insights Group in November of 2024 as one of America's Top Financial Advisory Firms. You may access the nomination methodology disclosure here and a list of financial advisory firms selected. CWA was awarded the #1 fastest growing company by RichmondBizSense on October 8th, 2020 based on three year annual revenue growth ending December 31st, 2019. To qualify for the annual RVA 25, companies must be privately-held, headquartered in the Richmond region and able to submit financials for the last three full calendar years. Submissions were vetted by Henrico-based accounting firm Keiter. Expertise.com voted Covenant Wealth Advisors as one of the best financial advisors in Williamsburg, VA  and Richmond, VA on November 30th, 2024 based on their proprietary selection process.  CWA was nominated for the Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisor ranking for Virginia on April 7th, 2022. Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisor full ranking disclosure. Read more about Forbes ranking and methodology here. CWA did not compensate any of the entities above for the awards or nominations. These award nominations were granted by organizations that are not CWA clients. However, CWA has compensated Newsweek/Plant-A Insights Group for licensing and advertising of the nomination and compensated Expertise.com to advertise on their platform. While we seek to minimize conflicts of interest, no registered investment adviser is conflict free and we advise all interested parties to request a list of potential conflicts of interest prior to engaging in a relationship. CWA is a member of the Better Business Bureau. We compensate the BBB to be a member and our BBB rating is independently determined by the BBB.

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