S3E43- Gratitude For Your Retirement Plan

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This Thanksgiving-themed episode dives into the powerful role gratitude plays in retirement planning. Hosts Nick Nauta and Cole Williams discuss everything from practicing gratitude in financial planning to historical perspectives on retirement. Plus, hear their personal stories of thankfulness and why focusing on the positives can shape a healthier, more intentional retirement.

Key Topics Covered:

1. The Power of Gratitude:

• Research-backed benefits of gratitude practices, include improved well-being, sleep, lower cortisol levels, and reduced envy and resentment.
• How gratitude ties into mental health and financial stress, which affects 72% of Americans according to the APA.

2. Applying Gratitude to Retirement Planning:

• Noticing positives in your retirement savings, such as investment gains and financial milestones achieved.
• Acknowledging the privilege of planning for retirement, a concept that didn’t widely exist 100 years ago.

3. Shifting Focus to What Really Matters:

• Tailoring plans to reflect personal values and priorities rather than comparing your retirement lifestyle to others.
• Reducing the tendency to compare yourself to others—what you want may not align with someone else’s lifestyle, and social media often misrepresents reality.

4. Living in the Present:

• Using gratitude as a tool to encourage “being in the moment” rather than worrying excessively about future market volatility or hypothetical risks.
• Enjoying the process of retirement planning as a reflection of your biggest life priorities.

5. Personal Stories of Gratitude:

• Hosts share what they’re thankful for this year, including good health, healing injuries, and family.
• The reminder that even small things—like returning to a beloved activity like snowboarding—can foster gratitude.

Quotes from the Episode:

• “Gratitude doesn’t just change your perspective—it changes your financial health. It helps you focus on what really matters rather than obsessing over what could go wrong.”
• “Retirement planning is, at its core, not just about dollars and cents—it’s about figuring out what YOU value and designing your future around that.”
• “We live in a time and place where you can save enough to take the last 30 years of your life off from work. That’s a privilege almost unheard of in history.”

Studies Mentioned:

• A 2003 study from Psychological Science shows gratitude improves well-being and sleep quality, and reduces negative emotions like envy.
• A 2009 study showing gratitude reduces cortisol levels, helping with stress and anxiety.

Takeaways & Action Items:

• Start incorporating a gratitude practice into your retirement planning. Focus on the positives in your financial achievements and avoid falling into the comparison trap.
• Be thankful for every small milestone in your financial plan and design it around what genuinely matters to you.
• Speak to a financial planner for guidance in aligning your goals with your values while practicing gratitude.

Call to Action:

Have gratitude—or questions—about your retirement plan? Reach out to us today to learn how we can make your retirement planning process more rewarding.