Retire by Degrees

Jonathan Clements was a former Wall Street Journal personal finance columnist and author of several books on the subject. He died on September 20th of a rare cancer at the age of 62. He also founded and ran the Humble Dollar blog and, since his diagnosis last year, he was very transparent about how he […]

Retirement is a big change. You’re stepping out of a role you’ve known for a long time—likely your job has been a big part of your identity. That can feel strange. But new doesn’t have to mean wrong or uncertain. It just means unfamiliar—for now. As they say on NPR’s classical music station, “Remember that all music was once new.” The same […]

Congratulations! You’ve reached a major milestone: the chance to dial things back, enjoy more freedom, and explore life beyond the daily tasks and meetings. Semi-retirement or phased retirement is an exciting chapter, offering a unique blend of leisure and continued engagement. But before you toss your alarm out the window and declare to the world, […]

Are you aiming for a traditional retirement at 65 or another specific age with a sudden and complete stop? You’ve circled the date and have a ‘countdown’ to your last day at work. Maybe you’ve even planned what you’ll be doing for the first few months once you’re wrapped up.  But here’s a thought: what if […]

Not long ago, a friend sent me a sample board profile to help me think about my own next career move. What caught my eye wasn’t the impressive title or the lengthy list of accomplishments—it was a small note tucked into this biography:“After a long career at GE, they took 18 months to reinvent themselves.” […]

As I think about my phased retirement and explore new activities, one idea that keeps coming up is serving on a paid board. I’d love to leverage the experience I’ve gained over the years—especially in areas like leadership, technology, and strategy. A friend of mine does this kind of work and recently gave me a […]

It’s summertime—the season of shorts and flip-flops, long hours of daylight, and a break from the usual routines. But soon enough, school will be back in session. For college students, that means new classes and freshly printed syllabi, each one a roadmap for the next four months. Assignments, deadlines, goals—all neatly laid out. It’s funny […]

If you’ve worked with financial planners or read books about your retirement finances (books like “Die With Zero,” by Bill Perkins that I’ve referenced here before) you’ve likely heard them talk about retirement in three distinct stages: But here’s the thing: you don’t know how long your Go-Go years will last. That’s why it’s so […]