As you approach old age, you’ll want to do many things to ensure that your life is in order as you get ready to retire. Because retirement for most individuals is on or near their 65th birthday, it’s a good idea to perform a few tasks before you turn 65 if you want a smooth transition into retirement.
Keeping these goals in mind as you age can keep you focused on your goals after retirement, too, while even helping you achieve retirement on schedule. Here are five musts to get done before you turn 65.
Prepare your home for older age
One thing that people don’t often consider when planning for retirement is how their home will continue to suit them in old age. This sometimes involves putting in certain aging in place home modifications, so that your residence still functions as such as your age. There are a variety of technologies that help your home adapt to your needs, and these advancements often improve quality of life, too.
Smart appliances, motion-activated lighting, and even transitioning from a bathtub to a walk-in shower can make a big difference as your mobility and physical needs change.
Evaluate your health insurance policy
While many individuals switch to Medicaid once they retire, if you’re planning on working longer or have other medical needs, it’s worth evaluating your health insurance policy. In some cases, you may want to consider long term disability insurance or another policy that provides you with more benefits as you age. Using an online health insurance comparison tool can make this task simple and easy.
Set up your will and estate plan
If you haven’t already, now’s the time to make sure that your will is in order with clear instructions for what happens to your estate, money, and belongings when you pass away. Even if you’ve already set up an estate plan or will and testimony, it’s a good idea to reevaluate your plan every five years.
Doing so will ensure that the proper individuals are included as executors of your will and that you have rightfully allocated where you want your assets to go. Various online estate planning tools make it easy to set up your will. Having it properly accounted for can give you peace of mind, too.
Double down on your investments
As you get closer to 65, you’ll want to make sure that your investments are properly allocated, too. If you have too many investments in high-risk stocks, you may be in for a nasty surprise when you want to retire but don’t have a reliable source of money to draw income from. Of course, Social Security benefits will account for part of your living expenses once you retire, but there are other ways to maximize your 401(k) and investment portfolio for retirement, too.
See a doctor
It’s important to stay up on your routine medical visits as you age, too. General physical exams and wellness checkups, as well as routine trips to see the dentist and eye doctor, can all make a big difference when it comes to your health, longevity, and how long you live.
By going to these sorts of doctors regularly, you’ll be able to prevent common diseases and illnesses and get valuable advice on how to live life to the fullest with proper exercise and nutrition. This information can help you lead a happier, healthier life once you retire and shouldn’t be scrimped on.
While many important tasks must be completed before you turn 65, the above five are some of the most common to consider. From ensuring that you are in sound physical health to setting yourself up for a positive financial future, these tips can have an incredibly positive effect on your life once you retire, and are ready to start on the next chapter of your life.
