As we paint the picture of what WE want our life to be like during those retirement years, we have many lessons and trials to work through. The second phase of building our own masterpiece is the working phase as we begin adulthood and have high energy, and grand dreams. During this green phase, the early establishment of our saving and spending patterns set the stage for the size and vibrancy of our masterpiece.

In the red phase, we kick into high gear and give it our last big push to finish our masterpiece. This is when we further evaluate and fine-tune our strategies. It’s typically the last 10 years or so of our career. It’s when we hope to be making the most money. And if we’ve learned our lessons well, it’s the time we when we put the final touches on our picture to make it worth framing!

Today, we talk about the fourth money cycle: we’re about to move into retirement.

Brushstroke Four: BLUE

Blue represents calm and confidence. And grace.

The fourth stage is retirement, where we live with the results of decades of investment decisions (or lack thereof). The years of full-time working are over. There may be a few strokes of green still being placed on the canvas as we take on a part-time job or consider other alternatives to continuing our income streams during this exciting time of our life. This is when we receive the payback.

If you’re about to take this broad stroke of blue across your own canvas, the thought of retirement may seem mysterious and cloudy. There are ways, even in the later years of our life to get creative with the tools we have at hand. After all, being retired usually represents all that we have been waiting for and working toward. It’s when we can sit back and admire our work of art and appreciate how far we’ve come.

Like an artist who must first prepare the canvas, we too, have hopefully taken the initial steps of preparation in our money matters. That’s not to say there won’t be deviations, temptations or new directions. But when we have a plan and know what’s next, this will go a long way toward developing our confidence in our abilities to live the retirement “dream.”

You’re the artist. What is your dreamscape for your retirement years? Have you developed a good framework for supporting your masterpiece? Use the four basic colors mentioned here as steps toward prosperity.

Taking the 20-question quiz may help you evaluate your overall situation. Remember, it’s never too late to tweak your plan, to put some final surprises on the canvas.

The adjustments of living with a different spending plan and asking, “What do I do next with my life?” will often hit us as we slide into retirement. Your coach can help you reach a better understanding of this transition. Email me at info @ CoachForResults . com if you’d like to explore “what’s next” in your life.

Congratulate yourself on where you’ve been and where you are today! It’s time for new dreams to unfold.

You’re the artist. Pick up that brush and paint your masterpiece!

Have a Golden Day!

Coach Darlene