Retiring with Purpose

As you prepare for this transition, two questions tend to matter most:

• How will you pay for retirement?
• How will you spend your time in retirement?

At Modera, we help you answer the first question by building a comprehensive financial plan that helps support your ability to retire securely and gives you the freedom to shape the life you want in the years ahead. But the second question is just as important, and it’s where retirement truly comes alive.

Retirement Today Looks Different

Unlike past generations, today’s retirees may spend 30–40 years in retirement.[1] Some individuals choose to retire as early as 55 or 60, which means planning for perhaps a third of their lives outside traditional work. And while financial readiness is essential, research shows that purposeful retirement—retiring to something, not just from something—is what leads to longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.[2]

What’s Shaping Retirement Today

Recent research highlights meaningful shifts in how people are approaching retirement:

• Lifestyle diversity: More retirees are embracing adventurous or nomadic lifestyles, with many choosing to travel, relocate abroad, or downsize into minimalist living.
• Encore careers & volunteering: Roughly a third of retirees return to work—not for money, but for mental stimulation, social connection and purpose.[3]
• Health & longevity focus: Retirement planning now emphasizes “living well, not just long,” with attention to physical capability, mental resilience and community engagement.[4]
• Technology-enabled retirement: Digital tools, wellness apps and virtual communities are increasingly helping retirees manage finances, health and daily living.
• Evolving retirement rules: Ongoing shifts in how and when retirees access and manage their savings, investments and retirement accounts.
• Emotional readiness: Surveys show that preparing emotionally—finding meaning, connection, and joy—is just as important as financial planning[5].

Finding Your Own Path

Purposeful retirement is about choosing the endeavors, either big or small, that bring meaning and help you thrive, such as:

• Mentoring grandchildren or volunteering in your community
• Pursuing a long-delayed passion project or hobby
• Starting a small business or part-time role in a field you love
• Working part‑time to stay engaged and energized)
• Continuing education to expand knowledge and keep your mind active
• Staying active through travel, sport, learning or adventure

Retirement can bring a shift in identity, moving from a structured work life to a more open, self‑directed rhythm. Many retirees find that staying connected, maintaining routines, and engaging in meaningful activities helps create a sense of continuity in this new stage of life. Whether through community involvement, creative

Retirement can bring a shift in identity, moving from a structured work life to a more open, self‑directed rhythm. Many retirees find that staying connected, maintaining routines, and engaging in meaningful activities helps create a sense of continuity in this new stage of life. Whether through community involvement, creative pursuits, learning something new, or expanding social connections, these choices keep your days purposeful and your mind engaged. Even small steps can make retirement feel vibrant and fulfilling.[6]

At Modera, we’re here to help you not only reach your financial goals but also explore what a fulfilling retirement looks like for you.

How will you choose to spend your days once you’ve achieved financial freedom?