Why Dreaming Big Is the Secret to Retirement Planning That Actually Works
When most people think about retirement planning, they think about numbers: 401(k) balances, monthly budgets, and safe withdrawal rates. But the most successful retirements aren’t built around spreadsheets—they’re built around dreams. Financial success in retirement comes not just from having enough money, but from knowing what you want that money to do for you. It’s about aligning your financial plan with the life you actually want to live. That’s the missing piece for many retirees. They’ve saved diligently but haven’t stopped to ask what they’re saving for.
That’s where the idea of a vision board comes in. A vision board isn’t just about manifesting. It’s a practical tool for aligning your money with your dreams. Brad and Vicki, for example, created a vision board to map out their retirement lifestyle. It included a 40th anniversary trip to Hawaii, surf trips for Brad, hiking trips for Vicki, charitable contributions, and a $75,000 gift to help pay for their daughter’s wedding. This visual roadmap helped them prioritize spending on what truly mattered to them—adventure, family, and giving back.
Their financial resources included everything from 401(k)s and Roth IRAs to cash and joint accounts. They owned a home worth about $1.3 to $1.4 million and planned to draw down their taxable accounts first, followed by their retirement accounts. By adjusting their monthly spending from $9,500 to $9,000 and downsizing their home, they found even greater confidence that their financial plan could support their dreams. This wasn’t just about being frugal—it was about being intentional.
Travel was a major focus for Brad and Vicki. They budgeted $25,000 every other year for surf trips and hiking adventures, with hopes of expanding their travel budget to $45,000 per year. These experiences weren’t luxuries—they were essential to their sense of joy, connection, and fulfillment. That’s the beauty of vision-driven planning: it puts the things that bring you happiness at the center of your financial strategy.
Charitable giving was another top priority. Brad and Vicki had a deep connection to orphanages in Mexico, where they planned to donate both their time and financial resources. Supporting their daughter’s wedding was also an expression of their values—choosing to invest in love, legacy, and celebration.
Downsizing their home wasn’t just a financial move. It was a lifestyle choice that aligned with their desire to be closer to their kids and reduce maintenance burdens. The equity from their home would provide added security, but more importantly, the move would bring them closer to the people they cared about most.
Ultimately, financial planning is a tool—not an end in itself. It’s a way to turn dreams into concrete, achievable steps. That could mean figuring out how to cover $45,000 in annual travel, or how to gift $75,000 to your child’s wedding without compromising your retirement security. It might mean building charitable giving into your withdrawal strategy, or reallocating assets to reflect a new lifestyle.
The key message? Dream big. Reconnect with the aspirations you had when you were younger—the adventures, the generosity, the freedom. Retirement is the time to bring those dreams to life. As the speaker put it, “dream big dreams that roar.” Because when you link your financial plan to your passions, retirement becomes more than a phase of life—it becomes the most meaningful chapter yet.
You should always consult a financial, tax, or legal professional familiar about your unique circumstances before making any financial decisions. This material is intended for educational purposes only. Nothing in this material constitutes a solicitation for the sale or purchase of any securities. Any mentioned rates of return are historical or hypothetical in nature and are not a guarantee of future returns.
Past performance does not guarantee future performance. Future returns may be lower or higher. Investments involve risk. Investment values will fluctuate with market conditions, and security positions, when sold, may be worth less or more than their original cost.
