One of the toughest parts of retiring is actually taking the leap. Over the years, I’ve met many who have been focused on saving, investing, and planning for years. While they’re financially secure, they can’t bring themselves to leave work behind yet.

 

For some, it’s not about the money but the joy they get from working. Today I’m joined by a member of our Chapter X community who waited to retire until he was almost 74. A native of Oklahoma, Rick Shelby’s story travels from active duty in the Marine Corps to a political career on Capitol Hill and eventually retirement in the Washington, D.C. area.

 

In this episode, Rick walks us through his story, revealing why he feared pulling the plug prematurely on work and how he would do it differently looking back.

 

We discussed:

 

• The #1 lesson Rick learned from active duty in the Marine Corps
  
  
• How he naturally transitioned into a political career after serving
  
  
• The biggest way that politics have changed over the last 40 years
  
  
• What Rick’s first job was as a teenager in a rural farming community
  
  
• Why he regretted waiting to pull the trigger on retiring sooner
  
  
• How he walked through his transition to retirement through part-time work