Learn how to build a retirement marked by intentional effort instead of fear with author Zac Larson.

You know the phrase “life comes at you fast”? All too often retirees find out that this phrase applies all too well to the retirement lifestyle. My guest on this week’s “Retirement Revealed”, author Zac Larson explains the thought process behind his book “Retire Intentionally” helps remove the suddenness that accompanies many retirement challenges, and how planning the right way in retirement can set you up to accomplish more with your retirement resources than you originally imagined would be possible.

Zac brought up a powerful concept that I see far too often: retirees living in fear of the “what ifs.” What if I get sick? What if my kids need help? What if the market crashes? These are valid concerns—but when fear drives your decisions, it often leads to inaction. Instead of enjoying retirement, people hold back.

Here’s the flip side: what if none of those things happen? What if you could take that trip, help your grandkids, or start that passion project? Rather than wait for perfect certainty, Zac encourages a mindset of planning for action with contingencies in place. Create your plan, and then build flexibility into it. To Zac, that’s what true confidence in retirement looks like.

Many people define retirement readiness by reaching a specific net worth: “I’ll retire when I hit $1 million.” But net worth isn’t what pays the bills—income is. Zac and I both help clients shift from obsessing over their net worth to building confidence in their retirement income.

When you know your income is secure, it can change everything. You feel empowered to be generous. You feel free to travel, give back, and spend time with the people and causes that matter to you. And most importantly, you stop living in fear of running out.

Zac shared a practical tool from his book: the “I Hate Budgets” worksheet. Instead of getting lost in spreadsheets, just break your spending into three easy buckets:

Add those up and compare them to your take-home income. It’s a simple but powerful way to get a baseline for what you’ll likely need in retirement—no spreadsheet wizardry required.

One of my favorite parts of this conversation was about charitable giving. Too many people wait until the end of their life to make a big charitable impact. But Zac flips that on its head: if your retirement income is secure, why not make an impact now?

Whether it’s helping your kids or grandkids, donating to a cause you care about, or volunteering your time, giving now often brings more joy and fulfillment than waiting. And with smart planning—think, for example, QCDs and donor-advised funds—you can do it in a potentially tax-efficient way, too.

Zac shared that he took a two-month sabbatical—a kind of “test drive” for retirement. The goal was to experience what retirement might feel like: the structure, the freedom, the hobbies. What he learned? He enjoys time off, but he also needs purpose and structure. That’s something every pre-retiree should consider. Take extended time off and see what life without work really looks like. It can reveal a lot about what you want from retirement.

There’s always going to be a bigger boat, a better car, a flashier vacation. But the happiest retirees aren’t chasing the next thing—they’re focused on purpose, contentment, and connection. As Zac put it, contentment is about finding joy in daily life. That mindset, paired with financial confidence, is what leads to a truly intentional retirement.

With the right mindset and a solid plan, you can transform retirement into a chapter of your life filled with purpose, joy, and the freedom to live life on your own terms. It’s never too early (or too late) to begin planning for the retirement you truly desire.wn terms. It’s never too early (or too late) to begin planning for the retirement you truly desire.

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