Embracing Your First Year of Retirement: A Guide to Thriving, Not Just Surviving

You’ve made it to a pivotal phase in life—the retirement journey you’ve meticulously planned for. It’s time to transition from the structured rhythms of work life to the freedom and flexibility of retirement. While “surviving” may seem a bit dramatic, it’s essential to acknowledge that embarking on retirement, especially the first year, can be a significant adjustment. The transition should be a period of joy and fulfillment, yet without proper planning, it could also bring about stress, loneliness, and a sense of loss. At Willamette Wealth Partners, we believe in empowering you with strategies to navigate this new chapter with confidence.

Transition Smoothly into Retirement

The shift from a career-centric lifestyle to one of leisure and self-discovery can feel abrupt. Creating a sense of purpose every day is crucial to smoothing the transition. Although the daily hustle may be behind you, embracing a new routine that includes hobbies, social activities, and personal goals can fill the void left by your career.

Manage Stress with Grace

Retirement is a significant life change that can stir up stress despite the absence of work-related pressures. It’s vital to acknowledge these feelings and adopt coping strategies, such as engaging in physical activities, exploring new interests, or seeking support from friends, family, or professionals.

Set Realistic Expectations

It’s easy to idealize retirement as an endless vacation. However, the novelty of free time can eventually wane. Setting realistic expectations and embracing both the highs and lows can lead to a more satisfying retirement experience.

Stay Active and Engaged

While relishing your newfound freedom by relaxing is tempting, maintaining a balance is critical. Consider scheduling activities, exploring new areas, or even embarking on an encore career or volunteer work to keep your mind and body active.

Nurture Your Relationships

Spending significantly more time with your spouse or partner can change both of your routines. Open communication about expectations, along with sharing responsibilities and respecting each other’s need for space, can strengthen your relationship during this transition.

Redefine and Enrich Your Days

Retirement unfolds a new chapter where you can redefine your identity beyond your career and cultivate meaningful experiences. This newfound abundance of free time is not just a void but an opportunity to engage in activities that fulfill you. Whether you choose to embark on part-time work, volunteer, pursue passions, or simply enjoy the pleasure of leisurely meals and tech-free activities, it’s about making connections and contributions that enrich your life. Prioritizing what brings you joy, embracing rest, and exploring interests beyond the digital world are key to a satisfying retirement.

Review Your Financial Plan

Transitioning into retirement doesn’t mean putting your financial plan on autopilot. Regular check-ins on your budget, lifestyle, and investment strategy with a trusted advisor at Willamette Wealth Partners can ensure your retirement journey remains on course.

Thriving in Your First Year and Beyond

The first year of retirement is a period of exploration, adjustment, and, most importantly, opportunity. By managing expectations, investing in your well-being, and embracing the freedom retirement offers, you can lay the foundation for a fulfilling and enriching chapter of your life.

At Willamette Wealth Partners, we’re dedicated to supporting you through every stage of your retirement journey. If you have any questions or need guidance as you navigate your first year of retirement, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can strive to ensure that your retirement is not only something you survive but a period of life in which you can seek to truly thrive.

Heather Dopp

Operations Manager

Heather grew up in Sun Valley Idaho and moved to Eugene in 2001. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Lundquist College of Business at the University of Oregon. Before joining the Willamette Wealth Partners team, Heather worked as an office manager. In her past role, her biggest accomplishment was assisting her company in becoming the second business in Lane County to achieve Voluntary Protection Program status from Oregon OSHA.

Heather and her husband Josh have a daughter named Leila. Heather’s biggest passion is spending time with her family and traveling to new places. She loves rafting, fishing and exploring Oregon rivers with her friends and family during the summer months. Heather also enjoys cooking and trying all kinds of cuisines from around the world.

Adam R Coughlin

Certified Financial Planner™

Adam began his career in financial planning in 2019 in Rochester, Illinois, working for an investment advisor and retirement education company before moving to Oregon to work at Willamette Wealth Partners. Prior to his career change, Adam worked in information technology and insurance.

Adam graduated from Illinois State University with a B.S. in Finance as well as a minor in Financial Planning and was chosen by faculty as ISU’s Outstanding Senior in Finance and Outstanding Financial Planning Student for his graduating class. In 2021, he placed Top 5 in the Financial Planning Association’s Case Study Competition. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™.

Outside of work, Adam enjoys fishing, going to the gym, playing with his two Siberian Forest Cats, and exploring new restaurants with his amazing wife Kelsey.

Locke Bielefeldt

Certified Financial Planner™

Locke grew up in the Willamette Valley, where he watched his father, Doug, build a thriving financial planning business. After witnessing the impact, a financial planner can have on client’s lives, Locke became inspired to seek a BBA in finance at The University of Portland.

Before returning to his hometown of Eugene, Locke worked in leadership and consultant roles focused on small business and startup finance. He now assists clients in pursuing their financial goals through independent and collaborative advice, customized investment strategies, and financial planning.

Outside of work, Locke enjoys traveling, cooking all kinds of foods, reading science fiction, and spending time with his wife, Amelia.

Locke has been listed in Forbes’ “Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State” for 2023 as well as Forbes’ “Best in State Wealth Advisors” for 2024.

The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth advisor ranking, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on in person and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receives a fee in exchange for rankings.