Born May 1, 1926, Corky Houchin lived in a world that evolved from Model Ts to space shuttles, from switchboard operators to smartphones, and from handwritten letters to artificial intelligence. She lived through the Great Depression, World War II, the assassination of President Kennedy, COVID-19, and technological advancements that shape our lives today.

“I’ve kind of wandered through life,” wasn’t the answer I expected from a founding member of one of America’s most formative folk groups. Most people assume Chad Mitchell spent decades chasing success. He insists the opposite is true. At 89, from his home in Spokane, Mitchell speaks less like a celebrity reminiscing on a star-studded career and more like an engineer looking back on a lifetime of completed designs.

As owners of the Italian Kitchen in Spokane, Bryce and Lyndsay Kerr successfully navigate a very difficult middle ground. Their restaurant is a locally-owned, hospitality-driven, relationship-based business operating in an economy increasingly dominated by convenience apps, chain restaurants, social media influencers, and ever-shortening attention spans.

Retirement planning shouldn’t just be about quitting a job and getting away from work. It should be about what’s next. What does a person want to achieve as they author the next chapter of their life?

If you want to enjoy travel throughout retirement — not just at the beginning — you have to give it structure. Not to limit it. But to protect you.

The sudden loss of a loved one is difficult enough without the additional chaos of hunting down passwords, navigating locked devices, or guessing which financial institutions might hold accounts. In these moments, heirs and executors need a clear, centralized, and accessible record of what exists, where to find it, and how to unlock it.

A healthy life-work model looks like less work, not no work. It allows for meaningful contribution, income as a tool rather than a crutch, and shared experiences. Working past 65 isn’t a failure of planning. It’s complete planning.

Financial security in retirement doesn’t come crashing down with a bang; it collapses gradually — one medical bill, one market downturn, one year of inflation at a time.

Within the next 25 years, an estimated $124 trillion in accumulated wealth, real estate, and personal properties is expected to pass from one generation to the next, according to Cerulli Associates. Although much of that wealth will go to family heirs, a significant portion will be allocated to philanthropic groups and charitable organizations.

Delaying retirement to pursue career advancement may have positive benefits for yourself and others.