Considering Retirement? Take It for a Test Drive

By Brett Gottlieb

Are you ready for retirement? Countless people look forward to the day when they can exit the daily grind, but retiring before you’re ready can cause more problems than it solves. Some people find that they miss the connection of the workplace. Others realize they should have saved more money to adequately support themselves.

The decision to retire isn’t an easy one to undo, so if you’re considering retirement in the near future, why not take it for a test drive? After taking the following five steps, you should have a clearer idea of whether you’re ready.

1. Take a Break From Work

When considering whether they’re ready for retirement, many people want to verify they can cover medical costs while retired and comfortably afford the lifestyle they want. However, it’s also important to see if the retirement lifestyle you’re envisioning actually suits you.

This is a great way to start your retirement test drive. Take some time off work and do what you can to mimic your preferred retirement lifestyle:

• Take at least two weeks off work if possible.
• Rent a home in the community you’d prefer to live in.
• Plan and follow your daily retirement routine.

Pay attention to how you feel. Does your trial retirement meet your expectations? The good news is that if it doesn’t, you have time to adjust.

2. Connect With Family and Friends

For many people, it’s easy to accidentally become too isolated in retirement. If you’re currently working a full day outside of your home, you might be unsure of how much post-retirement social interaction you’ll need.

During your test drive, get in touch with your friends and family to connect. This might give you a sense of how much time they have to socialize (and how much you want to socialize too).

But what if you’re planning on moving to a new city when you retire? If you don’t already have connections there, it’s worth coming up with some ideas for meeting new people.

3. Dive Into New Hobbies

Are you looking forward to learning a musical instrument, trying a new sport, or pursuing another hobby in retirement? Try it out during your test drive! If it’s just as you imagined it, you’ll know it’s something you want to include in your retirement lifestyle. If it’s not, you have the freedom to explore other options.

4. Give Yourself Some Structure

Many of my newly retired clients discover that they miss the structure of the workday. If you go from decades of structure to having the freedom to do whatever you want, you might start to feel unproductive.

Your retirement test drive gives you a chance to create and refine a daily routine. You don’t have to schedule every single minute, but having a routine makes a positive difference.

5. Take Time to Reflect

During and after your retirement test drive, it’s important to reflect on your experience. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you feel fulfilled? Or are you bored?
• Do you have enough human connection?
• Are you eager to return to the office? Or are you looking forward to retirement even more?
• Do you still feel confident that you want to retire in the same location?

Don’t be discouraged if your “practice” retirement isn’t what you thought. Consider it a fact-finding mission to help you fine-tune your eventual retirement.

Ready to Dial in Your Retirement Plan?

Relaxing, stable retirements don’t happen by accident. One of the best ways to prepare is to build a customized retirement plan. At Comprehensive Advisor, we’re committed to helping you feel confident in your financial future.

Our unique approach to retirement planning focuses on five key areas of your life. We’ll walk you through income planning, investment planning, tax planning, healthcare planning, and legacy planning.

If you want to learn more about how we might be able to help you, contact us today. If you’re ready to schedule a visit, email us at info@ComprehensiveAdvisor.com or call (760) 813-2125.

About Our Advisors

Brett Gottlieb is the founder of Comprehensive Advisor and a financial advisor with nearly two decades of industry experience. He graduated from California State University-Chico with two bachelor’s degrees, in business administration and economics, and is Life Insurance licensed in several states. He is passionate about guiding his clients on retirement income planning, helping each client pursue their specific retirement goals, and defending the assets his clients have worked so hard to achieve. Brett is a California native and currently resides in San Elijo Hills with his beautiful wife and three children.

Our team of qualified professionals have experience in the financial service industry, and our advisors hail from some of the largest independent broker/dealers and banking institutions in the country. They have dedicated their professional careers to creating personalized financial strategies for individuals and families who seek successful retirement planning and currently offer investment advisory services through AE Wealth Management, LLC. Our advisors take a common-sense approach to the planning process and work with clients to create a comprehensive retirement roadmap to help ensure their assets are preserved and they receive the income needed to enjoy their future. Based in Carlsbad, California, they work with clients throughout San Diego County and beyond. Learn more by connecting with Brett on LinkedIn or email them at info@ComprehensiveAdvisor.com.

Investment advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC (AEWM), a Registered Investment Advisor. Insurance products are offered through the insurance business C.A. Financial & Insurance Services. Comprehensive Advisor, LLC is an Investment Advisory practice that offers products and services through AE Wealth Management LLC (AEWM), a Registered Investment Advisor. AEWM does not offer insurance products. The insurance products offered by C.A. Financial & Insurance Services are not subject to investment Advisor requirements. CA Ins. Lic. #6000262.  03578559 – 12/2025