We learned that, while retirement is a LONG WAY off for you, it is NOT TOO EARLY to begin planning and taking steps that will pay off in the future.

Smartbook has some great tips, but sometimes the best advice can come from those we know.

Interview at least one person you know who is retired. This could be a family member $($grandparent$,$ parent, uncle or aunt$),$ a neighbor, family friend, former coach or teacher, someone who attends your church, etc. If you don$$t know anyone, have your parents put you in touch with someone. You can conduct the interview in person or via phone.

Let them know you are studying retirement planning in Personal Finance and are hoping to learn from the experience of others. Some questions that might help you get started...

Retirement Planning

When did you start consciously planning for retirement? Do you think that was too early, too late, or just right?

Did your parent$$s retirement influence how you planned?

Did you make specific goals for retirement? What were the key ones?

What sources of advice helped you plan? Professional advisor? Family or friends? Other?

Did your employer have a pension plan $($Company or government$),$ or did you save on your own $($like through an IRA or $401($k$),$ or both$)?$

What advice can you share regarding the retirement planning process that might help others $($things that worked, or things you would do differently$)?$

Living in Retirement

What do you like MOST about retirement? Like least?

Did you fully retire at once, or did you reduce to part$-$time work? Switch jobs?

Did you stay in your same home, or did you move? Why?

Did you find that your expenses changed materially when you retired, either up or down?

Did you start any new hobbies? Spend more time on previous ones?

Is travel part of your retirement? What has been your favorite trip?

How did you decide at what age to start taking Social Security?

How has your retirement differed from what you had planned$/$envisioned$?$

What have you learned in retirement that might be good for others to keep in mind as they plan their own future retirement?

In the $$Interview a Retiree$$ Discussion Forum in Halo, post who you interviewed and how you know him$/$her$.$ Summarize at least $3$ key observations made, insights gleaned, or lessons learned in your interview