Retirement Isn’t the Time to Skimp—It’s the Time to Go!

Too many people approach retirement as a time to cut back. They’ve spent decades saving, investing, and planning—only to reach the finish line and decide that their golden years should be spent pinching pennies. But what if we flipped the script? What if, instead of treating retirement like a time to slow down, we saw it as the “go-go years”—the time to finally live out the experiences we’ve always wanted?

Financial expert Bill Smith, founder of WA Smith Financial, has spent his career helping people do just that. His firm isn’t just about managing money—it’s about making sure people have a plan to actually enjoy it. He challenges the traditional retirement mindset that says, “Spend less so you don’t run out.” Instead, he believes the first 10 to 15 years of retirement should be filled with the experiences, travel, and bucket-list items that many people put off for “someday.” Because let’s face it—someday has arrived.

One of the biggest myths in retirement planning is that you’ll need less money than you did while working. Smith calls that idea outdated—and, quite frankly, ridiculous. “Retirement isn’t about scraping by. It’s about spending with confidence,” he says. “Your go-go years should be your highest-spending years because that’s when you have the energy, motivation, and health to enjoy them.”

It’s a philosophy that runs counter to what many financial advisors preach. Traditional wisdom says you should be conservative, withdraw as little as possible, and avoid “wasting” money early in retirement. But in reality, waiting too long means you risk missing out.

“Too often, I see people save for decades and then hesitate to spend because they’re afraid of running out. But when we look at the numbers, they actually have more than they’ll ever use,” Smith explains. “Then what happens? They’re 80 years old, their bucket list has faded, and they wish they had taken that dream trip when they still had the energy.”

The key to making this mindset work? A strategic financial plan that builds in spending. WA Smith’s approach is different because it starts with a foundation—not just investment strategies, but an income plan that ensures you can confidently enjoy life without fear of running out.

“Most financial firms just focus on managing wealth, but wealth is useless if you don’t know how to spend it wisely,” Smith says. “We create a plan that lets people front-load their retirement so they can enjoy the best years of their life.”

That’s why Smith and his team challenge clients to rethink their goals: What experiences do you want to create? What memories do you want to leave behind? Instead of focusing solely on leaving an inheritance, why not share that wealth with your family now—when it can make a difference?

So here’s the challenge: Instead of seeing retirement as a time to scale back, make it your time to go. Travel to that place you’ve always dreamed of. Take the grandkids on an adventure. Invest in experiences that create lasting memories.

You didn’t work for 40 years just to sit on a pile of money you’re too afraid to spend. The real financial success isn’t just about having wealth—it’s about using it to unlock the life you’ve always envisioned.

The question isn’t if you can afford to live your dream retirement. It’s how you’ll plan for it. And if your financial strategy doesn’t include a plan to live fully, maybe it’s time to rethink it.

After all, you can’t take it with you. But you can take the trip.

Bill Smith, RICP®, MRFC® is the CEO & Founder of W.A. Smith Financial Group