The retirement satisfaction formula
And - an important message about scammers imitating me.
For years, I’ve been saying that retirement isn’t just about money—it’s about finding purpose, fulfilment and meaning in the things you do. Money is just an enabler. Fact is, the people who thrive in retirement don’t just drift into it; they take charge and shape it - ideally starting before they actually get to day-1 so the change isn’t as overwhelming. And now, some new research backs this up. The happiest retirees don’t just prepare financially—they actively build lives that align with who they are and what matters to them.
This report might seem a bit academic - but hang in there I think there’s something in it for everyone. It identifies four key behaviours of successful retirees, things I think we can all adopt as a ‘retirement satisfaction formula’:
Alignment + Awareness + Agency + Adaptability = Retirement Satisfaction
They’re tough, academic-sounding words to grasp - so I want to simplify it for you.
Alignment is about ensuring your lifestyle reflects who you are and what truly matters to you. It’s the connection between your identity—your values, interests, personality, and priorities—and the way you actually live day to day. A misalignment happens when someone who thrives on social connection suddenly finds themselves isolated in retirement, or when a lifelong adventurer becomes stuck in a routine that feels stagnant. The happiest retirees actively shape their environment, routines, and committments to match the life they want, rather than just letting things happen to them.
Awareness means having a deep and honest understanding of yourself and your needs. It’s about knowing what fuels you, what drains you, and what kind of life will keep you engaged and fulfilled. Many people enter retirement without having really asked themselves, ‘Who am I without my job?’ or ‘What do I actually want from this next phase?’ Without this self-awareness, it’s easy to drift, feeling dissatisfied but not know why. The most successful retirees take stock of their core identities, interests, and values (maybe they even have to go looking for them) so they can design a retirement that truly fits them.
Agency (and this is my favourite) is the ability to actively shape your life rather than just reacting to circumstances. This is about taking charge—setting goals, making decisions, and experimenting with new routines and roles. Agency is what separates retirees who build a meaningful new life from those who feel lost once work is no longer structuring their days. It’s easy to assume that purpose and fulfillment will naturally emerge once work stops, but the reality is that it takes deliberate action. The people who thrive in retirement don’t wait for opportunities; they create them.
Adaptability is the ability to adjust and respond when life throws surprises your way—because it will. Retirement isn’t static, and circumstances change: health issues arise, family needs shift, financial conditions fluctuate. The happiest retirees embrace change rather than resisting it. They stay open to new possibilities, pivot when necessary, and continue evolving over time. Adaptability isn’t about having everything perfectly mapped out—it’s about having the mindset and resilience to navigate whatever comes next.
But here’s my theory: agency is the foundation. It’s an awkward and unrelatable word but it’s an incredibly important ability. It that means our ability to make choices and create our own paths. I believe agency is the single biggest driver and predictor of retirement success. You can have all the money in the world, but if you don’t take control of your time, relationships, and purpose, you risk feeling lost, unmoored, or even irrelevant after leaving work.
Without agency, the other pieces never fall into place. You can’t create alignment without taking action. You won’t develop awareness unless you actively reflect on what you need. And adaptability is only useful if you’re engaged enough in shaping your life to care when things change. Agency is the engine that drives a fulfilling retirement—it’s what turns a passive transition into an exciting, intentional new phase of life.
And here’s the kicker: agency isn’t something you suddenly switch on the day you retire. It’s a muscle you build. The most satisfied retirees start exercising control long before they leave work. They take small steps—exploring passions, deepening relationships, testing out new routines—so by the time they do retire, they’re not stepping into the unknown.
So if you’re planning your retirement, ask yourself: Am I taking an active role in shaping what’s next? Because retirement satisfaction doesn’t come from a super balance alone. It comes from knowing that the life you’re living—how you spend your time, who you spend it with, and what you’re working toward—is one you’ve deliberately built.
It’s a long one this week… and an important message.
It seems I’ve got a little problem—on Facebook—scammers are out in full force, trying to imitate me. Not only that, but our Epic Retirement Club (our massive Facebook Group) has a couple of fake lookalikes floating around, trying to lure people in. Some even have ‘fake’ Bec Wilsons as moderators to try to make you trust them. We’ve had some insiders from our community sharing with us what these creepy folk are doing - trying to lure people to join ‘secret investing groups’ and ‘secretly give them money’ for a ridiculous return on investment that is not possible to achieve.
Facebook, despite many, many reports, has refused to take them down. (This says something about where Facebook is headed to be honest - and why I use this newsletter as my core communications NOT Facebook).
So, I want to point out that I am in the process of setting up the Facebook Blue Tick on my profile - a verified status so you know it’s really me. Here’s a link to my profile. There’s not a lot else I can do to stop them - so I will instead focus on scams education so you’re smarter than them!
🚨 A few important things to know:
My only Facebook Group is called The Epic Retirement Club—there are no others run by me.
I will never ask you to join an investment scheme or invest via me or any associated company EVER - it’s not what I do.
So if some creep slides into your messages or feed trying to pull a scam, tell them you saw them coming a mile off—and report them.
Stay sharp, and thanks for keeping an eye out! 👀💙
Rant over. Now to the good bits of my week.
The pieces that will make 2025 really exciting are starting to come together.
The manuscripts for our international editions of How to Have an Epic Retirement are off to the publisher, with separate versions for the UK, Canada and the USA (New Zealand will get included in an Aussie update at the end of 2025) and we’re now waiting for word on which country will come first and how the wheels will move into motion. We’re looking to have print editions released properly in each country and sold in retailers - so watch this space.
And, in addition to this, last week I sent my Prime Time manuscript back to the editor for the final time after some incredibly experienced people gave it a thorough review. Now, it’s ready for the next phase—page layout! This is the fun bit. Those 125,000+ words will soon be transformed into beautifully formatted pages, complete with pullout boxes and proper spacing, bringing the book to life.
Now everyone’s back I’ve been booking in some exciting speaking gigs for the months ahead and we welcome starting to expand these across the oceans. I love to share how to have an epic retirement with rooms full of people.
And, I’ve been boggled by the performance of How to Have an Epic Retirement (the book) which this week sat as high as 32 on the Amazon Bestseller list in Australia, 19 months after release and was completely sold out in our biggest retailer again! Back into reprint we go.
Finally—remember you can always email me simply by replying to this email. I love it when you tip me off on things that I can help with or reply with insights.
Many thanks! Bec Wilson
Author, podcast host, columnist, retirement educator, and guest speaker