In an era where “retirement” has taken on whole new meaning and commonly lasts for two or three decades, more and more retirees are ready to live the latter part of their life to the fullest.  They see this as a time to enjoy life after years of working and raising a family.  But in order to achieve these goals retirees need a plan, but first they need a vision.

For those ready to realize their retirement dreams, start by asking some simple questions:

If your retirement could be anything you hoped for, what would it include?  Would you buy a vacation home?  Move closer to family and grandkids?  Take a yearly cruise?  Visit Europe?  Volunteer with your most passionate charity?  By articulating your desires, you can better prioritize your wants and needs, and consider these costs when developing a retirement plan.

Determine other expenditures that may hinder these goals.  Healthcare, home modifications and improvements, debt, and other scenarios like this are the most common.  These expenses can arise later in retirement, so preparing for them upfront is often an important consideration.

What are the expectations between yourself, your spouse (if you have one), and your family?  It’s amazing how often what is assumed and what is reality vary greatly.  So many retirees feel they need to hold on to their assets because they want to pass a home or a vast inheritance down to their children, yet their children would much rather see their parents live their two or three decade retirement to the fullest.  Make sure the lines of communication are open and no one is afraid to ask tough questions.  The answers may be surprising.

No matter what your retirement vision is, reverse mortgage can help you achieve it.  For seniors 62 and over a reverse mortgage can provide funds to achieve goals, frees up those strapped by limited incomes, and even help purchase a new home.

Jan Jordan is a Reverse Mortgage Specialist serving the Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont, Greeley, and Front Range areas of Colorado as well as Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming. Click here to contact Jan and learn if reverse mortgage is right for you.