đ What Does Your Ideal Retirement Feel Like?
Close your eyes for a moment. Imagine your first Monday in retirement. Where are you waking up? Whatâs the weather like? Whoâs beside you? Whatâs on your schedule?
At Alden Graff Tokyo Japan, we begin every retirement journey with this questionânot with numbers or timelines, but with vision. Because to plan effectively, we must know what youâre aiming for. And not just vaguely: clearly, tangibly, and personally.
đŻ Why Vision Matters More Than a Number
Many people chase a âmagic numberââa retirement savings target plucked from generic calculators or hearsay. But we ask:
Whatâs that number for?
Without a clearly defined retirement lifestyle:
- You may over-save and miss out on living today.
- You may under-save and risk outliving your money.
- You may retire into a life that doesnât feel fulfilling.
Your vision is the blueprint. The financial plan is the scaffolding.
âïž Step 1: Map Your Retirement Lifestyle
Hereâs a practical exercise we use with clients. Take a notebook, and answer the following:
đ Where will you live?
- Stay in Tokyo or relocate abroad?
- Urban, coastal, or countryside?
- Own, rent, or co-live?
đ What will you do with your time?
- Travel, learn, mentor, volunteer?
- Start a business or pursue hobbies?
- Relaxation or adventure?
đ§đœ Who will you be surrounded by?
- Children or grandchildren?
- A partner or friends?
- Community groups or clubs?
đ§đœââïž What will your days look like?
- Early mornings or slow starts?
- Gym, golf, or gardening?
- Weekly rituals and daily joys?
𧟠Step 2: Put a Price Tag on Your Dream
This is where vision meets reality. Once your dream is defined, we help translate it into numbers.
| Category | Monthly Estimate (Example) |
|---|---|
| Housing | „200,000 |
| Healthcare | „80,000 |
| Travel & Leisure | „100,000 |
| Food & Dining | „60,000 |
| Utilities & Transport | „40,000 |
| Total (baseline) | „480,000 |