More than any dollar amount, having "enough" to retire is about feeling confident that every piece of your financial plan is aligned to sustain your Return on Life for decades to come. Start making your own calculations by thinking about these four key categories.

Many businesses begin their year by proposing ambitious projects and then holding a "premortum" meeting where team members explain why the project "failed." Some common premortum conclusions might help you refine your 2025 goals, avoid pitfalls you might be overlooking, and boost your Return on Life this year.

That's because true financial independence isn't a number. It's feeling confident enough in your money to do things that will improve your Return on Life (ROL).

For many people, buying a home fulfills a dream that's tied to important personal, professional, and financial goals. The feeling that they would be abandoning that dream can be a big reason why homeowners resist the idea of downsizing and renting in retirement. But as you age, owning can create a series of challenges that might affect the Return on Life you're getting from your home. Here are some of the reasons why renting might be an attractive solution.

Let's pull back the curtain on two common financial fears that could be spooking your Return on Life.

The COVID-19 pandemic created 2.4 million "excess" retirements in 2020. Some folks retired due to family health issues. Others retired from high-stress positions in health care or education. And many were forced into retirement due to cutbacks by their employers. Fast-forward to 2022 and more than half of those COVID retirees were back in the workforce. If you think unretirement could improve your Return on Life, work through these three questions and share your answers with loved ones and your financial advisor.