A Simple Step for a Stronger Retirement

I spend a lot of time helping you make the right savings and spending decisions to build financial security. And I plan on doing more of that in 2026.

But as we head into 2026, I want to offer up a very powerful retirement strategy that I don’t think gets enough attention, even though it doesn’t cost you anything but a bit of time a few times a week.

I am talking about focusing on your health. A recent survey of more than 5,500 people by the Transamerica Center for Research Studies found that more than half of the people retired before they expected to. While being laid off or pushed out was the top reason for retiring early (54%), the second most cited reason was health-related:  nearly one-third retired sooner than expected because of their health.

Now, let’s make sure we understand each other:  There are so many health issues that are out of our control. But there are also plenty of ways we can help ourselves by focusing on our health. Yet the same TCRS survey found that less than 60% of people are focused on their health.

Taking better care of yourself is not merely about hopefully being able to work as long as you want and need to. It’s about putting yourself in the best possible position to have a healthy retirement for as long as possible. The goal isn’t just to get to retirement, but to be physically able to enjoy retirement, right?

And focusing on your health doesn’t necessarily require paying for a gym membership or buying expensive equipment for at-home workouts. Just walk. Moving your body is shown to offer all sorts of physical benefits. But finding 15, 30, or 60 minutes a day to walk uninterrupted can also be an incredibly valuable piece of “me” time, which is not a luxury, but a necessity. Taking care of yourself is the first step in being able to take care of those you love.