Rethinking Retirement: Designing a third act that actually feels like you

When the idea of retirement was first introduced in the 1880s, it wasn’t designed to be enjoyed.
It was a brief pause, a few years of rest for those who lived long enough to stop working.

Today? It’s a whole new chapter.
You could live 20, 30, even 40 years after stepping away from full-time work.

But here’s the problem:
Most people still approach retirement using an old script.

They think of it as the end. Not the next act.

Retirement isn’t the final scene. It’s the third act.

If you’ve ever watched a great film or stage play, you know the third act isn’t where things fade out.
It’s where the story deepens. Where character arcs come full circle. Where meaning shows up.

That’s what modern retirement can be, if you take the time to design it.

We’ve seen it time and again with our clients. People who shift from being defined by a title, a business, a role…
to becoming the director of their own time, energy, and purpose.

And what happens?
Old interests resurface.
New passions take shape.
They feel more fulfilled in this chapter than they ever did at work.

But you need more than just a financial plan.

Retirement is about more than having “enough.” It’s about building a life you actually want to live.

And that takes more than spreadsheets.

We think about retirement through four key pillars:

→ Financial Wellness – Your money supporting your lifestyle, not dictating it
→ Physical Vitality – Energy and movement that keep you sharp
→ Mental Engagement – Staying curious, learning, and growing
→ Social Connection – Relationships and community that bring joy

When one pillar carries all the weight, the whole thing starts to wobble.

We’ve met people who were financially set, but directionless. The question isn’t “Can I afford to retire?” It’s “What am I retiring to?”

The difference between drifting and thriving? Daily purpose.

Unlimited freedom sounds amazing… until it’s not.
We’ve seen it happen, the days blur together, and meaning starts to fade.

The happiest retirees we work with build three things:

→ A flexible plan for how they use their time
→ A sense of purpose that gives their days direction
→ A network of people they enjoy, rely on, and grow with

When those three are in place, retirement doesn’t feel like a void. It feels like momentum.

So let me ask you, what do you want your third act to look like?

Not just financially.
But personally.
Creatively.
Relationally.

You’ve spent your working life building something for others, your business, your career, your family.

Now it’s time to build something for yourself.

Let’s make sure your money is ready to support it. But more importantly, let’s make sure you know what you’re building towards.

Because the best stories aren’t the ones that fade out. They’re the ones that finish with intention.

*Main image from HUM