14 Beyond the Numbers - Designing Your Retirement Life and the True Transition to Retirement

Retirement isn’t just about stepping away from work: it’s about designing the LIFE you want to live.

So much of preparing for retirement is about the financial preparation, however there is arguably a more important aspect - the emotional or psychological transition. In this episode of Her Money Matters, Naomi Holmes and Helene explore what it really means to design your retirement life, drawing on Naomi’s four-step LIFE framework. Inspired by David Bowie’s Ch-ch-ch-changes and that retirement is one of the most significant events in a person’s life, this conversation dives into the non-financial side of retirement.

The LIFE framework breaks retirement design into four steps:

• L – Lifestyle & Wellbeing: Creating daily routines that support the life you want, while prioritising health as your real wealth.
• I – Identity & Purpose: Exploring your ‘who-ness', and finding the “why” that makes this next chapter meaningful.
• F – Financial & Security: We don’t unpack this piece in today’s episode, but it’s part of the bigger picture, the element of knowing your resources are secure so you can live with confidence.
• E – Engagement (Social & Relationships): Staying connected through friendships, community, and family, because your relationships matter just as much as your retirement plan.

Together, Naomi and Helene share insights, examples, and practical ways to start preparing 1–2 years before retirement. You will have everything you need to know so that when the time comes, you are completely prepared and ready to jump into retirement with open arms.