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A retirement planner for an endless weekend

Retirement is like one very long weekend, but how do you plan for a weekend that can last decades? Use this planner to take the next step.

Report Date:
August 27, 2026

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Retirement Quiz Summary

Quick Tips

  • 45%
    Of retirees retire earlier than planned, mostly due to health or job-related reasons.1
  • Age 92
    Age to which at least one member of a 65-year old couple in average health has a 50% chance of living.2
  • $330K
    What a 65-year old retired couple can expect to spend on average in health care and medical expenses throughout retirement.3
  • 6.50% vs 3.36%
    20-year annualized returns (2004 - 2023) of a balanced portfolio (50% stocks/50% bonds) vs the average individual investor.4

Retirement planning checklist

  • Consider your goals – and not just the financial ones. Make the most of it!
  • Estimate your future monthly income starting with your Social Security.
  • Better understand medical insurance and dependent care costs, if any.
  • Do what you can to pay-off debt prior to retiring.
  • Work with a trusted financial professional who understands your goals.
  • Create a formal income plan. It’s the best predictor of future financial confidence.5

4 principles of the financially confident:

Live within your means. Plan for income replacement in retirement. Own products to provide guaranteed income. Work with a financial professional.

Make your retirement a reality.

1 The Retail Retirement Reference Guide - 6th edition. © 2024 LL Global, Inc. (LIMRA/LOMA).

2 The American Academy of Actuaries and Society of Actuaries Research Institute Longevity Illustrator.

3 Fidelity Investments® Releases 2024 Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate as Americans Seek Clarity Around Medicare Selection.

4 Stocks are represented by the Ibbotson® Large Company Stock Index. Bonds are represented by the five-year U.S. government bond. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. Average asset allocation investor return is based on an analysis by Dalbar Inc., which utilizes the net of aggregate mutual fund sales, redemptions and exchanges each month as a measure of investor behavior. Returns are annualized (and total return where applicable) and represent the 20-year period ending 12/31/23 to match Dalbar’s most recent analysis. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Hypothetical value of $1 invested at the beginning of 2003. Assumes reinvestment of income and no transaction costs or taxes. This is for illustrative purposes only and not indicative of any investment. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. © Morningstar 2024 and Precision Information, dba Financial Fitness Group 2024. All Rights Reserved.

5 Impact of Financial Professionals on Retirement Security. LIMRA/LOMA, © 2023.

This material is intended for general public use. By providing this material, neither The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America nor any of its affiliates (“Guardian") are undertaking to provide legal, tax or investment advice for any specific individual or situation, or to otherwise act in a fiduciary capacity. Please contact your tax, investment or legal advisor for guidance and information specific to your individual situation. Guardian is not responsible for the consequences of any decisions or actions taken in reliance upon or as a result of the information provided by this material.