Celebrating possibilities

There are many paths to retirement

We’re celebrating retirement stories because everyone’s journey to retirement is unique.

Time to read: 7 minutes

No one map can guide you to a fulfilling, secure retirement.

Everyone’s journey is shaped by opportunities, timing, choices, and unexpected turns. But here's the good news: no matter how they got there, over 90% of retirees say they are happy with their lives.¹

At TIAA we have over 100 years of experience helping people retire with security, and we’re highlighting a few personal stories that exemplify the many different routes people can take.

Three distinct journeys

The planner

Jim Hussey of Florida began saving at age 12, building habits that would become second nature as he got older. Over decades, discipline fostered stability. “Starting early built the muscle memory. Now I’m seeing the results,” Jim said. His story reflects the payoff of consistent saving and tapping into employer benefits.

Planners like Jim show how starting early, saving steadily and leveraging employer benefits can translate into confidence and security in retirement.

Faces of retirement: Jim

In preparing for retirement, I think it's really important to do three different things. I think you need to be fiscally fit, physically fit, and intellectually fit. TIAA is certainly a big part of that. You can keep on moving and exercising, and when it comes to retirement, you also have to have a game plan there because otherwise you'll fall off a cliff. I've been a client of TIAA since the mid-1990s, so 30 plus years. I was relatively newly married, beginning of my career, I was fortunate enough to belong to an organization that had a retirement plan going. TIAA seemed like a really good fit for me. It was very clear to me from an early age that if I wanted to spend money, I needed to earn it, so I was always cutting lawns. I was shoveling sidewalks. I had a paper route and was making real money, two cents per paper delivered.

By starting to save for a retirement, that built the muscle memory that then played itself out. Now it's 50 years later and I'm seeing some of the fruits of those investments. Being able to spend time with my grandson is just one of the real joys of my life. He's two years old. He's just the most delightful young man, and he enjoys things like going down to the mailbox, playing at the playground, and being with grandpa. He teaches me to enjoy the moment. He teaches me to be happy about the simple things. Because I feel comfortable in the other aspects of my life, I can devote more of my time and attention into investing in him. And TIAA is setting me up to be able to do that, to enjoy time with my grandson, with my wife, with my kids. I think that's just the best use of money you could have possibly imagined.

The late bloomer

Some people don’t begin thinking about retirement until later in life. Peter Simon, a retiree living in New Jersey, admitted, “I never imagined retirement.” Peter had enrolled in his workplace retirement plan earlier in his career, and when he checked his balance closer to retirement, he discovered that he had enough to retire. If you’re not an active planner, a “set it and forget it” mentality can position you well, when done carefully. Not everyone is in this situation, though.

Many people delay saving entirely, and later use lifestyle changes and increase their contributions to build security. It’s never too late to get started. People over 50 often have access to catch-up contributions that can help accelerate the retirement savings process.

This story resonates with the millions of Americans who begin saving in their 40s or 50s—showing that while the timeline may be different, the destination can still be fulfilling.

Faces of retirement: Peter and Beth

Singing: They talked, and they talked. And then they talked some more. Bill thought that he would lose it and headed for the door. His face was turning red, he got so boiling mad. He was a good teacher gone bad.

Peter: I didn't know it my whole life, but I was bred to be retired. I have a lot of hobbies. I write, I work in clay. I never realized how much work got in the way of those activities. Retirement always seemed like my father's concern. And I would humor him and say, "Yes, don't worry, I'll be okay, I'll be okay." I didn't think about retirement.

Beth: I've been retired for three years now. It was idle time that I needed to figure out what to do with. Going from working every single day, for 37 years, and having a schedule, took some getting used to. When our financial advisor talked to me about setting up an annuity, and explained to me what it was, that I was going to have income coming in every single month for the rest of my life, I was surprised, I couldn't believe that something like that existed. I've worked for so many years and had my own money. And when I retired, obviously I wasn't getting a paycheck anymore and I hadn't signed up for social security, so this was my only source of income at that point, and that was important to me, and it felt good. It was nice to be able to have some money to spend on my own and to feel more independent.

Peter: For the first time in my life, money is not a worry. Not only will I have enough to live on, but that I will leave a legacy. I never feel like I could do enough for my kids. And now I do.

Music: ... boiling mad. He was a good teacher gone bad.

Beth: That was great. I can't believe you remember the words.

The adapter

Life brings unexpected changes. Job shifts, caregiving, or even health challenges may disrupt careful retirement planning. For those who need to adapt—and adapt again—retirement can be a time to simplify, explore new income streams, or seek purpose in the unexpected. Retirement can be a time of reinvention. “We might actually find things about ourselves that we didn't know about," said Joyce Hooley Bartlett, a retiree living in Rhode Island. "I have been able to do things that I never gave myself permission to do."

Faces of retirement: Joyce

Retirement must be what you want it to be, and it must be a ritual that every one of us looks forward to and plans for. I thought that's a great thing to do, would be to create the ritual that doesn't exist, and so I did. My name is Joyce Hooley Bartlett. Morning. I chose to retire when I was 60 years old, which was about nine years ago. I had a book when I was six years old that said I wanted to be a teacher. And I practiced on all my stuffed animals. And they were the most educated stuffed animals ever. I just loved being in a classroom and I also would loved learning, and so I went to school to be an elementary ed teacher. It just felt that I was important, I guess, and that I was doing something good. When I was 58 years old, I came down the stairs at home one day and looked in the mirror and said, "You're good at what you do, but you're tired of it." And then I announced my retirement. Everybody thought I was crazy.

Our TIAA advisor asked me what I wanted to do. I made the decision to take part of my retirement money and annuitize it into a lifetime income. It gives you a peace of mind to know that there's a little bit out there that isn't going to change. About two or three days a week, I work as a narrator on a tour boat out of Newport. The first lighthouse we're going to see actually does not have the stereotypic vision of a lighthouse, so you might think. In fact, it's actually just a little house. Every lighthouse is different. They all have a different light. They all have a different signal. They have a different foghorn. That could not be a better metaphor for TIAA, because everybody is different. And TIAA has a lighthouse for everybody.

I'm now living in my 10th year of retirement. What I feel most about being in this retirement is a liberation to be Joyce. I've been doing what I wanted to do with teaching. That was all very important, but now I'm doing what I'm passionate about. And my joy is to know that I'm going to be okay. And then I get up every morning, and I just sit quietly, and bask in that thought.

Takeaways for every stage

Retirement readiness is personal, but small steps can make a big impact at any stage:

You’re starting out in your career

If you can, the best time to begin saving for retirement is when you start working.

Start saving now. Even small amounts can grow through compound interest.
Take advantage of an employer match if it is available. Some employers will “match” a certain percentage of what you save in your workplace retirement account.
Automate. Try putting your savings on autopilot—you can automate both monthly contributions and regular increases to the amount you’re contributing.

A young lady siting in a chair with her arms draped over the chair back.

You’re mid-career

Whether you’ve been saving all along, are just starting, or need to change your plans, you can make a difference for your future self.

Reassess your plan regularly and make changes if needed. Try this kind of check-in at least once a year.
Increase contributions as your income grows.
Diversify your investments so you can spread out your risk. If you’re not sure how, a financial professional can help.

A middle-aged man standing with his arms folded.

You’re near retirement

If you’re approaching retirement, you can still make a difference with careful planning and follow-through.

Explore catch-up contributions if you’re over 50. They can make a real difference.
Review your total financial picture to understand where your retirement funds might come from and make any necessary adjustments. If you have an annuity, consider converting part of the balance into lifetime income—regular checks that last as long as you live, and can help replace part of your income.
Make a retirement budget to estimate how much you’ll need each month. Get started with our retirement budget worksheet.

A late career man in a red sweater contemplating retirement.

The bigger picture

Retirement looks different for everyone. With intentional planning, you can create both freedom and fulfillment. Whether you’re a planner, a late bloomer, or are adapting to new circumstances, proactive steps can help you shape a future that feels secure and meaningful.

Explore more tools, stories, and webinars at TIAA.org/Essentials to further chart your own path to retirement.

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Real people, real stories

We connected with a few of our retirement plan participants to learn about them, their work and how they feel about their journeys to retirement. Read their stories in the article.

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¹Source: A review of existing measures of retirement well-being, TIAA Institute

Testimonials have been provided by current clients, and no direct or indirect compensation was given in return. No material conflicts of interest exist on the part of the individuals giving the testimonials, resulting from their relationship with the advisor. Results experienced by individuals may not be representative of the experience of other clients, and there is no guarantee of future performance or success.

Any guarantees under annuities issued by TIAA are subject to TIAA’s claims-paying ability.

This material is for informational or educational purposes only and is not fiduciary investment advice, or a securities, investment strategy, or insurance product recommendation. This material does not consider an individual’s own objectives or circumstances which should be the basis of any investment decision.

The TIAA group of companies does not provide legal or tax advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor to address your specific circumstances.

Investment, insurance and annuity products are not FDIC insured, are not bank guaranteed, are not bank deposits, are not insured by any federal government agency, are not a condition to any banking service or activity, and may lose value.

TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, Member FINRA, distributes securities products. Annuity contracts and certificates are issued by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) and College Retirement Equities Fund (CREF), New York, NY. Each is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations.

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