3. In your 70s and 80s — you need to stay connected.

As you reach your Golden Years, typically defined by 65+ years old, one of the biggest factors in maintaining independence is your connectedness with community. Independence should never be confused with becoming disconnected from other people. When people are in community, others can help encourage them to eat healthy, maintain activities they enjoy, engage in conversation and maybe even maintain or find new ways to make contributions to society. Having a purpose and a hope is largely what keeps people going in their youth, and it’s worth noting that people never stop needing these things. I believe the healthiest and most independent lives are lived when people spend time with other people. Make this a priority and never stop.

I hope you’ve realized that planning for the responsibility of aging is so much more than a financial matter. Taking positive steps each decade is the key to maintaining the independent life that you’ve always envisioned. It’s your one precious life to live — make it a great one! Tom Kalejta is an author of “Building Wealth, Protecting Dreams” and a financial advisor. He is intrigued by how Baby Boomers are changing retirement trends and lifestyles in the 21st century. He believes in inspiring his readers by talking less about money and more about reinvented possibilities — particularly when things don’t go as planned. He can be reached by emailing thomasakalejta@gmail. com.