Happy retirees do these 4 things really, really well — master them to make the most of your golden years

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Even if you love your career, you probably spend more time than you’d be willing to admit fantasizing about retirement.

And whether you’re diligent about your savings goals or feeling behind on them, preparing for retirement isn’t just a financial endeavor.

Many retirees who’ve successfully made the transition to their post-working world share certain habits and strategies that allow them to keep living the good life.

These rituals and routines can lead to happiness in retirement. But more importantly, if you develop them early enough, you can elevate your quality of life at every stage.

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Plan the work, work the plan

Happy retirees often spend much of their careers actively laying the financial groundwork for their retirements. Careful deliberation about investment strategies, diligent and regular savings and other planning helped position them for a relaxing and financially independent life.

Whether you are just starting to save or you want to boost your current retirement plan, one of the ways you can grow your retirement savings is through an individual retirement account (IRA).

For example, a gold IRA through American Hartfold Gold* allows you to invest in precious metals that also provides significant tax advantages. This retirement account can help you stabilize your finances by allowing you to invest directly in physical precious metals rather than stocks and bonds.

By opening a Gold IRA,* you’re looking out for your future self and cushioning your retirement. Opting for a Gold IRA gives you the opportunity to diversify your portfolio and stabilize your finances.

Check in on your money

Whether you’re 10 years from retirement or right on its doorstep, you might be tempted to put your assets on cruise control and let your money do its thing.

However, it’s important to keep track of all your finances no matter what stage of life you’re at. And Monarch Money* — a budgeting app — makes managing your finances easy, from account balances to transactions, investments and more.

With Monarch Money checking in on your money is simple and streamlined. You can set and track your money goals, enjoy access to personalized advice and track your net worth.

To get started, all you need to do is download the app, make an account and start enjoying your 7 day free trial.*

Read more: Generating 'passive income' through real estate is the biggest myth in investing — but here's 1 surefire way to do it with as little as $10

Keep up your social network

Research shows retirees report higher levels of happiness when their social engagement increases, while similar studies found isolation has links to heart disease, stroke and dementia.

Perhaps most importantly, maintain your connections with family and friends will keep you happier and reduce your stress. Spending time with your loved ones while you’re here is important, but it is also important to look out for them even after you’re gone.

When you purchase life insurance, you are giving your family the gift of financial protection. Life insurance can be used to replace lost income, cover outstanding debts, finance children's education and pay for funeral costs.

By opting for term life insurance with SBLI,* you have access to features such as LegacyShield, which can ease your mind during end-of-life planning.

SBLI’s LegacyShield* is a streamlined dashboard where you can manage all your financial accounts, store documents and share final wishes all in one place. With SBLI, you can protect your family's financial future with the support of professional advice, a simple online claims process — and there’s no medical exams required for term insurance.

When in doubt, call a pro

You may think you know it all when it comes to saving and investing your money. But there are always new and better ways to build up your retirement fund bit by bit.

Reaching the goal of living happily during retirement can be a daunting task no matter what stage of the journey you’re at, but luckily Zoe Financial* — a modern wealth platform offering you access to curated fiduciaries, financial advisors and financial planners — can help you.

With Zoe Financial, you can connect with professionally vetted financial advisors in as little as three minutes.

When you answer a few questions about yourself, their algorithm will match you with advisors* that suit your needs with no obligation to hire.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.