If you’re approaching retirement, you’ve likely spent decades saving and investing with the goal of building a solid financial foundation. But now that retirement is within reach, it’s time to ask a critical question: Is your investment strategy built for this next chapter of life?
For many people, the answer is no.
The reason: a “growth-only” investment mindset simply doesn’t work the same in retirement as it did during your working years.
Let’s explore why traditional investing strategies can become more of a risk than a reward in retirement and what you can do to protect your future.
The Problem with Growth-Only Investing
When you’re younger, investing for growth makes sense. You’ve got time to ride out market ups and downs and a steady paycheck to cover all your basic expenses. But in retirement, age and time aren’t on your side in the same way. A steep market drop when you’re 65 or 70 isn’t just frustrating. It could force you to delay retirement, go back to work, or significantly cut back your lifestyle.
That’s because traditional stock market investing is unpredictable. Some years are great. Others? Not so much. And if you’re regularly withdrawing money to pay your bills, those down years can quickly chip away at your hard-earned retirement savings, making it harder to recover.
The Stock Market Is a High-Stakes Game
Here’s something most people don’t consider: the stock market is a bit like a high-stakes poker game. For every winner, there’s usually someone on the losing end. In retirement, do you really want your financial future hinging on being the one who plays the market just right
Even seasoned investors and fund managers struggle to time the market perfectly. It’s not just about picking good stocks. It’s about picking the right stocks at the right time and then getting out before things turn south. That’s not a game most retirees want or can afford to play.
You Can’t Count on Growth to Pay the Bills
One of the biggest drawbacks of growth-focused investing is that it relies on future gains you haven’t realized—and may never see. If the market takes a dip, your account value drops. And pulling money out during a downturn locks in those losses.
You may have heard of the “4% rule,” which suggests withdrawing 4% of your portfolio each year in retirement. But that only works if your investments keep growing steadily. And as we’ve seen time and again, the market doesn’t always cooperate.
So, What’s the Alternative?
Here’s a better approach: shift your focus from growth to income.
Instead of hoping your portfolio increases in value, think about how much income it can generate month after month, year after year. By investing in income-producing assets like bonds, preferred shares, and dividend-paying investments, you can create a steady cash flow without having to sell off your assets.
This way, your principal stays intact, and your lifestyle isn’t tied to the market’s mood swings.
Retire with Confidence. Not Guesswork.
Retirement should be about freedom, not financial stress. You’ve worked hard to build your savings, and now it’s time for those savings to work for you.
Switching to an income-first strategy can give you the confidence of knowing where your money is coming from, regardless of what the stock market is doing. It puts you in control and takes the unnecessary guesswork out of the equation.
So if you’re getting close to retirement, it’s time to stop thinking like a growth investor and start thinking like someone who’s ready to enjoy life without worrying about the next market crash.
Because retirement isn’t about betting your future on the next big win. It’s about securing peace of mind and having the freedom to spend your time exactly how you want.