If you’re anything like me, you probably feel like retirement is one of those things that’s always way out in the distance… until suddenly it’s not. One day you’re chasing kids around the house, the next day you’re sitting down with a Social Security statement trying to figure out when to file.

Here’s the truth: retirement isn’t something you drift into. It takes planning, intentionality, and yes — a good checklist. Think of this as your game plan, a way to steward well the resources God has entrusted to you, so that when the time comes, you’re ready to step into that next season of life with peace, not panic.

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5–10 Years Before Retirement (Ages 55–62)

This is where the groundwork gets laid. If you’re in your mid-50s to early 60s, it’s time to stop “hoping it all works out” and start running the numbers.

• Review your savings: 401(k)s, IRAs, pensions, brokerage accounts.

• Estimate your retirement income needs vs. what’s actually saved.

• Knock out high-interest debt. (It doesn’t belong in retirement with you.)

• Look into long-term care insurance before premiums jump.

• Check your Social Security statement online at ssa.gov/myaccount.

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Age 62 – The Earliest You Can File for Social Security

Yes, you can take benefits now. But here’s the catch: they’ll be permanently reduced by 25–30%. And if you’re still working, you could see them reduced even further because of income limits. Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes it doesn’t. This is where wisdom—and a little math—comes in.

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Age 65 – Medicare

This is a big milestone, and the deadlines matter. You’ve got a 7-month window (3 months before, your birthday month, and 3 months after) to sign up.

• Part A (hospital): usually free, so enroll.

• Part B (medical): required unless you have employer coverage.

• Part C (Medicare Advantage) or Medigap: consider your options.

• Part D (prescription drugs): don’t miss it if you need it.

Miss these deadlines, and you may be looking at lifetime penalties. Stewardship here is about being proactive, not reactive.

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Age 66–67 – Full Retirement Age

Depending on your birth year, this is when you hit “full retirement age.” At this point, you can collect your Social Security benefits in full without worrying about earnings limits. For many, this is the sweet spot.

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Age 70 – The Last Stop for Social Security

If you delay filing, your benefit grows about 8% per year beyond full retirement age—until you turn 70. After that? No more increases. This is your deadline.

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Age 73 – Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)

The IRS will want their cut, and you’ll need to begin withdrawals from retirement accounts at 73. This is where tax strategy—Roth conversions, charitable giving, and efficient withdrawal planning—really matters.

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Every Year in Retirement

Even after the “big milestones,” your stewardship continues:

• Review your tax strategy.

• Rebalance your investments.

• Keep your estate plan updated (wills, powers of attorney, beneficiaries).

• Review your healthcare coverage and costs.

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Stewardship Is the Goal

This isn’t just about deadlines and government forms—it’s about aligning your resources with your life, your family, and your calling. Proverbs 21:5 reminds us, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

Retirement planning is diligence in action. It’s saying, “I want to be ready, not just financially, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, for what God has next.”

So, how’s your checklist looking? Do you know your next step?

If you’re unsure — or if this just feels overwhelming — I’d love to sit down and help you put a plan together. Reserve some time on my calendar here. After all, retirement isn’t just about leaving work. It’s about stepping into freedom, peace, and purpose.

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👉 Josh Salway, Founder of Full of Grace Financial