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The Golden Escape: Why Smart Pre-Retirees Are Walking Away From Work Right Now

by Eric Seyboldt, MBA

All across the country, financially prepared Americans in their early sixties are making a serious, deliberate decision: they’re stepping away from work. Not because they’ve burned out, but because they’ve done the math. They’re not retiring in the traditional sense. They’re reclaiming their time, their health, and their independence while those things still hold value. For many, continuing to work isn’t helping — it’s quietly hurting.

The economics are clear. After decades of saving, investing, and compounding, the extra income earned by staying in the workforce becomes less and less meaningful. Another $150,000 over the next few years won’t improve quality of life nearly as much as gaining back the time to travel, to rest, to see family, to live. The trade-off is no longer logical. It’s lopsided.

There’s also a real financial risk in working too long. Market downturns don’t wait for someone to retire. If a portfolio takes a hit just before withdrawals begin, it can permanently damage the longevity of retirement savings. Retiring while markets are stable or climbing allows investors to preserve those gains and reduce the chance of locking in losses. The order of returns — especially early in retirement — matters far more than most people realize.

From a health standpoint, the case for retiring sooner becomes even stronger. Cognitive performance — memory, decision-making, and processing speed — begins to decline in most adults starting in their 60s. Staying in a high-pressure role too long increases the risk of mistakes, stress, and even health issues. A well-timed exit protects both reputation and long-term well-being.

Then there’s the reality of time and energy. The years between 62 and 70 often represent the last stage of life, where people have both the money and the physical capacity to do what they want. Those years are when retirees can travel far, stay active, and live with full autonomy. Waiting too long means risking a life where mobility is limited and options are fewer. It’s not just about retiring — it’s about making the most of the years that still offer choices.

Leaving the workforce also opens the door to critical financial strategies. By having little or no earned income in the early retirement years, individuals can do Roth conversions, harvest capital gains, and reduce future tax burdens. These few years of flexibility can create six-figure tax savings over a lifetime. Delaying retirement delays access to these advantages, often permanently.

And the costs of working longer are rarely accounted for. Commuting, clothing, stress, meals, and the opportunity cost of lost time all take a toll. On top of that, many workers face high marginal tax rates that reduce their take-home pay significantly. For some, each extra hour worked nets just a few real dollars, hardly worth the effort when weighed against the cost to their life outside of work.

Time is the one asset that doesn’t grow. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Every meeting, every deadline, every workday extends the delay on personal goals and deeper experiences — the kind that only become more valuable with age.

Finally, there's the matter of meaning. While many believe that work provides purpose, studies show that retirement often brings a stronger sense of fulfillment. With more time, people invest in relationships, passions, community involvement, and legacy-building in ways that jobs rarely allow. Retirement doesn’t erase purpose — it gives it room to grow.

For those who’ve saved wisely and planned ahead, walking away from work is not a gamble. It’s a well-timed, evidence-based move. Markets are still cooperative. Health is still strong. Mental sharpness is intact. Everything is pointing to one conclusion:

The most valuable thing left to earn… is time.

Reach out to us for a complimentary, 10-minute consultation call. Let's explore strategies to protect your wealth and make your retirement everything you've dreamed of—secure, fulfilling, and worry-free. Schedule a free 10-minute consultation today by calling 614-943-2265. Your future deserves the best plan, and we're here to help make it happen.

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Maximum Wealth and Peace in Retirement

by Eric Seyboldt, MBA

Client: "Eric, I’ve worked hard my whole life. Now that I’m retired, I want to make the most of these years — not just financially, but emotionally. But I’ve heard from friends that retirement is just as much about what you give up as what you hold on to. What should I be letting go of to truly thrive?"

Eric: “Most people think retirement is about budgeting, investing, and maybe traveling more. But they’re missing the truth — retirement is an economic transition wrapped in a psychological revolution. The retirees who flourish aren’t the ones who obsess over pennies; they’re the ones who shed the anchors dragging behind them.

Let go of these nine things — and you don’t just retire. You ascend.”

1. The “Fixed Income” Mentality

Retirement isn’t a straitjacket. This idea that you must live on a static income, drawing the same amount every year, is outdated and financially dangerous. Modern planning uses adaptive withdrawal strategies that expand and contract with markets and expenses. It’s not about fear. It’s about fluidity. Fear-based budgeting leads to underliving — the quiet killer of retirement happiness.

2. Keeping Too Much in Cash

Cash isn’t security. It’s erosion. Holding 30% or more of your wealth in cash is like parking a luxury car in a saltwater floodplain. It might look fine now — but it’s dissolving beneath the surface. Use cash tactically, not emotionally. Real income comes from well-positioned assets that grow, pay, and adjust to inflation.

3. Legacy Fixation

Too many retirees grip tightly to the idea of leaving behind a nest egg. But if the goal is to live well — not just die wealthy — then that mindset must go. Smart intergenerational wealth doesn’t come from a will. It comes from meaningful conversations, shared values, and supporting loved ones while you’re still here to witness it.

4. Over-Insurance

Insurance companies prey on retirees’ fear. After 70, many policies become mathematically inefficient. If you're spending thousands on premiums for benefits that may never be used or are unlikely to cover much, you're not protected — you’re being drained. Conduct a full audit. Strip away what no longer pulls its weight.

5. Guilt Around Spending

Somewhere along the way, thrift became a badge of honor. And now, even when the bank account says “yes,” the retiree’s mind says “no.” Guilt is not a financial plan. Strategic, intentional spending is not wasteful — it's a release valve. When you're 85, you won’t wish you had hoarded more. You’ll wish you had lived more.

6. Adult Children Dependency

Here’s a hard truth: Every dollar you give to an adult child who refuses to grow financially becomes a chain around your ankle. You cannot fund someone else's refusal to mature. You’re not abandoning them — you’re teaching them. Retirees must shift from being rescuers to role models.

7. Attachment to a High-Cost Locale

Loyalty to a zip code has bankrupted more retirements than the stock market ever will. Taxes, healthcare, cost of living — all of it varies widely. A move two states over can increase your purchasing power by 20-40%. Nostalgia doesn’t pay the bills. Smart relocation does.

8. DIY Financial Management

You managed your portfolio in your 40s. Good. But now? The tax code is trickier. RMDs, Roth ladders, sequence risk — the stakes are higher. Mistakes get expensive fast. You don’t need to white-knuckle this alone. Sophisticated retirees delegate. They don’t gamble.

9. Keeping Up Appearances

This one’s brutal, but necessary. The oversized SUV, the club dues, the high-end wardrobe — all to maintain an image that stopped serving you years ago. Real wealth doesn’t scream. It whispers. And it doesn't need validation. Let go of performance. Embrace substance.

There comes a moment — usually in the quiet hours of early retirement — when the spreadsheet fades, and the mirror stares back. And the question isn't “What do I still have?” It’s “What am I still carrying that I don’t need?”

Freedom in retirement isn't just financial. It’s psychological. It’s emotional. It’s earned through release. Letting go is not weakness. It is precision. And those willing to release the unnecessary find themselves wealthier than they ever imagined — not because of what they own, but because of what no longer owns them.

Contact us for a free, brief 10-minute consultation. Let's explore strategies to protect your wealth and make your retirement everything you've dreamed of—secure, fulfilling, and worry-free. Schedule a free 10-minute consultation today by calling 614-943-2265. Your future deserves the best plan, and we're here to help make it happen.

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Fixed annuities can be an essential component of a well-rounded retirement strategy, offering security, predictability, and efficiency in financial planning.

These are current fixed annuity rates and their durations from Top A-rated carriers (subject to change at any time, not FDIC insured):

Rates Jumped Up! Don’t Wait To Lock These Fixed Annuity Rates In Today! 5-Yr at 6.45%!!!

3-year: 5.50% (under $100k Deposited)

3-year: 5.80% (over $100k Deposited)

5-year: 6.20% (under $100k Deposited)

5-year: 6.45% (over $100k Deposited)

7-year: 6.45% (under $100k Deposited)

7-year: 6.70% (over $100k Deposited)

Please feel free to call Eric at 614-943-2265 if you’d like to ask any questions or request information on these fixed annuities or other retirement topics that are on your mind.

REAL ASSETS, Invest Like the Ultra-Wealthy

Invest Like the Ultra-Wealthy: Why Smart Money Is Flocking to Real Assets Like Gold—and Even Bourbon

Let’s be blunt: the old playbook for protecting retirement is broken. Inflation is creeping higher. The dollar is losing its punch. Central banks are printing money like it’s Monopoly night. And markets? As unstable as ever.

That’s why the savviest investors aren’t just watching the storm—they’re preparing for it.

They’re moving into real assets—tangible, inflation-resistant investments that don’t vanish when the market sneezes. We’re talking about gold. We’re talking about bourbon barrels. Yes, bourbon. The same elite-class asset quietly making millionaires in private circles.

These aren’t just collector’s items. They’re financial armor—hard assets that hold their ground when stocks crater and paper wealth evaporates.

And it’s not just a hedge—it’s a strategy.

📌 Gold has withstood centuries of financial upheaval.
📌 Bourbon barrels are aging assets with built-in appreciation and rising global demand.
📌 Physical assets provide something no stock ever can: ownership you can see, touch, and trade on your terms.

During market chaos, real assets don’t flinch. They thrive. History proves it. While equities tumble, hard assets often surge—shielding portfolios and delivering asymmetric returns when they're needed most.

And even in calm times? They add powerful diversification. That’s why the ultra-wealthy use them as a cornerstone—not a sideshow—in their wealth strategy.

Ask yourself:

🧠 Are you truly diversified?
🧠 What happens to your retirement if inflation stays elevated?
🧠 If the dollar weakens, what asset in your portfolio gets stronger?

If you don’t have a good answer, it’s time for a new conversation.

Allocating funds into the asset class known as “Real Assets” may be a strategy that you should consider.

Ask us how to Rollover a portion of Your IRA or 401k To A BOURBON IRA (www.bourbon.fund/how-it-works/) or a GOLD IRA (see link below) and:

• Safeguard your assets from the collapsing dollar

• Incorporate the ‘REAL ASSET’ class into your portfolio like the ultra-wealthy

• Hedge against the current high-inflation conditions

• Protect your retirement assets against economic crises

Just get in touch. We make it easier than ever.

Feedback or Questions?

You’re invited to get in touch with us if you’d like to find out how the Novus Financial Group can help you on your journey to a happy, fulfilling life in Retirement. 

Office: 614-943-2265

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Investment advisory services are offered by duly registered individuals on behalf of CreativeOne Wealth, LLC a Registered Investment Adviser.

The content we provide here isn’t financial advice and cannot be taken as such. Please speak to your financial advisor before making any investment decision. Also, note that every investment comes with its risks and drawbacks. Lastly, we would like to remind you that past results cannot guarantee future returns.

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