Retirement Tips from World-Famous Authors to Live Happily Ever After

Want a long, secure and joyful retirement? Take inspiration from some of your favorite writers. Here are 10 strategies renowned authors use when writing their books that can help you along the way to the retirement you’ve dreamed of.

A woman writes on a laptop on a desk in the forest.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

This is a story about dreams and money.

After all, financial planning starts with one personal question: What is your vision of an ideal life? To rewrite that question in more affecting way: What would you most regret not having done if you were to die tomorrow?

In the book The Top Five Regrets of Dying (opens in new tab), Bronnie Ware writes the most common regret of patients she has spoken with was: “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

What story do you ultimately want to tell about your life? What events and characters would make up your idea of a “rich life”?

Maybe you’ve dreamed of visiting every continent or opening your own business after you retire. Or maybe you dream of finally sitting down to write that book you’ve been thinking about for years.

You might be on to something there, because there’s a lot we can learn from the habits of notable authors who excel in the craft of telling stories. Read on to discover 10 quirky writing methods famous authors are known for and see how following their lead can help you build your wealth and craft a happy retirement.

This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.

Jacob Schroeder, Manager of Investor Education
Manager of Investor Education, Advance Capital Management

Jacob Schroeder is the Manager of Investor Education at Advance Capital Management (www.acadviser.com/ (opens in new tab)). He is also the creator of the personal finance newsletter The Root of All (https://rootofall.substack.com/ (opens in new tab)), exploring how money shapes our lives. His goal is to help people make more informed financial decisions and live happier lives. His writing has been featured in publications such as Yahoo Finance, Wealth Management magazine, The Detroit News and, as a short-story writer, in various literary journals.