Marie Wheatley considers how best to make the transition from being an active member of a structured workforce to getting the most out of retirement

Ideas about retirement have changed. Just a few decades ago there was a cut-off date when workers had an expected date of retirement, but today this decision is generally left up to the individual. Retirement affects people in different ways and there is some recognition that they may experience similar stages to those of bereavement, including loss, denial and anger, which require adjustment. This article looks at how to make decisions about planning retirement and follows the three stages of preparation suggested by Daniel and Beehr (2011), whose framework is aimed at helping those reaching this stage of their lives.