Retires Great Top Ten Posts of 2020, The Year in Review

As 2020 rapidly draws to a close, we were curious what were our top ten posts? With over 67 published articles, what did you enjoy the most? 

We used number of page views to determine our winners. As a side note, we were in disbelief to learn the number of people visiting our blog and page views increased by 1500% over the year.

We appreciate your readership and strive to provide informative and interesting information. As we discovered, some of our favorites didn’t even make the list. In fact, some of our earliest posts proved more popular!

So, without further ado, here are Retires Great top ten posts of 2020.

Most Popular Post

Surprisingly, most people take more time planning a vacation than their retirement. As long as their finances look good, they figure they’re set. Yet, money is but the foundation. There are many other things that should be considered before retiring.

For example, what do you plan on doing for the next 20 – 30 years? When you think about it and jot down a few notes, you begin envisioning your future. 

These other aspects of retirement are every bit, if not more, important than just financial printouts.

Runner Up in 2nd Place

Who would have thought our very first post way back in June of 2019 would be, and still is, ranked at the top of Google? Marriage problems after retirement remains one of those areas of interest.

Money is generally considered the number one factor in marital breakdown. However, is the argument about money or different values? 

Perhaps your spouse fears outliving your savings while you prefer to enjoy all retirement has to offer. Communication becomes the key to making any partnership last.

Finally, any issues ignored over the years will continue to bubble to the surface stressing even otherwise happily married couples.

3rd Place

Being retired and bored seems to be a common ailment. Once leaving work, our mental stimulation can drop dramatically. Finding interests and activities you enjoy is key to fighting this malady.

Also, the loss of personal connections can be sorely missed. Having lunch with a co-worker, chatting about what you did the night before or just sharing a good joke. 

After retiring, one of the most common problems is finding something meaningful to do. Closely related is replacing those daily social interactions.

Our ultimate guide provides useful strategies addressing these concerns. In fact, they're broken into four areas helping you combat boredom and loneliness.

4th Place

How to Cope with the Loss of Work Friends After Retirement

When you leave work, the last thought on your mind might be keeping in touch with your co-workers. After all, you’re friends, right?

Sadly, the majority of the time they fade away. Sure, they mean well, but they all have busy lives. At the end of the day, work was your common thread. That can be a bitter lesson – the difference between true friends and “work friends”.

As disheartening as that sounds, not all is lost. It's a two-way street. Just like them, you’ll need to make an effort. This might mean getting together for lunch or a drink after work. Keep in mind you’re the one who’s retired with lots of free time.

5th Place

Why You Should Never Retire

As a site focusing on helping you achieve the best in retirement, we were hesitant to write “why you should never retire”. An oxymoron, this is the opposite side of the coin. To our astonishment, it remains one of our top ten posts of 2020.

Not everyone plans on retiring and there are many valid reasons to, at least, delay it. Maybe you enjoy your job and have no intention of leaving anytime soon. Others may not be financially prepared and plan on working as long as they can.

Of course, not everyone perceives retirement to be the best years of their life. Some dread it and simply want to put it off as long as possible. As a retirement blog, we’re still befuddled why so many are interested in “why you should never retire”.

6th Place

Will Your Marriage Survive Retirement?

Spoiler alert, most marriages will survive retirement. Of greater concern is reducing marital strife and finding ways to improve married life now you’re together a whole lot more. With practical insights and advice, our relationship articles remain popular.

Let’s be blunt, if your marriage is on the rocks, it doesn’t bode well for future happiness. Many couples have grown so distant they take each other for granted. They’ve become more like room-mates. Any passion or excitement has long since faded away.

7th Place

What to Do with A Retired Husband with No Hobbies

So, how do you handle a husband that has nothing to do, no hobbies or friends? Are you expected to be his constant entertainment director? I don’t think so.

“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink” might apply to your husband. How do you encourage, not nag, him to become more engaged? Get him moving to discover new interests and friendships. That’s what this post is all about.

8th Place

What Age to Retire

Nowadays, there's a lot of talk about financial independence and retiring early (FIRE). As great as it sounds, what is the best age to retire? The answer, it depends on your situation. This is very much a personal decision impacted by numerous factors.

There are advantages to retiring at 55, 62, 65 or even later. Deciding what is best for you takes thought and understanding what you really want. Don’t forget to discuss with your significant other as they may have different plans.

9th Place

How to Deal with Forced Retirement

If you’re over the age of 50, there’s a good chance you have a big ole target on your back. There are countless older workers being forced out every day. 

This could be due to downsizing, corporate restructuring or ageism. Yes, it really still does exist and is getting worse.

When your number comes up, it can be financially and emotionally devastating. After years of loyal service, they kick you to the curb. That’s wrong on so many levels.

How you deal with it will have ramifications on your future happiness and success. Considering everything that's going on right now, it’s not surprising this is one of our top ten posts of 2020.

10th Place

How to Deal with Fear of Retirement

Last, but not least. This is where there should be a drum roll or something.

Who isn’t a little nervous about retiring? So many things we all worry about. Like will you be bored, become irrelevant or run out of money. Over half of all retirees fear they'll outlive their savings. Even those who have properly prepared financially.

Absolutely no one wants to be destitute or live in poverty. With inflation and rising costs, undetermined future medical expenses, and uncertain times, this fear is certainly justifiable. 

What we can do is prepare for the worst while hoping for the best.

Closing Thoughts on Retires Great Top Ten Posts of 2020

I think we’ll all be glad to put 2020 behind us and get this stupid pandemic under control. Having stated that, this past year has also given us a lot to be grateful for.

We have our health and are doing something we love. Hopefully, making a small difference in this crazy world.

Thank you for your readership, it really does mean a lot to us! Our commitment remains “helping you achieve a retirement filled with purpose and passion”. 

Make these the best years of your life! We wish you a safe and happy holiday season. There’s a lot to look forward to in 2021 and things will definitely be better!!