Vocational Freedom & Retirement: One Advisor’s Story
Walking away from something that has brought so much meaning, purpose, and fulfillment to your life is not easy. I began to consider a retirement timeline at age 56. At that time, I certainly wasn’t ready to retire, but I was curious about what our own Vocational Freedom date might be, and whether, when that time arrived, I would feel ready to embrace a new chapter.
There is a unique challenge in letting go of an identity that has been shaped and strengthened over many years. Like many professionals, I invested significant time, energy, and sacrifice to create a career I was proud of. The long hours, continuing education, professional designations, client meetings, and years of experience were more than just parts of my job, they became deeply woven into how I viewed myself and my place in the world.
The decision: setting a date
Over the next several years, my husband and I had many conversations about a retirement date. While prioritizing financial security was critical, I also wanted to ensure that I was mentally and emotionally ready and could retire with no regrets.
In early 2024, my husband and I targeted a retirement date of July 1, 2026. At the time, I viewed the decision as a balancing scale between career and retirement readiness. If I had to assign percentages, I would have said I was 45% career and 55% retirement. I could begin to visualize what life after Brighton Jones might look like, but I was far from ready to step away.
The long runway served two important purposes. First, it gave me time to mentally acclimate to the idea of retirement, knowing I could always postpone the date if I wasn’t ready. Second, it provided enough time to ensure a successful transition for our clients as well as the Brighton Jones team.
Vocational freedom is a financial milestone, but it’s not the whole story
The concept of vocational freedom in financial planning is primarily a financial achievement. As financial planners, one of the most important question we help clients answer is, “Do you have enough to retire?”. We love helping clients identify the steps necessary to reach that milestone. Many clients target their vocational freedom date as their retirement date, while others choose to continue working beyond that point for a variety of reasons.
For some, it’s the desire for additional financial security. Despite their advisor’s reassurances, it can be daunting to stop receiving a paycheck and begin relying primarily on their portfolio for income. For others, work continues to provide purpose, fulfillment, and structure. From the time we are children, much of our lives are scheduled for us through school, careers, family responsibilities, and commitments. The prospect of suddenly facing unstructured days can feel unsettling. In fact, we have seen clients retire and then return to work, largely because they missed that sense of purpose and routine.
The better question
As time progressed, I continued checking in with myself regarding the internal push and pull between prioritizing my career and investing more fully in my personal life. Many people have asked me the question of what I plan to do in retirement, and I often felt obligated to provide an answer that sounded outwardly meaningful or productive.
What I eventually realized is that perhaps the better question is not, “What are you going to do in retirement?” but rather, “What are you looking forward to in retirement?” I struggled to answer the first question but could easily answer the second. Financial freedom is not the destination. It’s what allows you to pursue the things that matter most.
Redefining fulfillment beyond a career
After considerable reflection on my values and passions, I identified three main priorities for this next chapter:
- Health: If I don’t have my health I won’t be able to fully enjoy the years ahead. Maintaining my physical and emotional well-being has always been a priority, and retirement will give me more time to invest in caring for myself. To me, this is in the form of Pilates classes, yoga, and strength training to help me stay strong, balanced, and energized. Long walks with friends provide the perfect opportunity to catch up while getting some steps in, and I’m also looking forward to taking up golf which will offer opportunities for meeting new people as well as keeping me active and outdoors.
- Family and relationships: With two daughters, their husbands, and my grandchildren living elsewhere, I plan to spend more time being physically present and involved in their lives. I also recognize the importance of community and connection, and my husband and I recently became social members of a club that offers a wide variety of activities and events. With this, I’m looking forward to deepening existing friendships while also building new relationships with people who share similar values and passions.
- Purpose: We all need a reason to get up each morning, and our purpose naturally changes as we move through different seasons of life. While I am still discovering what my purpose will look like in this next chapter, I know it will involve giving back and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. My passion for financial planning remains strong, and I look forward to finding opportunities where I can share my experience, offer guidance, and continue helping people navigate important decisions with confidence.
The shift happens gradually
Over time, I found my anticipation for retirement steadily growing. There was no singular moment or switch that flipped. Instead, it was a gradual shift toward wanting to spend my time on my own terms, guided by commitments and priorities that I chose for myself.
Preparing for retirement takes more than a financial plan
Now, with less than a month remaining before I fully step away, I know I have made the right decision. Preparing for retirement has required far more emotional and mental work than financial planning. Reflecting on my priorities has helped me see that my career will always be a part of who I am. The lessons, relationships, and experiences will remain with me, and I know there will be opportunities in the future to help others with their finances, albeit on a smaller scale.
I leave with immense gratitude that’s hard to put into words. I’m grateful for the clients who trusted me with their financial lives, for the colleagues who challenged and supported me, and for the friendships that grew from both. The relationships have always been the most rewarding part of this work, and they are what I will miss most.
As I look ahead, I feel pride, anticipation, and a bit of sadness. I’ve come to realize these emotions are not contradictory. They are evidence that the journey mattered.
And perhaps that is the greatest gift a career can offer: When the time comes to leave it behind, you do so with a full heart.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vocational Freedom? Vocational Freedom is the point at which your financial assets can support your lifestyle without requiring you to work. It’s a milestone Brighton Jones helps clients identify and plan toward — though reaching it doesn’t mean you have to retire.
How do I know if I’m emotionally ready to retire? Financial readiness and emotional readiness are different things. Many people find it helpful to identify what they’re looking forward to — not just what they plan to do — and to work through that question with a financial planner well before their target date.
What happens if I reach my Vocational Freedom date and I’m not ready? That’s more common than most people expect. Setting a target date early gives you flexibility — you can always move it. What matters is having enough runway to think through both the financial and personal dimensions of the transition.
Should I keep working after reaching Vocational Freedom? There’s no universal answer. Some people continue working for purpose, structure, or additional financial security. Others step away as soon as it’s financially viable. The right answer depends on what work means to you — and what the next chapter looks like.
(Editor’s note: This is the second of a three-part series on the retirement process. In Part 1, Kristine shares how she started mulling the questions of retirement. In Part 3, she will look ahead to purpose, contribution, and what comes next after a much-loved career.)
About the Author: Kristine McHugh, CFP®, is a Lead Advisor at Brighton Jones — until July 2026. She helps high-income professionals and families design tax-efficient investment strategies and retirement plans aligned with their principles and long-term goals.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Please consult with your Brighton Jones advisor and qualified legal counsel regarding your specific situation.
