Retirement planning doesn’t have to be all spreadsheets and stress. In fact, some of the smartest moves people make are the ones that bring them the most peace of mind later.
GOBankingRates spoke with Dennis Shirshikov, professor of finance at City University of New York and head of growth and engineering at GrowthLimit, to share the financial decisions clients say they’re most grateful for.
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Separating Spending From Saving Early
“My experience advising individuals across income levels has shown me that retirement success is usually driven by a handful of early, intentional decisions rather than complex financial engineering,” Shirshikov explained.
According to him, there was one financial move, in particular, that his clients made that significantly smoothed their retirement planning.
“The most impactful move was establishing a clear separation between lifestyle spending and long-term investing early in their careers,” he said.
He explained that clients who treated retirement contributions as non-negotiable, similar to taxes, avoided constant recalibration later.
“This created predictability and reduced stress as retirement approached,” he added.
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Sticking With a Diversified Strategy
Clients who simplified their investment strategy benefited the most, Shirshikov said.
Rather than chasing performance or frequently reallocating, they focused on diversified, long-term portfolios aligned with their time horizon.
“This reduced emotional decision making and prevented costly timing mistakes during market volatility,” he added.
Tackling High-Interest Debt Early
Shirshikov equally noted that clients who prioritized reducing high-interest and lifestyle-driven debt well before retirement had far more flexibility.
Lower fixed obligations meant their retirement income did not need to stretch as far, which preserved optionality around housing, healthcare and travel decisions.
Beyond the financial benefits, getting ahead on debt also reduced stress and created a sense of control over their long-term plans.
Making Planning a Regular Habit
One planning habit helped Shirshikov’s clients feel more confident entering retirement.
“Regular financial check-ins were critical,” he explained.
He said clients who revisited their plan annually, even briefly, were able to course correct gradually rather than react under pressure.
This habit turned retirement planning into an ongoing process rather than a last-minute event.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I’m a Retirement Planner: 4 Financial Moves My Clients Are Glad They Made
