Eventually, we all find the unassembled shed in our front yard and think “Oh, (insert expletive).” This ceiling of complexity often comes in retirement when our financial lives look nothing like they did for the last 40 years. Don’t fret — you may want to figure it out, and you may be able to. But you may just need someone to help you for a few hours every year. There are many more project-based advisers today than there were a decade ago. Or, you may be ready to hand over the reins for at least a portion of the work. In this case, you should find solace in the money you’ve saved getting this far.
I recently bought a handsaw to cut a hole in our drywall in order to install an access panel in front of our main water shut-off. I also had to Google many of the words I just typed. It took several hours and was (really) messy. Despite that, I was very happy with myself. Riding that wave of confidence, when we ordered a new shed, the thought crossed my mind that I could put it together. When a pile of lumber and a few boxes of hardware arrived, that idea fizzled. I couldn’t even figure out how to get the wood to the backyard…
