Living Off Your Acorns: Your Guide To The Four Phases of Retirement

Retirement is not one decision. It is a series of transitions. In Living Off Your Acorns , retirement income expert Dana Anspach, CFP®, RMA®, guides readers through the four phases of retirement: Pre-Go, Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go. With warmth, clarity, and real-life stories from decades of client work, Dana shows how retirement changes not only your finances, but also your identity, routines, relationships, spending, taxes, and sense of purpose.

This book helps you understand what to expect before and after you stop working. You’ll learn how to prepare emotionally for the shift from saving to spending, how to build a retirement cash flow plan, how to think through Social Security and tax planning opportunities, and how to invest with income needs in mind. Rather than relying on one-size-fits-all rules, Dana teaches you how to weigh trade-offs, spot risks, and make decisions that fit your life.

Whether you are still working and wondering when you can retire, newly retired and adjusting to life without a paycheck, or planning for later-life decisions, Living Off Your Acorns gives you a practical framework for moving forward with confidence. You’ll come away better prepared to use what you’ve saved, live fully, adapt wisely, and make the most of each phase ahead.