I’ve wanted Irene Smith to be a guest on my podcast for a long time.

And not just because she’s my stepmother.

When we’ve talked to folks whom I would consider “successful retirees” on this show, there’s a common theme: stay active. Whether you continue to work, start volunteering, or throw yourself into a favorite sport or hobby, retirees have to make an intentional effort to get off the couch and maintain connections to their communities and their loved ones.

Now, I’m not suggesting that everyone in their 80s should drive solo from Florida all the way to Kansas City – without GPS – like Irene did in order to visit me! But I do think the way Irene lives her life is an inspiration to all of us who are looking ahead and preparing to make the most of our Golden Years.

Let’s kick off 2021 with some positivity … and a pop quiz!

A recent study by Valuegraphics analyzed more than 500,000 surveys in 152 languages and determined that there are 56 values that drive all of human behavior. While the results did show some significant cultural differences between how these values are ranked, the top responses show that there is a lot of commonality when it comes to the really important things in life.

So, of those 56 values, can you guess the top three?

On today’s show we discuss these values and how a comprehensive financial plan can help support them. We also tie this theme into some interesting new data about retirement prep and a potential sequel to the SECURE Act that’s being discussed in Congress.