Hi Reader

This week marked a monumental moment for the Haylett family as my eldest daughter Gracie passed her driving test first time! However, what was a very joyous and happy moment for me, soon turned into fear and dread of her actually driving around by herself!! The worry never stops!

I hope you enjoy this weeks packed edition of The Retirement Fix and as always I love to hear from you with thoughts, comments and feedback...

FEATURED ARTICLE

Retirement Needs Both Sides of Your Brain

(Why numbers give you clarity — but stories give you conviction)

For decades, pop psychology told us that people are either “left-brained” (logical, analytical, numerical) or “right-brained” (creative, emotional, intuitive).

Neuroscience has since shown that’s not strictly true, both hemispheres are involved in almost everything we do. But as a metaphor, it still works beautifully. Because when it comes to planning and living your retirement, both sides matter.

The Left Brain: The World of Numbers

The left side of your brain loves certainty, structure, and control. It’s the home of spreadsheets, probabilities, and “what ifs.”

In retirement, this is the side that drives questions like:

• “Will my money last?”
• “How much can I safely withdraw each year?”
• “Am I being tax-efficient?”

This is where your Monte Carlo simulations, guardrails, and withdrawal strategies live. The left brain brings logic and clarity, essential foundations for any financial plan.

But there’s a problem: numbers alone rarely inspire action.

The Right Brain: The World of Stories

The right side of your brain is the storyteller, the part that helps you imagine, dream, and connect emotionally.

It’s what allows you to picture the first Tuesday morning of your retirement. It’s what makes you feel excited (or anxious) about what lies ahead. It’s what gives your decisions meaning.

Behavioural science backs this up. Research from UCLA found that when people think about themselves 10–20 years in the future, their brain activity looks more like they’re thinking about a stranger than themselves today. That “future self” feels distant and abstract, which is one reason so many people struggle to plan or spend confidently in retirement.

In one experiment, when people were shown digitally aged photos of their future selves, they immediately increased their savings. Simply seeing their story made the numbers real.

And when it comes to persuasion, stories outperform statistics over time. A CEPR study found that while both can influence beliefs initially, stories have more lasting impact, they’re easier to remember and recall than cold data.

Why This Matters for Retirement

Retirement planning has traditionally lived in the left-brain world. It’s full of charts, projections, and probabilities. But life after work isn’t just a mathematical problem, it’s a human one.

The best plans blend both sides:

1. Start with story. What does a fulfilling retirement look like? What matters most? What do your ideal days feel like?
2. Support with numbers. Show the range, the trade-offs, and the guardrails. Let the data prove the story is possible.
3. Return to story. Translate the maths into meaning. What does this plan make possible in your life?

Because while numbers can tell you if your money will last, only stories can tell you if your life will feel worth living.

The Takeaway

Numbers create clarity. Stories create conviction. And conviction is what gets you to actually live, spend, and enjoy the life you’ve worked for.

So when you think about retirement, don’t just ask: “Do I have enough?” Ask: “Enough for what?”

Because retirement isn’t just a financial plan, it’s a human story. And it needs both sides of your brain to make it work.

RETIREMENT RESOURCE

Your Next Chapter Won't Design Itself

We all say we want a “great retirement,” but few of us ever stop to define what that actually looks like. This week’s worksheet — Bring Your Vision to Life — helps you move beyond vague ideas like “travel more” or “spend time with family” and actually map out the moments, people, and projects that will make your next chapter rich and meaningful.

Download it below, grab a coffee, and start sketching the life you truly want to live.

​Bring Your Vison To Life Worksheet.pdf​

PODCAST

Ep 91 - The Skill No One Taught You... Spending Money

We’re flipping the script on retirement this week — because the hardest part isn’t saving your money, it’s spending it. In this episode, I dive into why so many retirees struggle to give themselves permission to enjoy what they’ve worked for, where money guilt really comes from, and how to turn your wealth into joy, memories, and meaning. Saving was your superpower. Spending is your next skill. Listen in now ​​​

SKETCH OF THE WEEK

Is What You Say You Value, Actually What You Value?

We all love to say we value family, freedom and fun. But peek at your bank statement and you might find you’ve been worshipping at the altar of Amazon, not adventure. The truth is, how we spend our money reveals what we really value, not what we like to think we value. When our spending reflects our passions and priorities, money turns into memories, not just more stuff. So go on — have a look. Do your pounds line up with your purpose?

IN OTHER NEWS

What I've Read This Week

• What's More Important Than A Safe Withdrawal Rate - The Retirement Manifesto​
• Im reading Cal Newport's new book Slow Productivity, it is one of those books full of massive ah-ha moments and I can't recommend it highly enough - Buy it Here​

Out & About

• I had a brilliant conversation with Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia on their The Retire With Style Podcast, its a 2 parter and you can listen into part one here​
• I had the pleasure of speaking at the Albemarle Street Partners conference on Wednesday, where I talked about how to illustrate complex retirement themes