5 Things to Stop Doing After 55 for Happier Retirement

The quick scan: Thursday delivered another solid performance as markets continued their relentless march toward record territory, with investors feeling like they'd finally cracked the code to this whole "making money" thing. The rally showed impressive staying power, proving that sometimes good things do come to those who don't panic-sell at the first sign of trouble.

• S&P 500: Rose 0.8% to close at 6,141.02, bringing its weekly gain to 2.9% and sitting just a hair's breadth away from all-time highs like a kid reaching for cookies on the top shelf
• Dow Jones: Gained 399 points (0.9%) to 43,703.67, blue chips showing they're not ready to let the flashy tech stocks steal all the spotlight
• NASDAQ: Advanced 1.0% to 20,167.91, tech stocks leading the charge and missing their own record by the equivalent of a rounding error

What's driving it: Continued relief over the Israel-Iran ceasefire combined with hopes for potential Fed rate cuts created the perfect storm for bullish sentiment. It's like the market finally got that group text saying "crisis canceled, back to making money."

Bottom line: Thursday's broad-based gains suggest this rally has real legs—the kind that don't give out after climbing one flight of stairs. When multiple indices are flirting with records simultaneously, it's usually the market's way of saying "we're doing pretty okay, thanks for asking."

5 Things to Stop Doing After 55 for a Happier, Richer Retirement

The scoop: Retirement is supposed to be the "golden years," but for many Americans, it's more like the "rusty, slightly dented years." A sobering reality check reveals that almost a third of retirees suffer from depression, and 58% of parents have sacrificed their own financial security to support their adult children. Basically, we're funding our kids' avocado toast habits while eating ramen noodles ourselves.

The article breaks down the biggest retirement killers that sneak up on people like a subscription service they forgot to cancel: neglecting health, financially supporting adult children until they're 40, taking time for granted like it's an unlimited resource, spending money on stuff that doesn't align with their dreams, and worrying about everything they can't control (spoiler alert: that's most things).

Here's the jaw-dropper: parents provide an average of $1,384 monthly to their adult children—more than double what they contribute to their own retirement savings. That's like paying for someone else's Netflix while you're still using your neighbor's password. Meanwhile, 47% of parents are essentially running a charity for their grown kids while their own golden years turn into participation trophy years.

Actionable takeaways:

• Prioritize your health like it's your job: Exercise regularly and ditch unhealthy habits—older adults who combine aerobic activity with weight lifting have a 41-47% lower mortality risk than their couch-surfing counterparts who think "getting up for snacks" counts as cardio.

• Cut the financial umbilical cord: Set boundaries with adult children faster than you'd block a telemarketer—your kids have decades to figure out their finances, but you're working with a much tighter deadline.

• Stop treating time like it's on sale: Once you hit your mid-50s, get serious about building your nest egg through extra hours, salary negotiations, or budget cuts—time is the one thing Amazon can't deliver in two days.

• Spend like you mean it: If your dream is traveling the world but you're spending your travel fund on property taxes for a house that's too big, you're basically paying premium prices to stay home and dust extra rooms.

• Worry less, control more: Instead of losing sleep over market crashes and political drama (which you can't control), focus on your asset allocation and withdrawal rate (which you can)—it's like choosing to stress about your outfit instead of the weather.

Your Turn:

Which of these five retirement killers is currently stalking you? Are you the parent funding your 30-year-old's lifestyle while eating generic cereal, or maybe the person who thinks "someday" is an actual date on the calendar? That’s #3 for me! Drop a comment below and confess your retirement sins—we're all friends here, and misery loves company (but prosperity loves action)!