Retirement is very short if you retire at 65 and live to 85 — and your 'go-go' years full of health and wealth may even feel cheap. Maximize them now

At least, that’s according to research from the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO found that U.S. adults can expect to live with their “full health” on average 64 years.

That means your health is likely already deteriorating if you retire at 65.

So while you may retire at 65 and live until 85, it’s important to remember that not all those years are created equally. Thanks to the power of compounding, your wealth and income could keep growing in retirement well into your 80s and 90s — but your “go-go” years are limited.

Here’s what you need to know to make the most of those early years of retirement.

Prioritize experiences

When you’re living on a fixed income, every purchase comes with a trade-off. If you choose to buy a new car or a custom-made suit, you might need to take one less vacation or maybe skip concerts or memorable occasions if you’ve overstretched your budget.

In other words, you may be forced to choose between objects and experiences. And while still in early retirement, you ought to consider prioritizing experiences. Scuba diving or long road trips are more enjoyable when you’re in good health. As you age, many of these experiences will become increasingly out of reach.

Research backs this up. A 2020 study from UT Austin, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania found that people report more happiness from splashing out on experiences than making material purchases. Many people find the pleasure of buying your dream car or luxury clothes is short-lived, while the memories of spending time with their grandkids on a beach in Europe will live on forever.

By front-loading your budget for vacations, family gatherings and fun experiences, you can make the most of your most physically and mentally active years.

Optimize for life, not your bank balance

Much of retirement planning is focused on minimizing costs, delaying gratification and optimizing taxes. At least, that’s what financial planners generally advise.

In reality, a 2025 survey shows not many Americans are willing to delay their gratification that long when it comes to retirement: a mere 10% of non-retired Americans plan to hold off until age 70 to file for Social Security. (The age at which monthly payments max out.)

However, they may be on to something. Focusing too heavily on maximizing savings and investments puts you at risk of sacrificing the earliest, and possibly most rewarding, years of your retired life.

“People who save tend to save too much for too late in their lives,” wrote Bill Perkins in his book Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life. “They are depriving themselves now just to care for a much, much older future self — a future self that may never live long enough to enjoy that money.”

Perkins, a hedge fund manager, argues that people should focus on optimizing for life experiences instead of wealth during their golden years. That’s not to say that you should toss out all your saving and investing habits during your go-go years.

However, by aiming for a harmonious balance between short-term enjoyment and long-term financial security, you could greatly enhance your retired life.

Invest in healthcare

Many Americans are shocked by the steep cost of healthcare as they age. Although you can’t prevent aging, you can prepare for it and potentially even delay it.