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I worked for Engen Kenya as the regional HR manager and retired at the age of 55 in 2019.
My transition from employment to retirement was not easy. I felt lost and it did not help that there are many negative narratives about retirement about your best years being over, to not being able to maintain pre-retirement lifestyle.
Before I retired, I knew I had to be intentional about my finances for retirement. So, two years before the time came, I made some moves.
I sought out a retirement planning consultant, and a coach. I started organising my finances and adopting a retirement mindset.
Consequently, I set up a human resource consultancy; Exceliq HR Solutions.
Looking back, one of my biggest regrets is that I did not start saving for retirement earlier on in my career. I should also have taken a mortgage while employed.
However, I am very grateful that I had a pension, and so with a percentage of it and my husband’s contribution, we were able to buy a house after I retired.
My advice to any lady out there, whether employed or self-employed, is not to think they are too young to start preparing for retirement. Time sure flies by so fast.
Decide what type of lifestyle you want after retirement and start saving with that in mind, and also start thinking about self-employment or a new career path after retirement because as long as you are alive, you still have a lot to give.
- Edith Tendwa is a HR consultant with Exceliq HR Solutions.
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