How often do you hear the words “retire” and “sexy” in the same breath? This is rare, if ever, because most of us associate retirement with old people and sex appeal — and sometimes fun and excitement in general — with young people.

 

Many of us have been even further indoctrinated into the belief that retirement means “not working.” But what’s wrong with enjoying both — retirement and working?

 

Take Cher for example. At 64, the famous singer and actress is starring in a new movie “Burlesque.” Just by its title, you know it’s unlikely to be a movie about retired people rocking on the porch or gardening or volunteering at the neighborhood elementary school.

 

So what are Cher’s retirement plans? A Nov. 21, 2010 Parade magazine article featuring the megastar had this to say:

 

Cher has no plans, she asserts, to retire from either romance or work. "…As long as I can do it and people still come to see me, I don't want to quit working. It's magic."

 

Too bad this profound statement is at the very end of the interview, but certainly worth noting.

 

Granted, most of us will not likely retire with superstar status akin to Cher’s, but you can still create and carve out your own “sexy” retirement plan. Take for example a friend of mine who is a retired nurse. At 64, “Kim” is retired from her profession and babysits her grandsons. Four years ago and entering her retirement, she discovered her love of motorcycles and bought a Harley to explore the open road.

 

Perhaps the sexiest thing about retirement is not the activities you choose to do, but the confidence in knowing that you are prepared to enjoy the golden years — whatever your activities may be. That is, you’ve taken advantage of savings opportunities via your employer’s retirement plan, IRAs and other savings options; built up your emergency fund; and reduced your debt.

 

Want to know if you’re on target for a “sexy” retirement? This AARP retirement calculator may be a useful tool to help you take into account your age, your current retirement savings rate, your pension, and several other important factors to help you determine if you’re on track with your savings. Keep in mind that the projections and information generated by the calculator are hypothetical and do not reflect actual investment results, nor are they guarantees of future results. As always, you should consult with a professional financial advisor to review your specific circumstances.

 

Who knows? Maybe you too can retire sexy by planning, preparing and saving for it.