Financial Independence Angst

Financial Independence Angst

I could feel the anxiety welling up in me. Not exactly panic, but a sense that something was wrong. I took a deep breath as I turned the page. There were only a few dozen pages left and the protagonist had gotten himself into a horrible rut. My heart started to race as I hungrily devoured the text. I guess bedtime would have to wait for a few more minutes. Such a stressful life I now lead! All joking aside, even having reached this comfortable plateau in my career, post financial independence angst is a real phenomenon.

Just because you have accumulated enough doesn’t mean that all concerns become minimized. Some of these concerns dig a lot deeper than anxiety about a plot twist in a book. But it certainly does feel different.

What, you ask, could there ever be to worry about after reaching financial freedom?

Time Stress

Yep. I still got it. No amount of money can fix this one. No matter how open my schedule, I still find myself arriving ten minutes early for just abut everything. I get post financial independence angst if my day is scheduled full.

Time stress will be with me until the day I die. It is just who I am.

There are, however, a few glaring differences. One, my calendar is much more empty. Thus, the anxiety tends to be minimal and spread much farther apart. Two, the stakes are low. Unlike during my busy working life, if I duck out on activity or enter too late, it is no big deal.

There really just aren’t many consequences.

Money Stress

What’s the biggest cause of post financial independence angst? Becoming financially dependent again. Besides the apocalyptic, there are every day concerns about haveing an adequate safe withdrawal rate and sequence of returns risk.

Most of us came to financial freedom by being relatively risk averse and careful. It is hard to turn off the spigot that has been running all our lives. We are used to worrying about money. We are comfortable with this default setting.

It can be very hard to flip the switch. Luckily, we don’t have to. Although the cause of some anxiety, our angst may be the main reason why we continue to risk manage appropriately.

Achievement Stress

Life doesn’t end when you reach financial independence. You don’t just hang up your coat and never aspire towards anything again. In fact, many of us use this time to truly explore our passions and purpose.

This often means putting yourself into unfamiliar situations and trying new things. For me it is public speaking and podcasting. For others it may be a new goal or hobby.

New ventures will be a large part of post financial independence angst.

This is not a bad thing. A little bit of anxiety and feeling uncomfortable is a common symptom of growth. Instead of using the words angst or anxiety, maybe the term excitement fits better.

This is a very exciting time of life. But with change comes fear and worry. These are natural feelings that should be no more spurned than joy or passion.

It’s part of what makes life so magical.

Final Thoughts

Retirement won’t make life perfect. Post financial independence angst is a normal part of the process. Old habits die hard. For me that includes time and money stress. I don’t think they are going to just disappear. In addition it is a time of great change which also brings its own anxiety.

This is part of growth.

By securing a strong financial future we have removed the high stakes. Everyone, however, worries about the little things also.

We are human.