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Your Retirement Sketchbook
Are you overwhelmed by the thought of retirement planning? Unsure where to start—or afraid it’s already too late?
Retirement planning is something we often leave for the future because we all have more pressing matters to deal with The kids are sick. The dog needs to go to the vet. A parent needs a new care facility.
We think retirement can wait. But can it?
In Your Retirement Sketchbook, financial professionals specializing in retirement planning, Jamie Hopkins and Bonnie Treichel offer a fresh, creative approach to planning for your future. Unlike traditional financial guides, this book breaks down retirement into manageable sections. Inside, you'll explore 125 unique topics that could impact your retirement and discover practical strategies for saving, investing, and managing income. Build your plan step-by-step and reflect on your financial future.
Whether you're just starting to save or nearing the finish line, Your Retirement Sketchbook will inspire you to craft a plan to achieve your retirement goals, and find financial confidence along the way.
This isn't a textbook; it's a creative journey
Retirement planning is something we often leave for the future because we all have more pressing matters to deal with The kids are sick. The dog needs to go to the vet. A parent needs a new care facility.
We think retirement can wait. But can it?
In Your Retirement Sketchbook, financial professionals specializing in retirement planning, Jamie Hopkins and Bonnie Treichel offer a fresh, creative approach to planning for your future. Unlike traditional financial guides, this book breaks down retirement into manageable sections. Inside, you'll explore 125 unique topics that could impact your retirement and discover practical strategies for saving, investing, and managing income. Build your plan step-by-step and reflect on your financial future.
Whether you're just starting to save or nearing the finish line, Your Retirement Sketchbook will inspire you to craft a plan to achieve your retirement goals, and find financial confidence along the way.
This isn't a textbook; it's a creative journey
352 pages, Paperback
Published March 31, 2026
About the author
Jamie P. Hopkins
8 books6 followersJAMIE P. HOPKINS, ESQ., MBA, LLM, CLU®, RICP® is an associate professor of taxation at The American College in the Retirement Income program, and he is the associate director of the New York Life Center for Retirement Income. He also holds the Larry R. Pike Chair in Insurance and Investments at The American College. As a professor at the College, he teaches courses in retirement, estate planning and life insurance. Through his role at The American College, he has educated thousands of financial service professionals and continues to move the needle for retirement income planning.
Professor Hopkins is considered one of the leading retirement planning experts in the United States and has been selected by InvestmentNews as one of the top 40 financial service professionals under the age of 40 in 2015. Professor Hopkins has also been published in numerous periodicals, including Villanova Law Review, Nebraska Law Review and Hastings Journal of Science and Technology Law, and has authored articles published by the American Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Professor Hopkins received his B.A. in political science at Davidson College, where he was captain of the Division I Men’s Varsity Swim Team. He then attended Villanova School of Law, where he obtained his J.D. and graduated with honors. Later he received his MBA from Villanova University Business School. Professor Hopkins also holds his LLM from Temple University and two financial planning designations, the CLU® and RICP®.
Professor Hopkins is considered one of the leading retirement planning experts in the United States and has been selected by InvestmentNews as one of the top 40 financial service professionals under the age of 40 in 2015. Professor Hopkins has also been published in numerous periodicals, including Villanova Law Review, Nebraska Law Review and Hastings Journal of Science and Technology Law, and has authored articles published by the American Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Professor Hopkins received his B.A. in political science at Davidson College, where he was captain of the Division I Men’s Varsity Swim Team. He then attended Villanova School of Law, where he obtained his J.D. and graduated with honors. Later he received his MBA from Villanova University Business School. Professor Hopkins also holds his LLM from Temple University and two financial planning designations, the CLU® and RICP®.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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May 25, 2026Your Retirement Sketchbook takes a refreshingly approachable and thoughtful look at retirement planning. Instead of overwhelming readers with dense financial language or rigid formulas, the book breaks retirement into 125 short, manageable concepts that can be absorbed a little at a time.
The tone is gentle, encouraging, and practical, making the entire process feel far less intimidating.
What makes this book especially valuable is its focus on the broader picture of retirement. It covers not only financial considerations, but also lifestyle, identity, purpose, relationships, routines, and the emotional transition that comes with leaving full-time work behind. The short chapter format makes it easy to reflect on one idea at a time without feeling overloaded.
This book for anyone who has been avoiding thinking about retirement because it feels overwhelming or emotionally complicated. It is also an excellent starting point for readers who want a big-picture understanding of retirement or simply want to make sure they have considered all the important aspects of this stage of life. This book feels less like a lecture and more like a thoughtful guide helping you slowly sketch out what you want your future to look like.
The tone is gentle, encouraging, and practical, making the entire process feel far less intimidating.
What makes this book especially valuable is its focus on the broader picture of retirement. It covers not only financial considerations, but also lifestyle, identity, purpose, relationships, routines, and the emotional transition that comes with leaving full-time work behind. The short chapter format makes it easy to reflect on one idea at a time without feeling overloaded.
This book for anyone who has been avoiding thinking about retirement because it feels overwhelming or emotionally complicated. It is also an excellent starting point for readers who want a big-picture understanding of retirement or simply want to make sure they have considered all the important aspects of this stage of life. This book feels less like a lecture and more like a thoughtful guide helping you slowly sketch out what you want your future to look like.
May 29, 2026
This book is a must-read for literally every single one of us!!
It’s very easy to understand and gives you all the tools you need to build the life you truly want when you retire.
What I loved most about this book is that it blends practical financial planning with deeper life questions.
It covers topics like money, investing, and how to prepare for retirement, but it also pushes you to ask: What do I actually want my days to look like when I have full control of my time?
It’s very easy to understand and gives you all the tools you need to build the life you truly want when you retire.
What I loved most about this book is that it blends practical financial planning with deeper life questions.
It covers topics like money, investing, and how to prepare for retirement, but it also pushes you to ask: What do I actually want my days to look like when I have full control of my time?
May 30, 2026
📚 Retirement Beyond Just Money.
The book is a practical and thoughtful guide that looks at retirement as much more than just financial planning. Written in simple and lucid language, the book explains everything clearly and divides the lessons into eight well-structured chapters.
The book offers 125 retirement lessons but honestly, it feels like there are far more insights hidden within them. What I appreciated most was how approachable the writing felt, making even complicated topics easy to understand.
One thing the book does really well is break the myth that retirement is only about money. It talks about purpose, lifestyle, relationships, mindset, and how to build a fulfilling life after work. That broader perspective made the book feel more practical and human rather than just instructional.
I especially found the sections about wills, legal rights, and documentation extremely important. The authors explain how proper documentation can protect your loved ones from unnecessary confusion and legal struggles after your death. Death never comes with a guarantee, and your will often becomes the thing that protects the people you leave behind. The way this topic was explained felt realistic and genuinely valuable. This section is helpful to everyone.
Although the book is primarily written for older readers planning their retirement, I believe it is equally valuable for younger generations as well, especially at a time when many Gen Z readers aspire to achieve early retirement and financial freedom.
I would especially recommend this book to people planning retirement, those interested in financial freedom, and even younger readers who want to understand money, purpose, and future planning better.
Overall, this book feels less like a finance manual and more like a roadmap towards a secure and meaningful future.
The book is a practical and thoughtful guide that looks at retirement as much more than just financial planning. Written in simple and lucid language, the book explains everything clearly and divides the lessons into eight well-structured chapters.
The book offers 125 retirement lessons but honestly, it feels like there are far more insights hidden within them. What I appreciated most was how approachable the writing felt, making even complicated topics easy to understand.
One thing the book does really well is break the myth that retirement is only about money. It talks about purpose, lifestyle, relationships, mindset, and how to build a fulfilling life after work. That broader perspective made the book feel more practical and human rather than just instructional.
I especially found the sections about wills, legal rights, and documentation extremely important. The authors explain how proper documentation can protect your loved ones from unnecessary confusion and legal struggles after your death. Death never comes with a guarantee, and your will often becomes the thing that protects the people you leave behind. The way this topic was explained felt realistic and genuinely valuable. This section is helpful to everyone.
Although the book is primarily written for older readers planning their retirement, I believe it is equally valuable for younger generations as well, especially at a time when many Gen Z readers aspire to achieve early retirement and financial freedom.
I would especially recommend this book to people planning retirement, those interested in financial freedom, and even younger readers who want to understand money, purpose, and future planning better.
Overall, this book feels less like a finance manual and more like a roadmap towards a secure and meaningful future.
June 27, 2026
Highly recommend this as a guide to retirement. Quick sections introduce topics and prompt further exploration across all stages of preparation and aging.
It’s a good overview and way to break down different parts.
This was a library book that I will likely buy for myself to have as easy reference and to share with others!
It’s a good overview and way to break down different parts.
This was a library book that I will likely buy for myself to have as easy reference and to share with others!
March 31, 2026
Loved this book. It is different from anything else out there in the financial world. It has 125 sketches to show the retirement planning topics as drawings. Most people are visual learners like me and this will be a very helpful retirement and investment book for those just getting started.
July 15, 2026
Thorough although some chapters are rather slight
As a whole it’s a very useful book but each chapter is quite short and some come across rather slight. It’s in reviewing it later that you find that the authors covered a lot of material.
As a whole it’s a very useful book but each chapter is quite short and some come across rather slight. It’s in reviewing it later that you find that the authors covered a lot of material.
May 27, 2026
📖 this was very high level but gave me several things to think about and do!
July 1, 2026
This is a great book that will inspire you to craft plan that achieves your retirement goals & builds financial confidence as your plans evolve over time.
July 16, 2026
The best book I read this year. If you are in your 30's and can read only one book this year be it this one.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews