Living Off Your Acorns: Your Guide To The Four Phases of Retirement

by Dana Anspach

Retirement is not one decision. It is a series of transitions. In Living Off Your Acorns, retirement income expert Dana Anspach, CFP®, RMA®, guides readers through the four phases of Pre-Go, Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go. With warmth, clarity, and real-life stories from decades of client work, Dana shows how retirement changes not only your finances, but also your identity, routines, relationships, spending, taxes, and sense of purpose.

This book helps you understand what to expect before and after you stop working. You’ll learn how to prepare emotionally for the shift from saving to spending, how to build a retirement cash flow plan, how to think through Social Security and tax planning opportunities, and how to invest with income needs in mind. Rather than relying on one-size-fits-all rules, Dana teaches you how to weigh trade-offs, spot risks, and make decisions that fit your life.

Whether you are still working and wondering when you can retire, newly retired and adjusting to life without a paycheck, or planning for later-life decisions, Living Off Your Acorns gives you a practical framework for moving forward with confidence. You’ll come away better prepared to use what you’ve saved, live fully, adapt wisely, and make the most of each phase ahead.

337 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2026

Reviews

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m in the middle of the acorn journey, 9 years into the Go-Go stage, trying to make the most of it. I’ve been following Dana’s recommendations since I retired (wish I had learned some of her Pre-Go strategies) and think I’m on a good path. But I couldn’t wait to see her assessment of what comes next, and I learned that I have some work to do to create a safe and rewarding later life. Good thing my current mental function should get me through the planning process for anticipated declines. I love to Go, but I won’t mind slowing down as long as I have things in place to make me feel secure. Thanks, Dana, for sharing your personal experience and those of your clients, combined with thoughtful, do-able recommendations for living well in later life. Anyone on the journey should find some encouragement and practical suggestions for their progression.

[Jimgosailing]

Retirement ranks as one of life’s major stressors on par with marriage, divorce, having a baby, or moving.


The best savers often make the worst spenders.

Protecting your future lifestyle should take precedence over pursuing the highest possible returns. This shift doesn’t mean abandoning growth altogether. But it does mean designing your investment strategy around income certainty, not just investment performance.

You can build your plan to maximize asset value at end of life, or to generate sustainable cash flow to fund a comfortable retirement—but no strategy delivers both.

If your plan only works when everything goes right, it’s not a good plan.

[Susan Landers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely helpful, comprehensive book about retirement

This book has everything - about money and finances, investments and taxes - in retirement. There is less about the emotional aspects, but some good stories to illustrate the issues. The author gives SO MUCH financial advice, that the book is valuable for this alone.

[Esther Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read

Dana has a way of breaking down complicated financial decisions by making it easy to understand and pursue. Highly recommend!

[robin ervin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

I found it too wordy and dry for my taste. A lot of the you tube videos I saw covered this already

[Sirisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!

I enjoyed reading this book very much and it captures what is needed for retirement very well. A must have in your retirement readiness exercise

[JAWED KHAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book all retirees should read.


Great book. Something I had started thinking about lately, and found addressed in the book. Very nicely explained by Ms Anspach.