(Image credit: Getty Images)

After more than two decades writing about retirement — first at Fidelity Investments and now as an independent financial writer and coach — I recently crossed an important threshold:

I turned 65 .

For most of my career, retirement was something I analyzed from the outside. I interviewed economists, portfolio managers and retirement specialists about how people build wealth — and eventually live off it.

From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance

Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues

CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.

Now I’m doing it myself. And what I’ve realized is this: not all financial advice holds up in real life.…