Rethinking Retirement: The Rewirement Approach and Future Planning with Jamie Hopkins

Amber Stitt
Dec 16, 2025
3 min read

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WNimYmqM5A

Rewirement: Rethinking Retirement and Our Future Selves – Insights from the Pathways e3 Podcasts with Jamie Hopkins

The journey to retirement is often painted as a destination: save enough, plan wisely, and finally enjoy “the good life.” But on a special episode of the Pathways e3 podcast, recorded at the NAIFA e3 conference in Newport Beach, California, host Amber Stitt and guest Jamie Hopkins, invite us to challenge these conventions and consider a process of “rewirement” rather than retirement.

Rewirement: Framing the Future

For over 13 years, Jamie Hopkins has developed and refined the concept of rewirement, reframing the traditional approach to retirement planning. While most of the industry focuses on accumulating wealth and then distributing it, the notion of rewirement highlights the need for behavioral shifts. Jamie Hopkins notes we spend plenty of time discussing the technicalities: percentages, withdrawal rates, and financial products. But “how do we change the behavior of people?” he asks—a question often overlooked.

It’s more than just numbers; it’s about change management, transitioning from work to retirement, and redefining how we spend our time and money. Retirees often find themselves with more free time than anticipated, seeking purpose beyond the conventional activities like golf or gardening. The challenge becomes designing a fulfilling life in this new chapter, something the rewirement process seeks to address.

The Evolution of Self: Seeing Beyond Today

One of the most impactful ideas from the episode is envisioning your “future self.” Jamie Hopkins discusses the importance of anchoring goals not in present circumstances but by visualizing who you want to become years from now. Drawing lessons from athletes who picture their moment of triumph and then reverse-engineer their path to the podium, he encourages listeners to start at the endpoint—be it a dream job, a creative pursuit, or a business milestone—and work backward to identify necessary steps.

This future self-connectedness, as Amber Stitt puts it, has profound effects on our planning. Rather than simply projecting today’s habits forward, we become intentional about growth and transformation, shaping our actions to achieve that envisioned reality. Even quirky dreams, like Jamie Hopkins’s burger food truck named “Bumpy’s Burgers,” aren’t just fantasies—they’re future anchors, helping to drive purposeful action.

Naming financial goals—whether it’s a child’s college fund named after a favorite university, or a retirement account earmarked for a specific locale—fosters emotional connection and motivation. The more we visualize and personalize our targets, the more likely we are to follow through.

Retirement Planning: Beyond the 4% Rule

The discussion also tackles one of the financial industry’s sacred cows: the 4% rule. Jamie Hopkins is refreshingly candid, labeling it not as a “rule” but a “finding”—a useful, but historically contingent, guideline on how much retirees can safely withdraw without running out of money. It’s not universally applicable, nor is it set in stone for the future.

Markets evolve, and so should our expectations. Incorporating international assets, home equity, and dynamic spending strategies can lead to much higher sustainable withdrawals, sometimes closer to 6%. The takeaway: retirement success isn’t just about sticking to old formulas but adapting to changing realities and personal values.

Adapting, Not Just Succeeding

Retirement (or rewirement) isn’t a binary of success or failure. “It’ll be about adapting,” Jamie Hopkins insists. Life changes, markets shift, and individual circumstances surprise us. Rather than stress over portfolio uncertainties, focus on resilience and flexibility. The Monte Carlo simulations so prevalent in financial circles may generate anxiety, yet they’re best used as guides—not commandments.

Winning vs. Changing the Game

Asked whether he’d rather win the game or change it, Jamie Hopkins chooses to be a builder—someone who changes the game, not just plays it. In both life and retirement planning, the incremental, creative changes we make matter more than ticking boxes.

Final Thoughts

As Amber Stitt wraps up, listeners are encouraged to embrace action, envision their future selves, and stay open to evolution—whether that means pursuing a new career, launching a food truck, or just living more intentionally. This Pathways e3 podcast proves that retirement shouldn’t just be an ending, but the start of something uniquely yours.

Looking to the future? Start with vision, connect emotionally, and adapt boldly. Your rewirement begins now.