Achieving financial independence is certainly a goal worth celebrating, but what happens when you no longer have the safety of a regular paycheck? Sustaining financial independence during retirement can be challenging, and the fear of running out of your hard-earned money can be daunting. How do you maintain true financial independence?

This checklist lays out 7 key steps to maintaining your financial independence throughout your life after work. Your golden years shouldn’t be spent worrying about the balance of an account or whether you can really afford the life you’ve worked so hard to earn.