Last year, Nick Crisci felt more than ready to retire. After working nonstop for 46 years, the 69-year-old feared the stress of his information technology job was affecting his health. Crisci, who lives in Pflugerville, Tex., prepared for retirement by whipping his finances into shape—paying off his mortgage and shifting some of his investments into Treasury bills to create a cash cushion. He also envisioned how he’d spend his days in retirement: gardening, reading, playing with his grandkids and working on his stamp collection.