Retirement planning in a financial context refers to process of making financial provision for retirement prior to reaching retirement age. This normally results in the purposeful setting aside of money or other assets with the intention of deriving an income from those assets at retirement into old age. The ultimate method of retirement planning doesn't necessarily result in the use a retirement plan as alternative methods of investing may be more appropriate.

The goal of retirement planning (if defined) may be to achieve financial independence, so that the need to be gainfully employed is optional rather than a necessity. Retirement planning is a part of financial planning addressing one purpose. The process of retirement planning aims to: (1) assess a client's readiness-to-retire given a desired retirement age and lifestyle,i.e. do they have sufficient money to afford to retire; and (2) to identify client decisions or actions to improve readiness-to-retire.