Mitch and Marlene Mitchell first met in 1987 while Mitch was stationed at the Naval Guided Missile School in Dam Neck, Virginia. Mitch often says that of all the things he discovered on the East Coast, the most valuable was Marlene. The couple married in 1989 and spent over three decades building a life together, navigating the challenges and triumphs of careers, family, and personal growth.
Mitch, a former submariner, dedicated his career to serving in the U.S. Navy before transitioning into a leadership role as Director of Security and Law Enforcement at Naval Base Kitsap. His steadfast commitment to duty has shaped his outlook on life, instilling values of integrity, resilience, and dedication to community service.
Marlene, with her extensive 34-year banking career, brings her own remarkable expertise in leadership, business development, and customer service. Her journey, however, wasn’t without challenges. After running a bank district through the trials of COVID, she made the decision to step back, seek balance, and embrace a new chapter in California alongside Mitch.
I’ve always leaned toward being financially cautious while believing in fairness for others. My military career began in 1987, during the Reagan years, when I joined the Navy.
If you’re like most Gen Xers, you’ve probably joked about working forever—maybe even said, “Just bury me with my desk!” Well, here’s the thing—it doesn’t have to be that way.
If you’re like most Gen Xers, you’ve probably joked about working forever—maybe even said, “Just bury me with my desk!” Well, here’s the thing—it doesn’t have to be that way. We’re the generation that rocked out to cassette tapes, lived through dial-up internet, and learned how to be scrappy. Now, it’s time to use that ingenuity for our next big adventure: retirement.
I was inspired by a recent article on CBS News that highlights a critical reality for Gen Xers: the oldest members of our generation are turning 59 ½—the magical age when we can start withdrawing from our retirement accounts without penalties. But many of us still feel like retirement is out of reach. Nearly half of us, according to a Natixis study, think it would take a “miracle” to retire comfortably.
But don’t worry, no blue hair is required to make this work! Gen X is all about rewriting the rules. With Financial Reboot, we’re here to help you rethink how you manage your money and align your finances with your new life goals. Whether you’re ready to downsize, work from home, or rediscover passions you’ve put on hold, we’re here to help you thrive in retirement—not just survive it.
I’ve always leaned toward being financially cautious while believing in fairness for others. My military career began in 1987, during the Reagan years, when I joined the Navy. Over the next 22 years of active duty, I served on three Trident submarines, handling nuclear weapons and completing 16 deterrent patrols. When I wasn’t underwater, I was teaching future commanding officers or working at the Strategic Weapons Facility, where I was proud to be named Sailor of the Year and promoted to Chief Petty Officer.
After retiring from active duty, I transitioned into civilian life as the Director of Security and Law Enforcement, managing over 670 personnel at one of the Navy’s largest installations. I’ve held roles such as Chief of Police, Antiterrorism Officer, and Emergency Management Operations Section Chief, earning a few accolades along the way.
When I officially retired in 2023, I knew it was time to focus on family. But as I settled into this new chapter, I couldn’t help but reflect on the current political climate. Moving to an area with more progressive views made me see just how polarized things had become. It got me thinking—why not use my experiences to help bridge the gap?
Answering questions like, “How many children do you have?” or “Is your daughter your only child?” can be difficult, and there’s no single, right way to respond. Sometimes we share the full story, and sometimes we don’t—it really depends on the moment, the setting, and whether we’re ready to dive into the complex emotions that come with it. Our journey over the past 37 years has seen both incredible highs and heartbreaking loss, and everything we post here reflects that spectrum of experience.
We have two children. Our son, Eric, passed away in 2006 at the age of 23. Losing Eric is a pain we carry with us every day, and though time moves forward, the loss never fully fades. He was in college, full of life and potential, and we never expected that our journey as parents would include saying goodbye to him so early. Navigating that loss has been a defining part of our story, shaping how we approach life, family, and even the smallest moments. Grief like that changes you, but it also makes you more grateful for the time you have with the people you love.
Our daughter, Shay, has been a source of incredible strength and resilience. In 2020, just 102 days before her wedding, she was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common form of breast cancer. Her treatment was long and grueling, made even more difficult by the pandemic and the fact that she was extremely immunocompromised. Politics and the chaos of the outside world faded into the background as we focused on getting her through this chapter of her life.
Redefining Retirement, Embracing New Horizons and Achieving Balance Beyond the Career.
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