As retirement nears, the financial gears start shifting. Rather than simply accumulating money to fund your retirement, you’ll soon be spending it.

The transition can be “pretty scary,” said Beth Gamel, a fee-only planner with Pillar Financial Advisors in Waltham. Not only do most people have to replace their regular paychecks with savings, they need to stretch those dollars over a retirement that may last 30 years or more.