In this study, personal values, health and financial status were investigated as determinates of affective well-being in a sample of 371 recent retirees across 3 years.  Personal values, measured with the Portrait Value Questionnaire (Schwartz et al. in J Cross Cult Psychol 32:519-542, 2001), were hypnotized to show direct links to positive effect (PA) and negative affect (NA) as well as to moderate the association between financial and health status and affective well-being.  Using structural equation modeling, higher PA was predicted by female gender, better finances, fewer illnesses, and higher self-transcendence (SE) and lower OC values.  SE and OC also moderate the association between financial status and PA.  Longitudinal analysis indicated a relatively stable pattern of associations across 3 years.  While the impact of finances on affect was stable over time, the effects of health and values increased across 3 years.