Retirement Village Decision

I spent a lot of time with my grandparents from the age of seventeen to twenty one. My parents moved back to Europe and as I wanted to stay in Australia, my grandparents’ home became my own for a few years.

Through this time we became close and it was great to have them around as I moved into my own home with my wife. My grandfather became ill and soon passed away. It was a sad time and my grandmother decided she no longer wanted to keep their large home, filled with all her memories.

Being close to my grandmother, it really became up to me to decide where she should live after her house was sold. There were a few options, she could live with us, buy a new smaller house, or move to a retirement village.

We thought about it for some time and decided the retirement village option would be the best. Both my wife and I work full time and would not be able to assist her or keep her company during the day. Similarly, if she bought a new house, she would feel isolated and lonely.

So we investigated the retirement villages in our area, to see what they could offer. We didn’t start out thinking we would find a fairy tale home for my grandma, with lots of friends and interesting activities for her to do all day. We just wanted a comfortable safe place for her to live, which was not far away from us.

After just a few days checking out different communities, my grandma soon made the decision herself. We had just walked into a new retirement village with different sized apartments. We looked at a one and two bedroom option and she straight away said she wanted to take the two bedroom place. She has a few friends interstate who come to visit and she wanted them to be able to stay with her when they came up to Queensland.

It turned out that the price was lower than a small independent house and it came with a lot of added benefits. Most importantly for me was fast access to help from carers if she had a problem. There are shared facilities, like barbeque areas, some organised activities and lots of gardens for her to enjoy.

At first I was feeling a little bad about helping her move into a retirement home, because of the stereotype I had created, about putting old people in homes. But her community is bright, airy, modern and friendly. I truly think it is the best place for her.

I think anyone in a similar position needs to remember a few things before taking this difficult decision. Firstly it helps to go and visit a few communities in the area you relative is going to live. Different retirement homes will suit some people more than others. Talk to your relative about what is important to them and what they expect from a retirement village. Meet some of the current guests. Be aware of how close places like supermarkets are. Read the retirement villages policies and make sure they suit your loved one.

I hope that your search for a suitable retirement how is as positive as mine was, and that you find a comfortable place for your relative to live where they can enjoy their time.

Planning Early Retirement

“Flying by the Seat of Your Pants” might have worked just fine while you were employed, but ignorance or mistakes in early retirement planning can cost you dearly. Retiring early, choosing the wrong investments, withdrawing too much money or failing to plan for health-care costs can all turn your golden years to brass.

Although there is no guarantee you’ll avoid unpleasant surprises if you plan — but you can probably tip the odds in your favor. Here’s a checklist to get you started. (As you get going, your Retirement Planning can help you make sure the numbers add up.)

10 years out Think about where you’ll live. Demographic surveys show most retirees “age in place,” meaning they continue to live in the same house, or at least the same community, as when they retired. But downsizing or moving to a cheaper community can help your retirement assets last longer. Since where you live has a strong impact on your expenses, you’ll want to consider your options carefully.

The Sabols, for example, had equity worth more than $225,000 in their New Jersey home. If they sell and move to the Florida condo they own, they could add that equity to the $350,000 already saved in their retirement nestegg. If they stay put for a few years, by contrast, the Sabols would have to keep paying their mortgage and other home expenses — a difference of $2,000 or more in their monthly costs.

Imagine what you’ll do. Some people don’t think about how they’ll spend their time in retirement until they wake up jobless. That’s a bad idea psychologically as well as financially.

Retirees who fare best are generally the ones who have absorbing interests to pursue, said Ralph Warner, the recently retired author of “Get a Life: You Don’t Need a Million to Retire Well” (Nolo Press). Those who wait until retirement often find themselves casting about for something to do, and may discover that the hobby or pastime they thought they would love isn’t quite so engaging when they can indulge it full-time. As Warner says, “There’s only so much golf you can play.”

Speaking of golf, your activities in retirement also influence how much money you’ll need. If you want to play the finest courses or travel the world, you’ll need to save more than if you like to play canasta and visit relatives.

Boost your retirement contributions. If you’re not already taking full advantage of your 401(k), IRA and other retirement options, now’s the time to increase your contributions. Use MSN Money’s Plan for your early retirement planning to see if you’re on track, and try your calculations using different life expectancies. Your chances of making it to age 90 or beyond have never been better; many financial planners now use age 95 as their default life expectancy.

Consider paying down your mortgage. If you still have some cash left over after paying off your other debt and maximizing your retirement contributions, think about getting that mortgage retired before you do. Having the house paid off helps many retirees sleep better at night. Not having a mortgage also means you may have to draw less from your retirement accounts, allowing them to grow tax-deferred longer and reducing your overall tax bill.

It is never to early to learn how to retire. Start today check with your employer to see if they offer any early retirement incentive programs. In the next installment I will cover retirement planning with 5 years to go before retirement.

Jim Roche of NJ has created The Early Retirement Planning Forum for you to visit join and post all of your early retirement planning tips as well as provide information and resources for those wanting to retire early, or just what is necessary for you to know how retiring early can become a reality. .

Are you living an authentic life?

Are you living an authentic life?

By Craig Nathanson-The Vocational Coach™

Have you ever asked yourself if you are living the life you were meant to live?

Have you ever asked yourself, as you pondered your life, is this all there is?

These are great questions to ask when you reach forty and beyond.

Who Needs an authentic life?

If you are satisfied with the status quo life that no longer challenges you or gives

you inspiration and passion, then you don’t need an authentic life.

What is an authentic life?

This is another good question since we rarely teach children or adults how to live such a life.

You are living an authentic life if you feel you are in control and you are determining your own direction. Your work is a natural outlet for your creativity, your interests and your abilities.

Why is living an authentic life important?

We are living longer than ever before. One hundred years ago we wouldn’t even be having this conversation since the average lifespan was barely mid-forties.

There are more opportunities then ever before to recreate our lives and our work.

When we work without purpose and without meaning, our lives grow empty and lifeless. Each day is just like the previous day and the cycle continues until we retire and die.

We live for tomorrow; just 2 more years, or 6 more years, or 10 more years at our miserable jobs until we’ve saved enough money to finally stop. We’re not sure what we will do but we know it won’t be anything like what we are doing now.

Then sadly, life gets in the way, and something happens to block our hopes and dreams of a more fulfilling life.

How can I live a more fulfilling life?

I developed the simple Ten P Process™ over four years ago to help people, especially those over forty, discover and do the work they love. During the last four years, through workshops, teaching, talks and private coaching, I have seen this model applied and used by many people on the way to a more authentic life.

I think it’s time now for you to follow the Ten P™ model and make the necessary changes in your own life.

Purpose

What is your life about? How will you make a difference in the world? What bothers you about the world or your neighborhood, and how can you contribute to solving it through your work?

What work could you do that would give you more daily energy and passion?

With Purpose, you will experience a greater sense of integrity and authenticity.

Is this enough incentive for you?

Prize

What is most important to you; what do you Prize?

Too often we are afraid to admit the answer, too afraid that we will be judged by our decisions rather than by who we are. Are you working today in a job that has nothing to do with what is most important to you?

If you love teaching, for example, and your days are spent balancing financial statements, only you can do anything about it.

Define what is most important to you and think through now what you will have to do to follow what is most important. Write down specific goals that align with what you Prize.

This can be a lonely exercise but the most important one you will ever do.

Perspective

What is your view of yourself? Are you happy with your life, your choices, and your work?

What is your view of the world? Does your world inspire you and bring you energy?

What is your Perspective of others? Do other people interest you, arouse your curiosity?

Much of our activity in the world revolves around strictly monetary pursuits and land and political interests. I believe this is a result of people not taking the time to follow a more authentic life that honors themselves, others and the world they live in.

You can be different; it starts with you.

Possibilities

Have you given up on yourself or have you started to think of what is Possible for you and your work?

It’s easy to let others influence your life’s direction because of what they think is impossible. Listen to your own language. Does it inspire you or depress you?

Don’t settle for “One day” or “I hope” or “Maybe if I could do what I really love…”

Start now to shape more Possibilities for yourself. For example, imagine a new Possibility for yourself and your work right now. Notice how this thought brings on a new thought and another and another.

Place

What is your Place or role in the world? Have you thought about this?

Have you just assumed that what you do today is the role you are destined to carry out for the rest of your life? We are all pre-conditioned by the environments, cultures, economic situations and the personalities we were born with. These are all hard to change.

It will take disciplined effort on your part to think through the roles you want to play in life. No one will do this for you even if you got good grades in school and awards at the office.

Position

What is your Position or attitude on a daily basis? How do you think about yourself, your work, your world and those around you? Do you wake up daily being grateful or jealous? Do you wake up angry at yourself, your work and those around you? Your daily position will either support you and nourish you, or prevent you from both enjoying the moment and moving towards what you want. What can you do now to change what is not working each day with regards to your attitude, especially towards your work? This will make all the difference to you!

Passion

Have you ever gone to sleep at night tossing and turning with the excitement of waking up in the morning because you can’t wait to get started on your work?

This is Vocational Passion™ and it is one of the most exciting feelings in the world. You feel like you are spending your days doing what you love and your work creates meaning for you.

Make a list of all your passions. Now envision how you could spend your day using these same passions in your work.

Perfect Vocational Day

What would be Perfect for you and your work? Most of us settle for so much less.

We hope that if we work harder and faster, the boss will notice us and perhaps we’ll get those four days off next winter or that bonus or maybe that promotion. With the promotion, we will get to work even harder and faster doing more of what we don’t like.

Seems silly, doesn’t it?

Spend some time thinking deeply about and writing down exactly what an average day might be like for you if it revolved around your passions for the rest of your life.

Present

What are you doing now to close the gap between living an authentic life and your life today? If you don’t know where you are going, then perhaps any old road will do.

Write down what you want and compare it to where you are right now. If there is no gap between these two realities, there will be no tension and no problem.

Following this road will not be easy.

There will be emotional challenges. You may have to change some of your beliefs.

There will be relationship challenges. You may have to change some of your relationships.

There will be financial challenges. You may have to make some financial changes in how you spend your money.

Permission

Putting this all together starts with the right support network. Start surrounding yourself with people who encourage you, believe in you and who provide daily inspiration and ideas about what you want to do.

Look for defining moments in your life. Use these as the trigger to finally live an authentic life, starting with doing the work you love.

Give yourself Permission now to follow your heart.

Still not convinced?

The alternative for you is to simply retire (“retire” comes from the French word for “retreat” and “hide”) and prepare to die. You’ll die slowly, of course, surrounded perhaps by other like-minded people in a golf club community playing bingo and discussing what you used to love to do.

By the way, the French also gave us the word “career” which means “fast track”.

Sadly, this is the way many people live their lives; running fast through their work only to discover they wasted years and years doing useless work only to retire and play bingo.

You can make a different choice now to start to live an authentic life.

This will be the hardest path you will ever follow. It will be lonely and provide lots of challenges.

It is also the only path towards your authentic life.

7 steps towards a great retirement

As a Retirement Coach, I have found that a couple’s capacity to have a great retirement is mainly determined by seven factors:

1. Planning

We all know that just because two individuals share their lives, it does not mean they necessarily want to do the same things, have the same priorities, or even the same level of determination to plan for the future.  This places extra strain on any relationship, no matter how good, and changing your lifestyle as you move into retirement can be a difficult time for any couple.

Planning to meet the needs and wishes of two people is quite challenging and often requires some help.  You need to come to mutual understandings rather than to verbal blows!  As you consider all the significant issues hopefully some common needs and wants will emerge.  Naturally some differences will also emerge.  How you deal with the differences will be a test for your communication skills.

Financial planning is a completely separate topic, one that is beyond the scope of this article.  However by planning your retirement lifestyle thoroughly you reduce the risk of making financial decisions that can turn out to be costly mistakes, such as moving to another area which doesn’t really meet your needs.  Taking the time to plan this phase of your life is wise financially, so that all of your hard-earned money is used productively to enable you to have the best quality and best suited retirement lifestyle.

Communication

Couples designing their retirement lifestyle find it is important to recognise that relationship issues and the need for compromise must be considered without losing each person’s own needs and wants in the process.

Many couples, even happy well-suited couples, get into poor communication habits over many years together.  These habits can prevent you from really hearing what your partner is saying.  They can also stop you from openly expressing your wants and needs.  Ideally when you are planning your retirement lifestyle you need to create an environment of mutual sharing that is well beyond your usual level of everyday communication.

The commitment to working through this process will challenge some of your old communication habits, revitalizing and strengthening your communication while moving towards a well-designed retirement lifestyle.  This can be great for your relationship!

3. Mutual goals

Businesses usually create mission statements in an attempt to focus everyone on their common direction and mutual goals.  Consider how much more important it is for a couple to have shared goals that they are working towards!

As you rediscover one another through the lifestyle planning process your mutual goals will start to emerge.  This creates a very powerful bond, a way of focusing your attention towards the things that you wish to achieve together rather than your differences and idiosyncrasies.  After all, if you are going to spend the next 20 to 30 years together, it is definitely preferable to be heading in the same direction!

4. Personal purpose

People need purpose, a reason to get out of bed and a reason to be motivated.  Without purpose the human spirit tends to wither a little, but with purpose people can achieve great things.  If you design your lifestyle to incorporate your passions, your interests and your values, then you will build purpose into your life.  Through the process of planning your lifestyle for the next phase of life, your purpose will emerge.  This purpose needs to be strong enough to give you a sense of delight and anticipation…..not a purpose of duty and obligation, but a purpose of self-fulfilment.

5. Freedom from financial concerns

You’ve worked hard all your life.  You’ve invested, saved, contributed to a retirement fund and generally did what you could to ensure a secure retirement.  It is bad timing for us all that the global economy has, in a very short time, robbed us of much of the value of our investments.  But, in true Baby Boomer style, we can’t let this beat us!

The current global economy will provide additional incentive to many of our generation to investigate new models of retirement.

6. Good health and wellbeing

A realistic healthy lifestyle plan is an essential part of your retirement lifestyle planning.  Through building the ingredients for good health and fitness into your retirement lifestyle plan, you increase your probability of being healthy and strong and having an overall sense of wellbeing.  Ensure that your plan includes the things you already like doing or think you will like to do.  If you create a healthy lifestyle plan that is not realistic it isn’t likely to last long!

7. Relationships

Having supportive sustaining relationships with other people is always important, but in the very busy career years of your life relationships with friends and extended family often suffer from neglect.

When you are planning a fulfilling lifestyle for your future years it is important that you consider the relationships which will be part of your life.  How can you nurture your cherished relationships with family and friends, whether in person or at a distance?  Are there ways you can make the “have to” relationships more acceptable and more comfortable in your life?  New people will come into your life so you need to create opportunities to meet the sort of people that enhance your life, people with mutual interests or those whose company you will enjoy.  What can you build into your lifestyle which will increase the chances of widening your network of satisfying relationships?

You have the power to create the lifestyle you want for your retirement.  It will take time.  It will take commitment and communication.  But the security of knowing you have done all you can to ensure that the next phase of your life is rich and fulfilling makes it all worthwhile.

Retirement Travel and Relocations –Assess Your Geography

Copyright (c) 2009 Mary Lloyd

Geography is a big deal when we start to think about retirement. Most of us either want to travel or to live somewhere else–or both–once we leave work. There is great peril in making these decisions lightly, yet much of what we use to decide comes from a few vacation trips or someone else’s opinion of the value of going there.

Travel is an important way to learn. Living somewhere different is guaranteed to push you out of your ruts. But take the time to figure out what you really want before you buy the RV or put the for sale sign on your current home.

Take the time to be sure you’re going somewhere you really want to go. If all you plan to do is lie on the beach, it’s a whole lot simpler to go to Florida or San Diego, or even the shore of Lake Michigan in August, than to deal with the hassles of international travel.

Why do you want to go to this place? If you yearn to watch them run the bulls in Pamplona, you’re pretty much talking about a trip to Spain. But if you want to watch something exciting that involves large four-legged animals with horns, there are probably plenty of options closer to home.

Make sure you want to experience doing whatever you are going to do at that location before you commit to an expensive trip. You can zip line many different places. Is it important that you do it in Costa Rica? If so, fine. But at least ask yourself the question.

And the question is even MORE essential if you’re thinking of LIVING somewhere else. Unless you’ve been uniquely successful at not collecting possessions, getting all your “stuff” from here to there is a major undertaking. Just the cost to rent a U-Haul is enough to give you pause these days.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Moving costs money once you get to the new place, too–for everything from utility deposits to a new trash can. And the costs aren’t just financial. You will need to find a new doctor, tax person, hairdresser/barber, mechanic. You will need to figure out which grocery store is the best and where to buy your favorite version of coffee. This may be the best set of challenges you could ever hope to find, but take the time to confirm that likelihood before you start packing boxes.

The questions to ask are the same whether you’re looking at a permanent move or a significant travel adventure:

* What about this location makes me want to spend the time, money, and energy to be there?

* Is this location the best way to get that?

* Are there other ways to honor this need that would give me the same thing–or maybe even more–for less money, time, and energy?

* Is there any way to try this on a small scale before I commit to it in a major way? Do I need that?

Please don’t think I’m telling you this based on a few Caribbean cruises and downsizing from a house to a condo in the same community. I tend to deal in MAJOR geography–a 67-day cruise involving calls on five continents (missed South America and Antarctica) and a permanent move from the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies to the Pacific Northwest, for example.

There are many reasons to move. But there are also many pluses about where you are. Those tend to get lost in the romance of “going somewhere else” once you start to explore the possibility. Consider both sets of pluses in your decision-making. Know what’s important to you that makes you want to change your geography. But be honest with yourself–and your spouse or anyone who’s going to be part of it–about what you will be leaving behind. And about what you expect to achieve with the change.

A downturn makes you take a longer look before you spend money, so this is the perfect time to learn to do geography on purpose. Don’t just wander around so you can say you’ve been somewhere else. Choose your geography with a clear idea of what you want and how the new environment is going to be key in helping you get it.

Choosing a Retirement Home: the Bare Necessities

There’s a grayish space, a sort of undefined and often unregulated type of housing choice for seniors ready to leave their primary residences but not yet ready for a full fledged nursing home. This type of a home is dubbed, “the retirement home”, and usually includes residence/apartment style living in a complex that offers numerous amenities, often including a dining program and some level of medical care/attention. These homes can be a great transition for an individual who wants some ongoing medical care, but who needs to maintain their independence and a true sense of home.

It is tricky to know what to look for in these “retirement homes”. As they are not regulated, each residence will be unique and offer different levels of services, for varying costs. Here’s a look at what you’ll want to investigate as you search for the perfect “retirement home”

The number one aspect of any retirement home that you’ll want to seriously look into, is the health services offered. It’s this service that sets apart the premium retirement homes from the not so premium ones. Number one, you’ll want to find a residence that hosts an on-staff nurse and also certain heath care services like medication reminders and bathing assistance. This should be a minimum requirement in terms of health care.

Pay attention to the general cleanliness of the the entire complex. There’s no reason you should live in a place that lingers with the scent of urine- which is, by the way, one of the tell tale signs of a complex that has serious issues with sanitation. On the flip side, a good sign might be to see anti-bacterial hand washing stations speckled throughout the complex.

Another consideration with regards to health care, is to have a realistic peek into the future. How long would you like to stay in this one facility? Most folks would rather not move three or four times in their later years. In this case, it’s a good idea to find a community that offers continuing care. Such complexes, offer independent living quarters and also assisted living facilities and nursing homes. With such options, if a resident’s health declines, proper treatment and a suitable residence is available to the resident and they can avoid the upheaval of a big move. Considering that moving can be stressful when your in good health, and that moving when your in a health crisis is only going to be that much more taxing, this option is one you’ll surely want to consider.

The other aspect of a facility’s health care, is the cost. You’ll want to understand the various packages available and find one that suits your needs today- and one that’ll cover your needs in the future. When it comes to needing to upgrade from one package to that same package with the adjustment of an additional service, many complexes find the opportunity to over-charge.In some cases, it’s often best to choose a good overall package that covers services that you may not need now, but could be useful in the future. Whatever the case, you’ll just want to know clearly what you need and can afford, and what is covered in the various service packages. Read the fine print and if need be don’t hesitate to hire an attorney who specializes in elder care to review the terms of the contract. Better to pay up front and fully understand what your getting into, then to be swindled down the line.

Research the staffing levels of each facility. In direct proportion to your monthly payments will be the staff to resident ratio. It’s truly better to have a higher staff to resident ratio and to pay a bit more for the better care and service. It’s also a good idea to look into the staff turnover rate. You definitely want staff who know their residents well. If staff are leaving after a month or two, then you may have come upon an unhappy facility and one that you’ll want to steer clear of.

It’s important to investigate the history of the complex to ensure that it’s a well run facility with no big complaints or unhappy law suits filed against it. You can start by having a meal there and chatting it up with some residents- you’ll get a quick idea of how content people are with the place. But, this is not enough. You’ll want to also check into the Better Business Bureau, Elder Care Locator and Nursing Home Compare. These will all help you find out any complaints, or legal actions that may be filed against a specific residence.

How secure is the facility? This is an important question, as you’re putting your security and health into the hands of the facility. You’ll want to ensure that there are security personnel on patrol 24 hours a day, seven days a week and that the building itself is secure. Check the locks on the windows and the alarm system. Calls bells, or bracelets for residences that’ll notify staff of emergencies- these are security measures you’ll want to look into as well.

Once you’ve covered these necessary elements, you can then narrow down your search by comparing such aspects as location, campus amenities, programs and activities, and the look and feel of the residences themselves.

You should feel very confident heading into this next chapter of your life. With some thorough research you’ll be able to find the perfect retirement home- one that has your health and happiness in mind.

Life After Retirement

LIFE BEGINS AFTER RETIREMENT

INTRODUCTION:

“Retirement has been a discovery of beauty for me. I never had the time before to notice the beauty of my grand kids, my wife, the tree outside my very own front door. And,  the beauty of time itself.” – Hartman Jule

  

“Retirement itself is the best gift. No gold watch could ever top it.” – Abigail Charleson

  

“The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off.” – Abe Lemons

  

“Retired is being twice tired, I’ve thought
First tired of working,
Then tired of not.”- Richard Armour

  

The above adage of the famous people present us a very disparate views about retirement. Every people in all walks of like know that retirement is inevitable and it has become a part and parcel of ones life. Life is meant to be “lived” and not just passed. This phase of life can be made fun and worth living to explore the unexplored.

 

LATENT THOUGHTS

 

There may be times in our life when we wanted to learn to play tennis or wanted to write a book on our ordeals and learning, or wanted to learn yoga or simply pursue our long cherished passions. But our wishes were never fulfilled, because we were too busy at work or family. To put it in other This is the right time to explore our hidden talents and fulfill your deepest desires.

 

Of course one feels very high and happy to shoulder all the responsibility. Certainly it gives utmost satisfaction to our inner soul. But  today in this hectic world whether we like it or not all of us are engaged in a mad rat race catapulted  towards  inflated targets and unreachable destination .During this mindless expedition we do  tend to miss so many things which might look insignificant but carry significant value. When we hurry through each moment being so obsessed with getting to the check point , we miss out on the richness that could be ours.

 

Here retirement comes us the bonanza when we take time to live, to experience where we are. We begin to accept that there are so much to enjoy, to share. The terrain of life is filled with wonderful and astounding details which we failed to notice earlier. On the other hand we  need not regret too much about this for the fact that it is wonderfully exhilarating when life is moving quickly and the velocity becomes our only experience when there is so much in parallel to relish.

If we try to de-segment the life and begin to look at each segments one by one, we can realize that each segment has its own essence, charm , meaning, quality, pros and cons. We will then recognize  how each segment are interlinked, their superimposing effects on each other. So once this understanding in our life is established then retirement will be stage of unwinding.

 

Money plays a paramount role in determining the happiness of anyone’s life post Retirement .Life can be more blissful if a reasonable saving has been done in time to take care of all exigencies like health issues, children higher studies, son’s/daughter’s marriage, buying a house or other properties, social spending and above all to maintain a fixed balance always for tacking day to day expenses.

 

RETIREMENT  –  PERCEPTION & THE ISSUES TO CONSIDER:

 

From the good old days to the present electronic age the very thought of retirement unnerves all types of people in varied ways.

Below list presents the common reasons for the prevalence of negative attitude towards retirement.

 

1. Emotional Issues-One own self

    -Partner issue

                            -Family/Relations

                           

2. Unfulfilled commitments

 

3. Financial issues

 

4. Health issues

 

5. Societal attitude

 

EMOTIONAL ISSUES

One own self

 

At first retirement can feel like a holiday and the initial phase is often referred to as the ‘honeymoon’ period. You can sleep in, catch up on reading or hobbies, and spend more time with family and friends. However, once this ‘honeymoon’ period wears off, you may feel down or depressed .For an average salaried person the prime thing would me the Money Factor. Since most of the issues are money bound , money tops the list and  irrespective of the gender this panic marches happily in ones mind when one thinks about family responsibilities and other related matter. A feeling of insecurity gradually gets rooted in the mind of the people which has its own associated aberrations. Some even go the extent of secluding themselves from rest of the family /society causing agony to their attached ones too. A recent Study shows that high percentage of people die during their first year of retirement. One of the reasons being , psychological trauma. A sense of feeling that you’re a worn out individual and should be placed in the corner of the house sitting idle most of the time. This can be effectively handled by engaging ourselves in some constructive activity which profoundly helps us to cope up with the nagging worries. Some times spending time on hobbies and interest, may not turn out to be as rewarding and meaningful as anticipated .Emotional issues to consider include:

Our profession forms part of our identity. Some people can suffer a loss of self-worth once they cease to working. Daily schedule and activities add a rationale to life. If there is nothing in particular to do or look forward to on any given day, a person is more likely to feel monotony and more depressed than a person who lives a dynamic meaningful life. Grandparents may find they are expected to baby sit all the time which is an arduous tax on them. Partner issues can include differing (and conflicting) ideas on retirement lifestyle.

We must make sure that ours is not an idle mind, so there can be no devil’s paradise.

 

Partner issues:

 

When a person retires or in the verge of retirement, their better half need not be on the same lane  which paves way for  innumerable disagreements and misunderstandings costing the mental peace. Some of the common issues include:

One partner has retired or plans to retire, while the other willing to continue working. Notions  on retirement lifestyle may collide; for example, one partner wants to have a hectic life schedule with much of  travel, hobbies and volunteer work, while the other long for  a more unperturbed  daily routine. It can be little complex at first to frame out how much time to spend together. This is specifically  the case if one partner is gregarious and social, while the other is more introspective. In this scenario, the outgoing partner may feel disregarded, while the introspective partner could feel hassled. Some people may try to do everything united as a couple, but lack of personal space can cause stress and scuffle.

 

Family/Relations

 

ON the other hand , there are instances where the retirees are treated with due respect even by their own kith and kin. This is not a cherry fact. In their twilight years all these elderly look forward to are food, love and peace. But it is very untoward  that  there are many instances of emotional, physical, financial and mental abuse older generation are subjected to by their own children.  They are exhausted , they have more than enough run the race of life, and they require rest to reflect and prepare for their final journey.  Everyone goes through this ordeal. No one is bestowed with enduring youthful and energetic life .So what makes these children forget this one natural, universal truth? Where has gone their gratitude which is supposed to have been intrinsic in them? However a small relief is that there of course exists children with innate predisposition to be grateful to their parents .However it is a brutal fact that those children can absolutely not compete with the number of adults with glimmering gratitude whom we see in the world today.  If a simple but vital introspection can be made by all these ungrateful successors and if efforts are made to make the family bond thick set then the retirement blues can be effortlessly trounced. After all Co-existence gives   peace in life which everyone craves for .  Sharing can fetch ecstasy. Values and morals make a society culturally affluent.  Let us all strive to   improve our society and halt this monstrous moral slide that is  leisurely  but surely happening .

 

 Unfulfilled commitments:

 

 It is an adage that “Life Without Commitment  Is A  Life Unfulfilled” .But what will be the plight of  the people with reasonable dreams , goals ,commitments and  aspiration but unfortunately unable to accomplish them before their life slows down. The unanimous raison d’être what the people attribute to this is having too much of commitments in the pipeline and poor in prioritizing. A well crafted investment in our hay days can be the best solution for the unfulfilled commitments like children’s marriage. For a long-term investor a short-term market swings do not have much implications. So early prudent saving can result in exuberant accumulation of fund which can very well be channelized to meet all the requirements post retirement. However for people with minimum savings or no savings due to predominant  demand from  large family like sibling’s education, marriage the sole tranquilizer can be an helping hand from their own children or relatives .

 

Financial Issues:

An astute person will unquestionably plan well in advance about their financial position post retirement. It is ideal to consult a  financial planner, accountant or similar to chart out the financial issues of retirement as it blankets all the other issues. Some of the factors to consider include:

The size of your superannuation nest egg. Other savings and assets. Level of liabilities. Whether you have any dependants. List of commitments not met. If you are planning to continue working part-time or not. Your eligibility for pensions or part-pensions. Possession of properties. Financial options if you or your partner fall ill. The kind of retirement lifestyle you’re anticipating.

A systematic approach to face the retirement phase is more recommended than facing unforeseen challenges timidly.

 

Health issues

One of the key issues but the one which is mostly ignored by many people is the health care. In the olden days one tend to overlook their health related issues even from the early age when they start their journey in taking care the family. They normally carried by the thought of shouldering the family responsibility but not a wee bit thought about their own health as they do not want to be self-centered to think about themselves. Thankfully this attitude has undergone a sea change now and the practice of having medical insurance and other stuffs are on the rise now.  The practice of early-wise saving , even it is iterative is worth to be stressed again and again that many of the problems can be tackled with great ease. Obviously the poor savers tend to bury their pain and will be forced to invite their death with agony.

 

Societal Attitude:

 

Some people look forward to retirement as an extended holiday where they can finally slow down and ‘smell the roses’. Other people expect to have a busier, more active life than when they were working. When one have such a affirmative attitude towards retirement nothing can go awry. But even for those upbeat people, when they encounter a demotivating expression from their social group by projecting nightmarish picture about the retirement life it tends to infuriate them and even belittle their confidence. On the other hand, a person who always feel petrified about retired life ,these thorny statements from the society will make their life lifeless and pale.

 

 

ROLE OF PLANNING IN RETIREMENT:

 

“Good plans shape good decisions. That is why good planning helps to make elusive dream come true”

People who plan an hectic life after retirement tend to be happier than those who have no preparations. Some tips for good planning  include:

Opting for Flexi Time working or Interim working especially working mothers rather than fully retiring. Volunteer work is a gratifying way to add configuration and more meaning to your life, Devote  time and energy into much-loved interests and passions. Setting a personal standard with a purpose and striving to adhere to it.  Upgrading oneself with further education with options galloping  from short part time courses through to university degrees. It could even be a new launch pad in ones retired life. Make sure that you and your partner discuss ways to accommodate each other’s wants, needs and expectations. Open discussions can smoothen the relationships. Loneliness is a common source of depression in older people, To combat it one should maintain and increase their  social networks.

 

Few  ways  to  stay  active  after  Retirement:

 

“what is this life with full of care

We have no time to stand and stare:

No time to stand beneath the bows

As long as sheep or goats:”

 

Life is a cycle with so many phases and retirement is the phase to relax and indulge in :

•·         Physical activity  to keep us healthy and fit.

•·         To meet friends to relive the nostalgic past and to catch up with the ones we have missed.

•·         Gardening to freshen our mind and fortify our body.

•·         To assist Grandkids in their studies and play with them.

•·         Go on a pilgrimage trip or just holiday.

•·         Volunteering our service to an NGO for a noble cause.

Making the best use of our skill by tutoring the students which will inflate our wallets too. Pursuing our long cherished passion.

•·         Participating in religious activities.

Upgrading us by further studies since age can not deter learning.

 

SHAME OF US:

In western countries the government came out with a new proposal of introducing a directive  that would make it compulsory  for children to look after their  parents.  What an appalling state of affairs?!  The confidence in the children has corroded and eroded too much that there is a  requirement of an authority to enforce  a law to make sure the children do their duty. This divulges to what levels morals and values have declined. Where is society heading? Shouldn’t this duty be intrinsic and un-prompted?  Why should someone monitor you with a stick and coerce you to take care of your parents?   This was not done to the parents.  They did their duty of raising up their children commendably, so why do children need perks and pressure to look after their parents

 

SALUTE TO THE RETIREES

 

Let not age make you yield to its oddities. Soar and fly. Commence your life a new in its own dazzling colors. Retirement is the respect given to your years of service. But if you don’t want to sit and rest why not explore and say “here is life I am back like a Phoenix. Ready to go.” Live the life that you’re worth living, after all, ‘Age is a state of the mind.’

The elderly must be allowed to depart with respect and their passing should be mourned

Even if a parent has failed a lot, someday you will be a parent and have to face your own failures. Why not receive a blessing by being grateful just for the fact that they were your

The Strategies How to Keep Your Passion High After Retiring From Job

We generally retire from job in 56 years old, although few people want to retire from their job younger than 56 years old. Cases that people want to retire from their job, getting bored with their routine work, starting new career or beginning new business. Based on survey, almost 50 % of people want to retire because their job is boring and hate their job. Others survey proved that 75 % of Asian getting stresses when retiring from job. They feel getting old and pension salary is not enough for living and have serious post power syndrome.

We have suggestions to avoid this problem. Let us look solutions below,

1. Make your dream to be reality
Based on survey, 45 % of people world wide choose their career, school and profession because of parent suggestion. Follow their parent ambition, not depend on their heart choosing, so that they always do their job and carrier with full of hate. You become free after retiring and please make your dream to be reality.

2. Make your dream to be hobby and activities
Success people in career and business because of hobby and create happy activities, become common in community. We are sure; success will come to you because of your interest much in doing hobby.

3. Consistent and focus to do activity
Try focus and consistent to do the activities. Do not changes mind or desperate because of failed.

4. Do not worry about money
Risk of retiring job is income. Perhaps, you still get pension salary, but it is smaller than before. Be wise to manage and spending money.

5. Keep your body health
Manage your daily menu and doing sport, such as walking, light jogging can make your body health. With a lot of activities, happy heart and health body, you will spend the rest of life happily.

Where Can You Get Qualified Financial Help In Retirement

The needs of people in retirement or about to retiree are different than those of baby boomers. Yet all you see in articles is advice for baby boomers on how to prepare for retirement. What about help for those age 60+ who have already cashed in their chips or about to do so?

Good news. There has been increased education, albeit slowly, for financial advisors to help people in retirement. But be careful about the several designations you may see.

The most widely held senior designation, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) is not a financial training at all. Although many financial professionals gain this designation, so do nurses, gerontologists, funeral home directors and others dealing with older people. The designation is really a training in communication skills and issues of aging and not in financial issues.

The Certified Retirement Financial Advisor designation (CRFA) is ONLY for financial professionals that have at least 2 years experience in financial services. The enrollees seek to polish their retiree-specific financial knowledge and the course covers every aspect of financial concerns to someone in their retirement years: how to avoid tax on social security income, how to liquidate assets for the lowest or zero capital gains tax, how to utilize section 72 rules for early retirees who need to tap their retirement funds before age 59 ½, IRS sections 1035 and 1031 exchanges for tax deferral, Roth IRA conversions, how to minimize taxes on IRA distributions, how to build retiree portfolios for greater secure income, how to create low risk equity portfolios, training in estate planning and asset protection, long term care planning and related tax issues, trusts, advance directives, integration of your retirement plan and estate plan, asset titling issues, beneficiary selection for retirement accounts and other assets. Fifteen hours of continuing education is required annually to maintain the designation.

The other legitimate designation is Chartered Advisor for Senior Living (CASL). However, of the 5 courses that graduates must complete, 2 of them are general and not retiree specific. Fifteen hours of continuing education is required every 2 years to maintain the designation.

Be cautious of any other designations held by a financial advisor who contends that the designation has prepared him to give appropriate financial advice for people in retirement. There are several designations that have no substance and are programs designed to make a financial sales person look like a professional.

Here are some simple questions you can ask a retirement planner. If the professional cannot answer them easily, then move on:

How can IRS section 1031 help me (it helps people divest real estate without current taxation)

What is the lowest possible rate on capital gains that I could possibly qualify for (5% currently, 0% starting in 2008)

Can anyone convert their IRA to a Roth IRA (their modified adjusted gross income must be under $100,000 currently)

If I want to leave my IRA to my 3 children, do I need to split it into 3 accounts (no, the children can split the IRA after your death into 3 accounts)

Will a living trust help me save taxes (no—the benefits of a living trust that cannot be accomplished otherwise is the avoidance of probate and privacy)

What’s the difference between an annuitant driven and owner driven annuity (all annuities are owner driven—if the owner dies, the owners beneficiary gets the proceeds)

Can I lose money with an equity indexed annuity (yes, if you withdraw funds during the surrender period, the surrender charge could be larger than anything you have earned resulting in a loss)

Why shouldn’t I put my sons name on my accounts as joint tenant so he inherits them directly if I die (you can be deemed to have given a gift which may have tax consequences and you have exposed jointly held assets to your son’s creditors).

Stay Connected in Retirement

You’ve probably heard it said about getting ahead in life that “it isn’t what you know, it’s who you know.” While there is a certain amount of truth to that claim, I can assure you there is a great deal of truth in this statement: “Happiness depends on your ability to stay connected in retirement.” Quite simply, numerous studies show that people who withdraw from life and from connections with others are not only miserable in their retirement years, but they tend to die sooner than people you stay connected in retirement.

It is always easy to postpone doing things; and this doesn’t change when we retire. Staying connected is one of the most important things people need to do after retiring. Fortunately, this is not difficult. No matter how shy you are, and no matter how much of a loner you are, you need to stay connected to life, to the world, and to at least one or two other people. We don’t have to become isolated or lonely in retirement. We just need to stay connected.

Here are a few ideas to help you stay connected:

Consistently watch one news broadcast each day at least. This is one way to stay informed about the world and your community. It also gives you topics for conversation with other people. Keeping up with the news also keeps you informed of new developments and the like that can make your life better.

Have a conversation with at least one person who is important to you each day. It really doesn’t matter so much whether the conversation occurs over the telephone or face to face. The important thing is to stay in conversation with someone every day. Whether you discuss world news or childhood memories, the conversation is good for you.

Write a letter (not an e-mail) to someone each week. Take the time to actually connect with someone by taking the time to sit down and write a long letter. Write about what is happening in your life, your family, your thoughts, and your feelings. Not only will the letter brighten someone else’s life, you will probably receive a response that will brighten your life.

Find an exercise buddy. We all need exercise. Whether you choose to walk or engage in some other physical activity for exercise, it will be more fun if you share the experience with a friend. You can discuss many things on a daily walk, or even at a pool or a gym or spa.

Volunteer to help others. There are many people around us who need help with things. There are people whose only contact with others is a conversation with the meals-on-wheels delivery person. There are children who need to be taught or just need to be loved. There are many organizations that rely upon volunteers to carry out their mission. Not only will you stay connected with other people, you will know you have done something to help someone, and that will feel good.

Join a group or club. Regular get-togethers with other people who enjoy the same things you do, are great fun. Whether you play cards, mah jong, dominoes, chess, checkers or bunko; whether you share bird watching experiences or take in a movie or a show together, you are spending time in conversation with people with whom you share interests.

Remain or become active in your church, synagogue or mosque. You can be assured that you share basic beliefs and values with the people you meet there. You will also find ways to help others, teach others, and contribute to a better world.

Learn to do something new. Whether you take computer classes, dancing lessons, or you audit a course at the local college, learning something new keeps your mind sharp, puts you in contact with others who have similar interests, and opens up new possibilities for social, business or educational activities in the future.

Try these tips to become connected and stay connected in retirement. You will be happier, healthier, and you can make a positive impact on the lives of others.

Next Page »