So Baby Boomer: Life Tips: Retirement

Looking Ahead via The Ultimate Retirement Guide

Another year has passed and we’re all a little older.

Last summer felt hotter and winter seems much colder.

There was a time not long ago when life was quite a blast.

Now, I fully understand about “Living in the Past.”

We used to go to weddings, football games and lunches.

Now we go to funeral homes, and after-funeral brunches.

We used to have hangovers, from parties that were gay.

Now we suffer body aches and wile the night away.

We used to go out dining and couldn’t get our fill.

Now we ask for doggie bags, come home and take a pill.

We used to often travel to places near and far.

Now we get sore asses from riding in the car.

We used to go to nightclubs and drink a little booze.

Now we stay home at night and watch the evening news.

That, my friend is how life is and now my tale is told.

So, enjoy each day and live it up…before you’re too damned old!

--author unknown

In retirement you have lots of time to do whatever you want.

Maintaining your health in retirement is truly your “job one.” To participate fully in your precious active years, you must be mobile and healthy.

Doctors’ appointments, flu shots and checkups are also an important part of your retirement program. After all, once you retire you will have the time; and thanks to Medicare, after age 65, medical care is damned near free.

Things can and will happen to you as you age. Catching issues early is often the key to staying healthy or quickly getting back to good health.

In addition to physical health, retirement requires that you also take care of your mental health. Your mind, like your body, seems to work better the more that it is used. Now that you have time, you can and should read the books that you always wanted to read.

The Internet is a wonderful way to communicate with friends, satisfy your curiosity or simply pass the time. You just search by topic using Google or whatever other Web browser you prefer.

The Ultimate Retirement Guide by Dave D’Antoni believes it is easier to learn from the mistakes of others so you can be better at actually doing it.

Source: Dave D'Antoni: The Globe-Trotting Golfer's Guide to Retirement

April 13, 2016 in Books, Current Affairs, Health, Phased Retirement, Retirement, Saving for Retirement, U.S. Stock Market, Work Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Interview) Don't Be Fooled: News Does NOT Drive the Markets

See a fresh example in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index

By Elliott Wave International

Mark Galasiewski, the editor of our monthly Asian-Pacific Financial Forecast, explains how using the news to predict the markets is "meaningless."

Learn the Why, What and How of Elliott Wave Analysis

Financial media use news and economic events to explain market moves. Steer clear of this misguided approach. Learn what really moves the markets with The Elliott Wave Crash Course.

In this series of three FREE videos, Senior Tutorial Instructor Wayne Gorman demolishes the widely held notion that news drives the markets. Each video will provide a basis for using Elliott wave analysis in your own trading and investing decisions.

Access your free Elliott Wave Crash Course now >>

This article was syndicated by Elliott Wave International and was originally published under the headline (Interview) Don't Be Fooled: News Does NOT Drive the Markets. EWI is the world's largest market forecasting firm. Its staff of full-time analysts led by Chartered Market Technician Robert Prechter provides 24-hour-a-day market analysis to institutional and private investors around the world.

March 25, 2016 in Books, Current Affairs, Personal Life, Retirement, Saving for Retirement, U.S. Stock Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

What Will I do With My Time?

Some people embrace the “R” word; others are uncomfortable with it; all are interested in how it will impact them. The 76 million Baby Boomers are redefining this stage of life, as they have with each stage before. The concept of retirement---the “R” word---is evolving and changing into a reboot and reinvention for this next stage of life.

Retirement is not an end. It is a new beginning. It’s a rebooting—a new start, with new purpose and energy in your life!

Boomer professionals who have walked the walk and transformed themselves from corporate executives, consultants, and national security policy experts into a range of new careers that more closely hew to their passions have penned a practice guide for those looking at the next phase of life—“THE RETIREMENT BOOM: An All Inclusive Guide to Money, Life, and Health in Your Next Chapter.”

What am I going to do with all that time?

Rebooting is a period in which to take a break before plunging into something new. It’s rejuvenation. You’ll answer the question “Which paths should I follow.”

Take time for yourself at the outset. That’s right. Take some downtime to reboot, renew, and refresh before you become busy again doing another job, volunteering, or taking on family activities. It is important to have you time.

Whose kitchen is this, anyway?

You already know how important it is for things to go right at home, especially in times of change. You both need to be happy, but what happens when you are competing for the same space or gritting your teeth over a habit that is magnified by being together 24/7?

Simplifying our lives is a very important goal, one that all of us should have on our “bucket lists.” It makes us more serene. It gives us more time to do what we want.

Virginia Woolf said it well, “A self that goes on changing is a self that goes on living.”

Source: Catherine Allen: The Retirement Boom: An All Inclusive Guide to Money, Life, and Health in Your Next Chapter

Books for Boomers: Reviews & Coaching Tips (FREE ebook edition)

Boomer Retirement Life Tips ($.99 ebook edition)

Ask the Coach (ebook and paperback)

January 28, 2016 in Books, Current Affairs, Personal Life, Phased Retirement, Retirement, Travel, Women | Permalink | Comments (0)

WHAT’S NEXT BOOMER SUMMIT

Washington, D.C. plays host to the 2016 What’s Next Boomer Business Summit, the nation’s leading annual conference for the boomer and senior markets. Taking place on Wednesday, March 23^rd at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, the upcoming summit shines a spotlight on “Seizing the Opportunity of the Longevity Economy” and includes a prestigious lineup of speakers, sessions, and exhibitors.

Now in its 13th year, the What’s Next Boomer Business Summit, is the leading conference for companies, experts, and thought leaders in the longevity market to meet and learn from Fortune

100 companies, leading start-ups, and established nonprofit organizations who are successfully targeting the largest and most lucrative consumer demographic in the world. This summit convenes the country’s top businesses and organizations focused on the baby boomer and senior market for unique networking opportunities, deal making, and the exploration of the multigenerational affect that shapes Boomer priorities.

The 2016 summit’s theme is “Seizing the Opportunity of the Longevity Economy” and includes sessions on:

The On-Demand Marketplace Powering Aging in Place
Finding Financing and Economic Security in the Longevity Economy—Follow the Money
Investors and Entrepreneurs: What’s Next Fast Pitch Competition for investment and distribution
The State of Innovation: Is Health and Wellness Driving the Technology Revolution?
The Business of Caregiving
Content, Lead Generation and Engagement; Marketing Trends; and the Future of Media

Throughout the day, industry experts will discuss current topics and trends relating to the market, and best-selling authors will be on-site for book signings and meet-and-greets.

For the most updated lineup of events and to register visit www.boomersummit.com, follow us on Facebook, @WhatsNextBoomer, #boomersummit

This conference is being produced by Mary Furlong and Associates and Lori Bitter/The Business of Aging, and co-produced by Susan Davis International.

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December 24, 2015 in Books, Current Affairs, Personal Life, Phased Retirement, Retirement, Travel | Permalink | Comments (0)

Why Your Bank Deposits May Be at Risk

Another financial crisis will bring widespread bank failures

By Elliott Wave International

Elliott Wave International's July issue of The Elliott Wave Theorist reminds us why bank depositors need to prepare for the worst before a nation's financial system is gripped by crisis:

You can't wait until a monetary system collapses to protect your wealth. Just ask the Greeks. One day they were free to access all their savings at banks, and the next day the banks' doors were closed. Depositors' only relief was a dispensation allowing depositors to withdraw up to 60 euros a day.

You may be tempted to think that such a situation is unlikely to occur in Europe's advanced economies like France, Great Britain and Germany.But another severe economic downturn could bring historic bank failures.

Why? Because the banking system never fully recovered from the 2007-2009 financial crisis.

Here's a chart of three of Europe's largest banks:

You can see that the stock prices of all three banks continue to languish.

Here are some recent news items about major European banks:

Standard Chartered Bank plans to cut 15,000 jobs and "reported a pretax loss of $139 million in the third quarter." -- (New York Times, Nov. 3)
"Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, Britain's biggest government-owned lender, said profit fell by more than half in the third-quarter." -- (Bloomberg, Oct. 30)
"Deutsche Bank to shed 35,000 jobs, exit 10 countries" -- (CNBC, Oct. 29)
"Pre-tax earnings at Credit Suisse's private banking and wealth management unit plunged 31%." -- (The Guardian, Oct. 21)

In the U.S., Reuters reports that the falling value of loans to junk-rated companies could be a negative factor in fourth-quarter earnings for banks.

Bankers must also grapple with the high cost of onerous regulations and huge fines imposed by the government.

In 2014 alone, U.S. and European banks paid nearly $65 billion in penalties and fines, about 40% greater than 2013, according to the Wall Street Journal. Billions in bank fines have continued into 2015.

Every bank depositor should read Elliott Wave International's (EWI) FREE new special report: "The Secret New Government Tax -- UNVEILED."

EWI's U.S. and European Financial Forecast editors have teamed up to show you how the government is strong-arming big banks and squeezing out depositors' hard-earned money -- under the guise of keeping it safe. See what the government is up to and take an important step toward making your money safer.

Follow this link to get your free report now >>

This article was syndicated by Elliott Wave International and was originally published under the headline Why Your Bank Deposits May Be at Risk. EWI is the world's largest market forecasting firm. Its staff of full-time analysts led by Chartered Market Technician Robert Prechter provides 24-hour-a-day market analysis to institutional and private investors around the world.

December 09, 2015 in Current Affairs, Phased Retirement, Retirement, Saving for Retirement, U.S. Stock Market, Work Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

Staying on the Job

Retirement was once a clear line between work and not working. Today, a career may be completed, but work is not over.

Recent AARP research suggests that nearly four out of 10 baby boomers are planning to work in retirement. Some over-50s report that they plan to work until they drop.

These days, that’s easier hoped for than done. Not only do older people battle the preconceptions of bosses and co-workers about older workers, but they also face a rapidly changing work environment that demands new skills. And they’re often forced to think of work in a new way, as a series of contract projects rather than a regular job.

Now technology is offering new options and flexibility. Telecommuting isn’t a new idea, but it’s crucial for retirees who want the freedom to accept whatever opportunities suit them without disrupting their lifestyle.

With smartphones and tablets, the newly retired can be productive from home, beachfront or grandchild’s playground.

The Internet also frees retirees from having to seek out colleges to brush up on job skills. Massive open online courses, or MOOCs, let retirees learn what they need to stay competitive or enter a new field.

The available training isn’t just for work skills. There’s also help available online for retirees who want to practice their interview technique. Artificial-intelligence-based coaches will help retirees test themselves with a variety of virtual interviewers. An avatar will shoot tough questions their way, readying them for an interview with a potential boss who is younger than their own children.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, November 30, 2015

Books for Boomers: Reviews & Coaching Tips (FREE ebook edition)

Boomer Retirement Life Tips ($.99 ebook edition)

Ask the Coach (ebook and paperback)

November 30, 2015 in Books, Current Affairs, Phased Retirement, Retirement, Saving for Retirement, Web/Tech, Work Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

Making the Tough Conversations Easier

With the holiday season quickly approaching, people are in the midst of planning trips back home to visit family and friends.

But for many, a trip home after a long time away may lead to the discovery that an aging family member is struggling on different levels. This can create a real dilemma for adult children, but it can be easier than you think: how to approach their parents to have a tough conversation.

To help adults in this situation, A Place for Mom collaborated with five experts to provide advice for engaging in tough conversations around common aging topics.

These include how to help parents with medical or psychological issues; how to prepare legally and financially; and how to cope with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. A peak at the interviews can be found below:

Medical expert and geriatrician Leslie Kernisan, MD, provides guidance on how to spot common health problems. Leslie advises that adult children pay special attention to their parents’ ability to complete fundamental life tasks, judgement and safety awareness, physical and mental health, and medication safety and management.

Geriatric psychologist Dr. Melissa Henston provides guidance on how to spot problems and have constructive conversations with aging loved ones. Melissa’s suggestions are to be honest, notice when something is “off,” ask open-ended, natural questions, and avoid having guilty feelings.

Elder Law attorney Stuart Furman provides three approaches to delicately handle the tough conversation of legal and financial documentation. Stuart recommends allowing your parents to have control, establish a new level of trust as their caregiver, carry out their wishes and gather important legal information ahead of time.

Financial expert, CFP and executive VP of investments at The Mutual Fund Store, Andy Smith provides financial guidance on talking to parents about retirement and long-term care. His tips include practice what you want to say, talk in a comfortable and natural setting, ask your parents about their goals, work with a fiduciary, and ask questions about long-term financial plans.

Alzheimer’s expert, psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Wes Ashford provides insight into how to make visits home for the holidays a prime time to evaluate senior loved ones’ cognitive abilities, conduct screenings and discuss options for the future. He offers indicators that a loved one may be suffering from cognitive impairment, including difficulty doing familiar tasks, trouble remembering things, sudden behavioral changes and having trouble keeping a conversation.

Books for Boomers: Reviews & Coaching Tips (FREE ebook edition)

Boomer Retirement Life Tips ($.99 ebook edition)

November 11, 2015 in Books, Current Affairs, Health, Personal Life, Retirement, Women | Permalink | Comments (0)

Why stocks are about to get DEMOLISHED

You hear the abstract terms floating around the financial media -- devaluation, disinflation, low inflation, even negative inflation (whatever the heck that is!). Make no mistake about it; these terms refer to but one monetary force: deflation.

Since the Great Depression (the worst deflationary event in living memory), economists and financial professionals have tried to avoid the D-word at any cost -- hence the ridiculous term "negative inflation." And while it is true that some of these terms refer to legitimate ancillary results or side effects, please be assured that deflation by any other name is still deflation.

The evidence is clear. Much of the world is under deflation's tightening grip. Does it mean stocks are poised to crash tomorrow? Not necessarily -- and when you read our latest analysis, you will see why -- however, tumbling stock prices are an inevitable result. And judging by the magnitude of deflation spreading through the U.S. and other global economies, when stocks align with the other markets that have already fallen, including commodities, metals and oil, the decline will likely be dramatic.

Therefore, it is absolutely vital you stay ahead of deflation and fully understand and prepare for its risks and opportunities before its presence becomes obvious to everyone else.

The leading deflation hawks over at Elliott Wave International, the world's largest financial forecasting firm, have put together a new three-part, subscriber-level report -- including recent excerpts from their top U.S. and European analysts -- to help show you what you need to know about deflation, right now -- before stocks align with the spreading deflationary contagion.

Read this new report, Deflation and the Devaluation Derby, to discover currency devaluation's role in the unraveling global crisis. Get Access Now >>

Robert R. Prechter Jr.: Conquer the Crash: You Can Survive and Prosper in a Deflationary Depression

October 23, 2015 in Books, Current Affairs, Personal Life, Retirement, U.S. Stock Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

Retirement is not an end.

It is a new beginning. It's a rebooting--a new start, with new purpose and energy in your life!

Some people embrace the "R" word; others are uncomfortable with it; all are interested in how it will impact them. The 75 million Baby Boomers are redefining this stage of life, as they have with each stage before. The concept of retirement--the "R" word--is evolving and changing into a Reboot and Reinvention for this next stage of life.

Four Boomer professionals who have walked the walk and transformed themselves from corporate executives, consultants, and national security policy experts into a range of new careers that more closely fits with their passions have penned a practical guide for those looking at the next phase of life---"The Retirement Boom: An All Inclusive Guide to Money, Life, and Health in Your Next Chapter."

Many Baby Boomers are leaving their long-time jobs but fear their Social Security benefits and retirement nest eggs will prove to be too small, especially as they project better health and longevity. So they are plunging into full and part-time work--from being a consultant to being a sales clerk. Others are stepping down from their careers but then concluding, after a year or two, that they are bored and want to start their own businesses or go back to work in a new career. They were just not ready for retirement.

Source: Catherine Allen: The Retirement Boom: An All Inclusive Guide to Money, Life, and Health in Your Next Chapter

Books for Boomers: Reviews & Coaching Tips (FREE ebook edition)

Boomer Retirement Life Tips ($.99 ebook edition)

October 21, 2015 in Books, Current Affairs, Health, Phased Retirement, Retirement, Saving for Retirement, Work Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

ACT III: Your Anti-Retirement Playbook

Your stage of life is called "Act III" because, in a play, it is the act where all that has gone on before comes to a climax.

The people experiencing this stage are "Third Act-ors" (TAs for short). Third Actors are far from done! TAs don't have time to waste on getting approval from others. TAs have experience and wisdom that the world needs and have a burning desire to share it.

In ACT III, we assume that everything that has built the character of the TAs is good. Baby Boomers have been shaken, but they have also had an opportunity to review their values.

"Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life." --CONFUCIOUS

Real character is what Baby Boomers have entering into Act III. We are educated and competitive. We love to learn; we love to achieve. Since our youth, we have wanted to make a difference in the world. We have been seasoned by hardships and challenges. We have learned from the lives of those who have gone before us. We are unlikely to accept "not working" as our only goal. In some cases, to consider anything other than gainful employment is not an option. The definition of success has broadened to more than a monetary standard. We will test the assumptions of aging as we have tested the assumption of every life stage so far. We want our wisdom to make a difference. We want our lives to have purpose.

As we transition into Act III, we are not entering "retirement."

Many Baby Boomers are faced with a challenge: supporting thirty or more years of active living with an unknown and uncertain picture of their finances. For many boomers, the solution to this challenge is to continue working on a full or part-time basis well into their seventies or eighties. Longer working careers mean that TAs need to find ways to merge pleasure, purpose, and work.

In Act III--regardless of how you have viewed work--work now must equal purpose; purpose must equal purpose.

Act III is about the time in our life when we can make choices, given the flexibility created by wisdom, lifetime skills, financial foundation, and an acute understanding that now there can be no excuses for not living a life in balance, joy, and purpose.

You have already had golden moments of living your dreams. As you recognize your dream moments, you will be able to increase the choices you make in this direction, finding more options in fulfilling your dreams. The technique is "mind mapping."

Source: Cecilia Williams: ACT III Your Anti-Retirement Playbook

Books for Boomers: Reviews & Coaching Tips (FREE ebook edition)

Boomer Retirement Life Tips ($.99 ebook edition)

September 25, 2015 in Books, Current Affairs, Personal Life, Retirement, Saving for Retirement, Work Life | Permalink | Comments (0)