Let’s Talk About Retirement

Amy Carter asked:


A retirement isn’t just the end of a career; it’s also the beginning of a new phase of the retiree’s. No more traffic jams on the way to work and no more late hours at the office make this one of the best times of the retiree’s life. Celebrate the new beginning, not the end and you’re set up for a great retirement party.

Invitations

Retirement party invitations can range from the stoic corporate invitations to fun and whimsical, depending on your and the guests of honor’s personal tastes. One thing is for sure; this is a momentous milestone and a retirement invitation should be nothing short of fantastic. There won’t be another celebration like this, so spare no expense when it comes to retirement invitations.

Themes

Your corporate retirement party is meant to honor your years of service with the company. From the corporate invitations to the speeches, you can count on a pretty tame evening

If you’re planning a social retirement party with family and friends, you can inject a little more fun and personality into the party. Pick a theme that is an interest or hobby of the retiree. If the guest of honor is planning on spending their days on the links, opt for a golf theme. If the retiree loves to travel and will spend their retirement jet setting, then an international party theme is in order. There are limitless options, just ask the guest of honor for some hints.

For a true twist on retirement themes pick ‘baby announcements’ for retirement invitations. Since this is a new beginning, treating the retiree like a new ‘person’ is a funny and unique way to celebrate their retirement. Too often, retirement is seen as an ‘end’ so this can be a great way to mark the new beginning for retiree and guests.

Games and activities

Highlight the great career and accomplishments of the retiree with trivia and photo games. ‘Career trivia,’ guessing dates and years, names of co-workers, etc. can be a fun trip down memory lance. Or gather some photos and see if you can get guests to guess the year. Everyone loves to have a look at old photos and guessing the year can be a fun way to get everyone involved.

Another fun retirement activity is a roast. A roast consists of guests gently poking fun at the guest of honor as a way of both honoring their achievement and having a laugh. While this can be funny and endearing if done right, it demands that both guests and retiree have a great sense of humor. A roast probably won’t work for a corporate event, but can be great fun for friends and family.

‘Over the hill’ games can be fun, too. But just make sure everyone remembers to bring their sense of humor. If you can keep the ribbing on the light side, there won’t be any hurt feelings.

Take great care to make your next retirement a memorable and special occasion. This milestone only comes once in a lifetime and should be treated as a great cause for celebration. And keep in mind, retirement is not the end, but a new beginning, too.

Check out MyExpression.com for great retirement party invitations. You’ll also find great party invitations



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Barbara Morris, R.Ph. asked:


A December 1, 2008 online The Wall Street Journal article, “Retiree Havens Turn Younger to Combat the Housing Bust” reveals that retirement communities are feeling the pressure of the collapsing economy. To deal with vacancies and unsold homes, some communities, to the dismay of residents, are considering age desegregation — lowering the age of entry to 45 in order to attract new occupants. Resident displeasure is understandable because when you choose to move into a quiet structured community, you don’t want families with kids or teenagers running around disturbing your lifestyle.

Having said that . . .

I have made no effort to conceal my disdain for retirement communities. Created by entrepreneurial home builders, they are attractive artificial contrivances designed to appeal to the the desire of people who prefer peace, quiet and an upscale place to spend the end of life. Basically, they are a lure for old people to to play and decay. But that’s okay. We still have the right to live how and where we choose and I am thankful for that.

Did I say they are places to decay? How can I say that! Retirement communities abound with things to do. Golf, basket weaving, hiking, swimming, bingo, dancing, scrap booking, biking. Even college courses for those who want to exercise what’s left of their brains. You name it — most retirement communities have every activity you could possibly ask for. And perhaps even an unexpected “bonus.” For example, “The Villages” in Florida would have you believe it’s Heaven on earth. What isn’t mentioned in inviting TV ads is the existence of rampant sexually transmitted diseases in the community. See “STDs Running Rampant In Retirement Community” To be fair, given what’s happening in the culture as a whole, one can only say, “so what else is new.”

What is unfortunate is that so many people get ****** into the lifestyle without realizing what they are getting into, and it’s easy to understand why people do it. When you’ve worked all your adult life and you are worn out at 65 or sooner, a socially sanctioned retirement community appeals to your leisure- loving human nature.

Right about now you are probably saying that only a cranky old grouch would say anything negative about retirement communities. Okay, I hear you — chastisement accepted. But it doesn’t change my views about retirement communities and here is why:

I don’t care who you are — nobody wants to get old and suffer premature decline. Anyone with a brain larger than a peach pit realizes you can’t be young for ever, (nor would most people wish to be young forever) but you can be ageless. You can be strong, mentally and physically. You can be independent. You can be an asset to yourself and to others. You achieve that state of nirvana not by living a sheltered decline oriented lifestyle, but by staying in the real world, being productive, and dealing with all kinds of people with real world issues.

I have said it repeatedly: We learn from those we associate with most closely. We adopt each other’s beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. When you surround yourself with and interact with people primarily your own age and retirement oriented circumstances, you all but negate your ability to grow.

Traditional retirement, (except in certain health related circumstances) is a crock. We are made for work, like it or not. I don’t like the cliché “use it or lose it” but it’s true. Humans do best when they are engaged in something that has value not just for themselves, but for others.

Before the creation of Social Security in the 1930s, people didn’t retire. At that time, people didn’t live much longer than age 65 so the establishment of a retirement age of 65 made a modicum of sense. But now, retirement at 65 makes no sense at all because the lifespan has increased by 30 years in the past century. Yet people still retire at age 65 and usually opt into the traditional, decline oriented senior lifestyle. And that often includes moving into a retirement community where youth is an illusion. You can do all the “youthful” activities you like, but when you do them with the same-age people all the time, personalities and preferences meld into the lowest common denominator.

I feel sorry for people who moved into a retirement community for peace, quiet and camaraderie of other old people, and are now facing the specter of young faces, activities and noises. It’s too bad that financial realities are breaking down the age barrier to these communities. But I can’t help but wonder: What 45 year old in his or her right mind would want to move into a retirement community? I imagine the incentive would have to be the financial deal of a lifetime, like getting a house for free. And maybe that is what it will come to. The way things are going now, the government will own everything and we’ll each be given according to our needs. Now, where did I hear that idea before?



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Mario Carini asked:


rse we know that saving for retirement is important. But with day-to-day expenses it’s difficult to get down and plan for the golden years. When 65 rolls around, most people are ill prepared to meet the financial requirements of retirement.

A report issued by the National Summit on Retirement Savings in June of 1998 says: “Americans must save more today if they are to realize the dream of a financially secure retirement tomorrow.” Section two of the report says: “Many Americans are not planning or saving enough to be able to afford to retire.”

Two major problems that were outlined at the conference was the need to educate the public about the necessity of saving and the related confusion about how to go about it. As old age approaches, many people become increasingly suspicious of anything and everything that they might consider as a scam. As you get older, it’s harder to salt away enough to last you through your retirement years. And even more difficult when the economy is on a shaky footing.

With the rising cost of living, taxes, mortgages, credit card debt and low wages, the average American has very little incentive to save at all. Today’s financial worries take precedence over retirement financial stability. And to top this off, the income derived from pensions and social security benefits don’t meet the needs of a retirement lifestyle. Unfortunately, today’s recessionary times have eaten away life savings and investments.

Some people have taken steps to plan ahead. While IRA’s, RRSP’s, 401K are useful avenues to salt away some income for an uncertain future, no one can totally rely on the money from these sources to insure retirement will be a comfortable one. Investments in stocks, bonds, Mutual funds and real estate do help add money to the retirement pool, but this assumes you know something about investing in these avenues and in the current financial climate, the chance of making any money at all is risky.

One of the best methods to plan for retirement is not to retire at all! While retirement may be the best time for leisure and luxury, eventually life gets boring with so much unproductive time on your hands. That’s where running your own business comes in.

While you’re still working a job, you should be looking ahead to what it is you like to do and see how you can turn that hobby, talent and skill to good use.

You don’t need to grow your retirement business into a multi-national corporation. All it needs to do is give you something that excites you and motivates you to get out of bed every morning.

Retirement should be an exciting time in your life and requires as much planning and foresight that it does in planning a wedding or travel to an exotic location. In today’s environment, a working retirement is the best way to produce a modest income, yet still have the time to enjoy what life can bring. It insures that no matter what the climate is, you will stay comfortable with something to fall back on when things get rough.

And the best way is to start while you’re still working. So take a close look at what you’d like to do during your retirement years and ask advisers on how you can start. There are hundreds of businesses on the Internet, many of which can produce a good income. Whether you like to sell or produce something like ebooks and software, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to sell it.

Your current retirement savings won’t be enough when you reach 65 so plan now to insure you will have some added income.

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Dan Skriver asked:


Whether retirement is right around the corner, or several years down the road, it’s never too early, or too late, to start planning for your future. Some people feel intimidated by matters of finance, while others simply don’t feel comfortable with their knowledge regarding retirement planning. Make it a priority to learn as much as you can about your finances by reviewing the following essential 5 top baby boomers retirement tips.

It’s no secret that retirement can be expensive, especially with the rising costs of just about everything, which is why most experts recommend planning on needing anywhere from 70 to 90% of your current earnings after you retire to maintain the standard of living you’re accustomed to.

Here are the 5 top baby boomers retirement tips for those who are serious about planning for their future:

Start With a Definitive Plan

Start by noting your current standard of living and then examine whether or not you’re willing to make sacrifices, or if you plan to live just as you always have. Most people expect to enjoy the same lifestyle along with travel or vacation plans after retiring, but really have no true idea of how much money they’re going to need to actually do so.

A retirement calculator is useful for figuring out exactly what you will need each month to meet your goals. Either online or through your own calculations, use your current age, the age you plan on retiring, your current savings, and how much you need to live comfortably per year after retiring to get the final amount.

For solutions to your specific circumstances, seek out the advice of a professional, such as a financial advisor, your bank or union, as well as your employer’s human resources department. Ultimately, trust your own instincts and educate yourself before making any decisions.

Review Your Social Security Benefits

On average, the Social Security Administration (SSA) pays roughly 40% of one’s pre-retirement earnings after retiring. Earnings statements are usually mailed three to four months before your birthday that outline what you have paid in taxes, along with a summary of your estimated benefits depending on the age you retire. If you haven’t yet received any statements, contact the SSA to request one by visiting their web site at www.ssa.gov.

Learn About Your Employee Benefits

Any employee who is covered under their employer’s retirement plan is entitled to a clear explanation of their benefits and receive what is known as a summary plan description. Also remember to inquire about your spouse’s retirement benefits through their employer, or open a spousal IRA (Individual Retirement Account) for those who do not work outside of the home.

Contribute to a 401k

One of the most often overlooked of the 5 top baby boomers retirement tips are investing in a 401k, which is a tax-sheltered savings plan that your employer also contributes to. It is estimated that an entire quarter of all people who were offered the chance to participate in a 401k plan chose not to. If your employer doesn’t currently have any type of retirement plan in place, suggest that it start one as soon as possible.

Follow Through

Although a growing nest egg may be tempting during those times when you might need a little extra cash, it’s imperative to stick to your plan to avoid any withdrawal penalties, as well as falling short of your ultimate goal when you do retire.

By simply following these 5 top baby boomers retirement tips, it really is possible to retire the way you envisioned and truly enjoy your future without worrying about finances.



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