After writing on so many aspects, we decided it was time to capture the 7 most important retirement questions. Everyone has questions and preconceived notions on what retired life will be like. While it’ll be unique and different for each of us, surprisingly, the majority of us are thinking and wondering about the same things.
The Secret to Lasting Happiness in Retirement
Who doesn’t want to be happier? We all seek it, yet how do you find it? It seems the harder you try, the more elusive it becomes. In fact, genuinely happy people don’t even appear to make an effort, it comes naturally. The secret to lasting happiness in retirement comes from within.
Goodbye 2020! It’s Time to Rebuild Our Social Connections
Never before have we experienced such a crazy year! Personally, I’m happy to put it behind us and start afresh. To be candid, pretty much everything that could go wrong, went wrong.
This global pandemic has “rocked the world” in ways none of us ever imagined. With the distribution of vaccines, everything will start to become more normal. Our “brave new world” won’t be the quite the same.
How Do You Want to Be Remembered in Life? As a Person?
While this might sound morbid, how do you want to be remembered? Granted, everyone says complimentary things at a funeral, but what do they really think? Were you a loving parent and partner, a good friend, someone that made a difference in this crazy world of ours? Instead of focusing on the end, how you conduct yourself each day is what really matters.
Retires Great Top Ten Posts of 2020, The Year in Review
With over 67 published articles, what did you enjoy the most? We appreciate your readership and strive to provide informative and interesting information. As we discovered, some of our favorites didn’t even make the list. In fact, some of our earliest posts proved more popular! Here are our top ten posts of 2020….
7 Tips on Staying Motivated in Retirement
Staying motivated in retirement can be quite a challenge, especially during these uncertain times. We all assumed retired life would be good, then WHAMO, fire and brimstone rained down a global pandemic upon us!
There are things you can control and things you can’t. So, how do we squeeze every bit of life ….
On with The Butter | An Unbiased Book Review
I wasn’t sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised with “On with the Butter” by Heidi Herman. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed her book. There’s ton of books out there with lists of things to do and how to keep yourself occupied. Heidi’s approach was unique and different. It’s easy to read, interesting and informative.
Are You Suffering from Sudden Retirement Syndrome?
The majority of people look forward to the day they can leave the treadmill of work behind. Perhaps for the first time ever, they can slow down and start enjoying themselves. What they don’t realize is it may not be quite what they expected. In fact, they’re miserable and experiencing sudden retirement syndrome.
Pandemic Pandemonium! Three Things to Consider for Your Financial Future 2020
Never before in our lifetime, have we been faced with both a global pandemic and recession. Seemingly overnight, the world drastically changed. It’s only natural to have concerns for your future security during these uncertain times. Vaccines offer hope our lives will soon return to some semblance of normalcy. Until that time, we’re stuck in this topsy-turvy world.
Retirement Proof Your Relationship to Find Enduring Happiness
Retirement does strange things, straining even the most rock-solid happily married couples. At greater risk are all those marriages neglected over the years.
They drifted apart and other than the roof over their heads, often have little in common. The day they retire unleashes a whole new set of challenges for many couples.
How to Deal with Forced Retirement in 2020
You probably never dreamed it would happen to you. Yet, countless thousands across the country every day deal with forced retirement. The loss of employment at this critical stage can be financially devastating and emotionally crippling. Recovering from job loss after the age of 50 will be the determining factor in how the rest of your life will unfold…
The DIY Approach to Creating a Financial Plan for Retirement
Sure, you could pay a financial planner to create your plan, but why? At the end of the day, it’s only going to be as good as the numbers you provide.
We’ve made it easy when creating a retirement financial plan. All you need to do is plug in your figures.
Why Retirement as A Single Person Isn’t A Bad Thing
Retirement as a single person isn’t something most of us planned on. Yet, about 23% of people retire alone every year. Some of the most common reasons include by choice, never finding that special someone or the passing of a partner. As a single retiree, this raises several challenges as well as advantages.
Risks of Investing in Bonds for Your Retirement Portfolio
Conventional wisdom has always been that fixed interest low risk securities such as bonds, should make up a portion of any retirement portfolio. Most financial experts tout them as safer and a vital part of any investment strategy. Yet, with the lowest interest rates in history, does this still make sense?
The 6 Golden Rules for Your Golden Years to Be Great
Most of us expect retirement to be the best years of our lives. After decades of working, we can finally do whatever we want, when we want. Yet, for many retirees this becomes the most miserable period because they failed to observe the 6 golden rules for your golden years.
What to Do with A Retired Husband with No Hobbies or Friends 2020
All too frequently you hear women lament “all he does is watch TV all day!” They’ve retired to their favorite recliner and seem reluctant to doing anything meaningful.
By that point, these women are at their wits end and at a loss as to his withdrawal. This can be a real challenge with what to do with a retired husband with no hobbies or friends.
Why is Retirement Like Running a Marathon? Or Is It?
Like running a marathon, retirement is a long-term goal that takes planning, flexibility and perseverance. Creating a stable foundation for your retired years requires these same qualities. Retirement planning and preparation starts long before you retire. You need to decide what kind of retired life you want, how much you will need to achieve that and what age you’ll start your golden years.
Sudden Job Loss!! Preparing for Unexpected Retirement
Never before have we lived in such unsettling times. The entire fabric of society is being shredded with the outbreak of a global pandemic, associated economic meltdown, and social unrest. Entire industries are decimated with massive layoffs. No one predicted such turmoil and how you deal with it, might be the only thing you have control over.
What Are Your Retirement Expectations? Are They Realistic?
Everyone has a preconceived notion of what they want in retired life. What are your retirement expectations? Interestingly, often our desires may not even be our own. Generally, they’re a compilation of what we’ve gleaned over the years. Over a lifetime we observe and assimilate all these influences. The majority of the time, we’re not conscious how this shapes our perceptions.
Why You Shouldn’t Retire When Your Spouse Does | The Surprising Benefits
In spite of the media and advertising portraying couples happily retired, not everyone wants or can afford to retire.
In fact, there are numerous reasons why retiring at the same time might not be the best idea. Reasons why you shouldn’t retire when your spouse does include:
1. You enjoying a fulfilling career and aren’t ready to leave….
Why Should Spouses Retire Together? and Does it Make Sense
Should spouses retire together? By retiring at or near the same time, couples have the opportunity to kick start the next chapter of their lives. Together, they can ease into retirement doing all the things they’ve always wanted. This includes building upon their relationship, having fun, and undertaking new adventures.
How to Write a Retirement Plan, A Step by Step Guide
Planning and preparation are key to achieving a successful retirement. How to write a retirement plan describes a way to create your own roadmap. Let’s be blunt, if you were starting a business, you’d be a fool not to create a business plan. The same applies when it comes to your next phase of life.
How to Cope with the Loss of Work Friends After Retirement or Quitting
Resigning from my job was not an easy decision. However, I never thought I would experience the loss of work friends after retirement.
I knew I needed to leave that toxic environment and my bad boss! What made it more manageable was the never-ending support of my wonderful husband. It was extremely scary with so many changes happening so fast.
Improving Your Relationship During the Coronavirus Crisis to Strengthen It
Dealing with coronavirus and the ensuing lock downs is definitely putting a strain on our partnerships. Improving your relationship during the coronavirus crisis is going to take some definite focus. You need to work at it if it’s to be successful.
We are, usually, separated at least eight hours a day by work or other activities. Now, we are together day in and day out 24/7. In a lot of ways, this is a good dry run for retirement.
Tips for Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu for Older Adults
Who would’ve dreamed an abandoned Inca city nestled high in the Peruvian Andes would become one of the top “bucket list” locations in the world? Tips for hiking the Inca trail to Machu Picchu for older adults and retirees explores the challenges and rewards of experiencing this amazing culture and site.
The Pros and Cons to Downsizing Your Home for Retirement in 2020
The question staring many would be retirees in the face, what are the pros and cons to downsizing your home for retirement? Should you remain in your existing house or get something smaller and more affordable. The answer depends upon your circumstances and desired lifestyle.
10 Tips to Caring for Aging Parents at Home in 2020
Most of our aging parents dread the thought of “getting stuck in an old folks’ home”. With the wildfire spread of COVID throughout senior facilities, never before has it been so important to re-evaluate your options. 10 tips to caring for aging parents at home delves into the many aspects of this thorny issue.
12 Tips to Prevent Retiree and Senior Scams in 2020
Who hasn’t been a victim of some sort of scam? I thought I was pretty sharp when it came to security, only to learn how much I didn’t know! Its like waltzing through a minefield completely unaware of the risks. Only by educating yourself and keeping vigilant, is there a chance to remain unscathed.
Should You Buy a New Car Before Retirement? Or Not?
Purchasing a vehicle before retiring seems to be a common practice. Pay for it while you still have a paycheck and have a reliable vehicle in the years to come. But, should you buy a new car before retirement?
Back in 2012, I was in dire need of transportation. The head gasket on my high mileage Mazda…
Dealing with the Fear of Growing Old, Is Age Just a Number?
Dealing with the fear of growing old is a universal challenge as well as accepting our own mortality. Taking a personal approach to this age-old problem. We’re not getting any younger and each of us needs to come to terms regarding it. Even though these should be the best years of our life, it sucks getting older!
Retires Great First Podcast: A Glimpse Behind the Scenes
WOW! Our first podcast! You might be wondering what it’s like to participate in one. Up until a few short weeks ago, we did too. Obviously, we wanted Retires Great first podcast to go well. Surprisingly, it was fun, exciting and a little bit nerve wracking. In the end, it was not quite like we expected – it was awesome!
Coping with Forced Early Retirement: Story of my DIY Kitchen Renovation
Seldom discussed around the water cooler, or anywhere else for that matter, is coping with forced early retirement. Yet, the axe will fall for over half of all mature workers before they are prepared to retire. The loss of those final years of saving can often jeopardize financial security.
Retires Great Review: Celebrating Our 1st Year Anniversary
Hard to believe this is our 1st year anniversary! Our Retires Great review of the past year shares our trials and tribulations with a glimpse behind the scenes. What we did right and all those moments we questioned ourselves. We’re celebrating our anniversary with cake, balloons, and this post! Whether you’re interested in starting a website or just curious about our journey, read on.
Why the Future of Social Security is at Risk of Financial Meltdown in 2029
The future of social security (SS) and its viability are threatened by the cascading numbers of retiring baby boomers. Recent findings predict that there will be a financial meltdown by 2029! Already underfunded, the onslaught of COVID-19 has trust funds being gobbled up almost as fast as the space shuttle burns fuel during a launch.
Planning Your Dream Retirement and Living Happily Ever After
Who doesn’t dream of the day they retire and start living the good life? Finally stepping off the ever faster spinning gerbil cage we call work? When you think about it, with a life expectancy of another 20-30 years (or more), don’t you deserve to make the most of it?
How to Deal with Fear of Retirement and Outliving Your Savings
After a lifetime of working and managing daily expenses, understandably, almost everyone is unsure if they saved quite enough. How to deal with fear of retirement and outliving your savings becomes critical to enjoy retired life. This can become a phobia with 52% of workers are afraid they will run out of money.
The Future of Retirement and Adapting to the New Normal
What is the future of retirement and what will it look like over the next decade? Especially when you consider the recent pandemic and how it is changing each of our lives in so many ways. No one knows exactly what the future will bring, thus the following are my thoughts and opinions of what may evolve.
Retirement for First Timers (The Best Free E-book)
Retirement for First Timers is intended to be the most comprehensive free e-book available. In spite of the vast amount of information on the internet, seldom is it organized in a straight forward manner. Our guide captures the most critical things to prepare for a successful retirement. Each section also references the best and most expert sources of information.
7 Most Interesting Retirement Websites (FIRE sites) in 2020
With the world turned upside down due to COVID-19, no one has any idea what the new normal will look like. This heightens the need to think about what the future will bring. The Most Interesting Retirement & Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) websites is intended to share the best of 2020.
The Pathway to Marital Happiness in Retirement
Studies indicate that marital happiness, on average, declines over time. In other words, being married doesn’t guarantee a happy life. Except, we also witness a trend where some report their marriages dramatically improving over the years.
What is their secret?
The pathway to marital happiness and fulfillment uncovers the steps these select few have discovered.
Improve Your Retirement Well-Being for a Happier, Healthier Life
The keys to improving your retirement well-being are achieving a solid financial base, maintaining good health, and experiencing happiness. The real secret is sufficient abundance in each of these areas promoting balance and harmony. The glaring reality is a shortage of any one of these areas will negatively influence your over-all well-being.
The Top 12 Tips for a Successful Retirement
The top 12 tips for a Successful Retirement are based upon findings from 349 people expressing their thoughts as to what is most important to them. The best part, you can read it in their own words. They are planning and preparation, financial security, purpose and meaning, flexibility and adaptability, relationships, health, enjoyment and happiness, meaningful activity, mindset and attitude….
How to Maintain a Positive Attitude in Retirement to Improve Happiness
About half the time, our minds slide into darker thoughts. We tend to dwell on problems and the things that bother us. Sometimes, we even get stuck and can’t let something go. Improving and maintaining a positive attitude in retirement becomes critical to improve your overall happiness and health. What is the one thing you have control over?
How to Have a Successful Retirement even if you Didn’t Save Enough
Contrary to popular belief, money does not guarantee a good retirement! In fact, focusing on money alone may actually blind you from achieving the best years of life. The question that haunts many, what if I haven’t saved enough? How can I have a successful retirement?
Should You Retire During a Recession (or the Coronavirus)?
Unlike the flu bug, novel coronavirus (or COVID-19) has become a world-wide pandemic! And there appears to be no end in sight in the near future and we are entering into a major recession. You may be asking yourself, should you retire during a recession that is deepening during this outbreak?
What You Need to Know About Coronavirus and Unemployment Insurance 2020
The coronavirus is first and foremost in everyone’s minds these days. As it continues to wreak havoc with the world, unemployment is soaring to new heights in the US. Last week, claims for benefits skyrocketed to 281,000 first time claims. The jump in claims was a 33% increase, larger than anything that occurred during the Great Recession.
Will Your Marriage Survive Retirement? Or Not?
For the majority of couples, their marriages will survive retirement. With all the hype about gray (silver) divorce, it’s only natural to wonder if you’ll become the next victim. The transition into retirement can be fraught with challenges that many will struggle with. And who hasn’t heard a painful story of a long-term relationship that ended for no apparent reason?
7 Ways to Reduce Healthcare Costs in Retirement
Healthcare costs easily can spiral out-of-control! Even when you think you have a handle on them, you’re probably paying too much. It’s an understatement that the U.S. care system is expensive and confusing. The following article outlines the 7 best strategies to reduce healthcare costs in retirement…
Are Cruises Worth It or Are They Nickel & Diming Us to Death?
Are you wondering if cruises are really worth it? It used to be that you could book a cruise for under a hundred bucks per night. It seems by the time you get off the ship nowadays, it’s substantially more expensive than it used to be. It begs the question, are cruises worth it?
Why You Should Vacation Before Retiring
A vacation before retiring is often considered a luxury. What would you do if you were diagnosed with an incurable terminal disease with three months to live? As crazy as the question sounds, it might be the most important one you’ve ever asked yourself. If there is something you’ve always yearned to do, why wait?
What is Forced Retirement? Combating Ageism in 2020
Forced retirement is the term used to describe employer driven job loss forcing older workers to leave earlier (either retire or find another job) than they would otherwise choose. Three conditions must exist, the company wants you gone, leaving is not your preferred choice, and your age is over 40…
What Does Forced Retirement Mean? Top 7 Questions Answered
What does forced retirement mean? It invokes anxiety and uncertainty because of the confusion and so many unanswered questions. It also goes by the names of involuntary job termination, involuntary job separation or downsizing to name a few. Unfortunately, it is a growing trend that is not showing any signs of slowing down…
Bulletproof Your Future and Avoid Forced Retirement
As you approach retirement, think of your career as an airplane on the final approach. This is one of the most dangerous parts (besides take-off) of the entire flight. Unlike the airline industry with a pretty good safety record, over half of people at this stage in life will crash and burn!
The Ultimate Guide on Things to do When Retired and Bored
Retirement is supposed to be the best time of your life, right? No one retires and expects to be bored to death. That isn’t what you signed up for. The 77 things to do when retired and bored to revitalize your life takes a unique approach to boredom busting.
First, understand that boredom is a state of mind where you experience disinterest and lack of motivation. Some of the factors that contribute to feeling bored might include…
Crown Paradise Golden Review | What No Else Will Tell You
we decided to share our unbiased review of the Crown Paradise Golden resort. To be completely candid, we had a fantastic two-week vacation and would go back in a heart beat. In fact, numerous people we met return year after year with no desire to ever go anywhere else. This is an adult only facility, yet you have full access to the family focused sister resort next door.
7 Amazing Facts About Panama Canal You Need to Know for Your Next Cruise
If the Panama Canal is on your bucket list, a cruise might be just the ticket for you. Far more than just an engineering marvel, the canal has become a critical pathway interconnecting two oceans. There are so many amazing facts about Panama Canal that lots of people miss out on. You might wonder what is so special about the Panama Canal…
The Hidden Disability | Hearing Loss with Aging
Maybe you are concerned that your ears aren’t as sharp as they used to be or your partner, parent, or other loved one has difficulty. Often referred to as the “Hidden Disability”, hearing loss associated with aging is far more widespread than most of us are aware. In fact, it is one of the most common conditions affecting about…
The Million Dollar Question: What Age to Retire?
What age to retire might be best explained as “how much longer do I have to work at a job that no longer fulfills me?” Whether you hate your job, are burnt out from the daily grind, have health concerns or want some more time to yourself, you may be thinking and asking yourself when can I leave all this stress behind.
How Much to Save for Retirement REALLY? | Retirement Planning
A typical retirement calculator spits out the number of $1.2 Million for what you need to have saved. For your average American, that is not only unrealistic, but also impossible for most of us. It is estimated as many as 80% of people have absolutely no idea how much to save for retirement. Understand, the financial institutions are motivated to sell you their products and services. It becomes a scare tactic to consistently overstate…
Why You Should Never Retire | Is It Better for Your Health?
Is retirement a slow death, the beginning of the inevitable decline? Why you should never retire began from a conversation with a friend. He argued quite passionately that he would never retire. After some research, I have to agree that a strong case can be made to remain working. Retirement is not for everyone….
How to Gain Inner Peace and Reduce Anxiety with a Living Will
A Living Will helps you gain inner peace by coming to terms with your own mortality. For most of us, it’s unpleasant to think about how life events might unfold. So, at a subconscious level, this creates anxiety and fear of the unknown and the future. By discussing and documenting your medical wishes, you gain peace of mind knowing that you have prepared, as best as you can…
Where to Live in Retirement | Places to Retire
We are all imperfect and it is easy to “get stuck” on an issue. Where to live in retirement is an “easier said than done” decision. The biggest pitfall is choosing the wrong place to live. You might make the decision for all the right reasons, yet still find yourself unhappy.
Fresh tears of frustration threatened anew. Every time it ended up in an argument! Oblivious to her misery…
Retirement for Couples: A Helpful Guide for Your Marriage
Retirement for couples involves navigating the waters together and it could, possibly, be the most challenging period of your relationship. Communication is key. You and your spouse need to discuss alignment and find ways to come up with compromises. Let’s be completely honest, the choices made (or not made) will impact your marriage and future happiness…
History of Retirement: The Story No One Else Shares
Although we observe military pensions dating back as far as Roman times, retirement is a relatively new concept. “Germany became the first nation in the world to adopt an old-age insurance program in 1889.” The Marxists were growing in power and popularity demanded radical socialist alternatives. The “Iron Chancellor” Otto von Bismarck introduced…
Pros and Cons of a Gluten Free Diet
Are there any real benefits of a gluten free diet or is this just another fad? I never really gave it much thought until several of my friends, over the past few months, announced they were avoiding gluten. Their comments included that they felt better or they were trying to lose weight. It got me thinking…
Bad Boss | My Journey to Hell and Back
Ever had such a bad boss that you felt physically ill? This is a personal story of an event that forever changed my life. It began that horrific Friday. My husband sensed something terrible had happened to me after I arrived home that day. Sitting across the table, my eyes welled with tears …
Baby Boomer Facts: The Truth about the Retirement Crisis
You’ve probably already heard that we’re heading into a retirement crisis. The reality is our world has significantly changed and our retirements will be vastly different than most expect. Some of the following baby boomer facts will surprise you and…
What to do in Retirement | 7 Fun Ways You Can Revitalize
What to do in retirement has become an almost universal question. Are you having “fun” after retiring? After all those years of hard work, these should be the best and happiest years of your life. My wife and I decided to splurge on a cruise to celebrate …
The Most Important Ingredient for Retirement Happiness
You might believe your retirement happiness is dependent upon how much money you saved. Maybe you are concerned you will outlive your savings. While sufficient wealth is important for a comfortable lifestyle, the truth is money doesn’t buy lasting happiness! In fact, supportive healthy relationships are…
Happiness in Retirement is a Choice, not a Given
Maybe you are a “realist” and not quite as happy as you could be. You are not alone, lots of people are just like you and one day realize something is missing. More often than not, happiness in retirement becomes elusive. This is Jim’s story….
Avoid Gray Divorce | Find Happiness Before it is too Late
You probably never thought that you might be a candidate for “gray divorce”! After all those years together, you thought you would continue to grow and enjoy the next years of your life. We are being sold a bill of goods…
The 7 Most Common Marriage Problems after Retirement
How is your marriage after the past 20 plus years? Marriage problems after retirement have led to divorce rates doubling since the 1990’s for those over 50. Remaining happily married after retirement is no longer a given. After half a life-time of working and raising children, some couples are shocked to discover…
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