Retirement Insights

Many things shape our understanding of grandparenting—our grandparents, popular culture, and hopefully, the Bible. Scripture challenges us to move beyond cultural expectations and embrace a higher calling. Dr. Mulvihill outlines four essential roles for Christian grandparents: Encouraging Voice – A cheerleader who offers kind words and spiritual support. Supportive Parent – A steady helping hand for our adult children as they raise their families. Loving Friend – A trusted companion who listens with compassion. Disciple-Maker – A mentor in the faith who intentionally helps grandchildren know and follow Christ. We must ask: How am I helping my grandchildren grow in Christ? What goals am I setting as a spiritual guide? Rejecting Cultural Messages Modern culture sends grandparents three harmful messages: Live independently of your family. You’ve worked hard—now it’s time to focus on yourself. Just have fun with your grand...

 Friendship in retirement isn’t always easy. Many of us have seen relationships drift as careers wind down, kids move away, and routines shift. However, according to Brad Hambrick’s Transformative Friendships: 7 Questions to Deepen Any Relationship , our later years can be some of the richest when it comes to cultivating meaningful, soul-enriching friendships. Drawing from Proverbs 27:17 (“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”) and Proverbs 18:24 (“There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”), Hambrick reminds us that friendship is both simple and meaningful. The trick isn’t to make relationships perfect, but to gently, intentionally deepen them. Seven Simple Questions The heart of Hambrick’s message is built around seven questions. They aren’t complicated. In fact, they’re so basic that they might seem too easy at first glance. But when used consistently—and with genuine curiosity—they can help move a relationship from small talk to something truly l...

In our recent discussion group, we turned our attention to a sobering but profoundly important topic—death, not in the abstract but as a deeply human, spiritual, and relational experience. Drawing from Robb Noll’s The Art of Dying: Living Fully Into the Life to Come , we explored how modern culture has drifted far from the Christian tradition of dying well and why recovering this lost art matters now more than ever. Facing the Unspoken As Noll notes, contemporary Americans live in unprecedented denial of death. We’ve pushed it out of sight—out of homes, out of conversation, and too often, out of church life. This denial may feel like progress, but it comes at a cost. We’ve lost the ability to help people die well and to mourn well. We’ve forgotten that death is not just a medical event—it’s a deeply spiritual one. Christian tradition once upheld the “good death,” an approach where final moments became a time of reconciliation, repentance, spiritual preparation, and ultimately, a ...

 Christine Benz’s How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement is a thought-provoking and practical guide to navigating one of life’s biggest transitions. Drawing on her expertise as Morningstar’s Director of Personal Finance, Benz compiles insights from 20 retirement thought leaders, each contributing a single lesson on what makes retirement fulfilling and financially secure. While the perspectives sometimes differ, the book offers a wealth of guidance for those planning their retirement or already living it. In this post, I’ll share some key lessons that stood out. One recurring theme from Benz’s interviews is the challenge of finding purpose after leaving the workforce. Retirement often brings a sudden shift in daily structure and a sense of identity. As one expert explains, “Serotonin gets released by our body as a way of rewarding us for maintaining a higher social status, and we lose that when we leave the workforce. In fact, it’s as if we had...

Scientific research has concluded that ongoing, close relationships are cognitively and emotionally critical, especially as we age. Beyond science, Christian theologians, pastors, and authors have recognized the requirement of relationships for centuries. I have sought helpful perspectives from various sources to highlight the vital nature of relationships and community.   Scientific Research: ·        Sanjay Gupta: Writes in “Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age,” “It turns out that people who are more socially connected to family, to friends, to community, are happier, they’re physically healthier, and they live longer than people who are less well connected.” ·        Robert Waldinger : In “The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness,” describes his research and says, “Loneliness is associated with being more sensitive to pain, suppression of the immune system, diminished brain ...

Identity theft can happen to anyone, but taking proactive steps can significantly reduce risk. Here are some practical tips tailored for retirees: Monitor Your Credit Report Regularly Check your credit report frequently with agencies like Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Look for any suspicious activity or accounts opened in your name. Freeze Your Credit Consider freezing your credit to prevent unauthorized access. This makes it easier for fraudsters to open new accounts in your name with your knowledge. Monitor Your Financial Accounts Review your checking, savings, and credit card statements for unusual transactions. Knowing your payment due dates helps you spot discrepancies early. Beware of Check Washing Check washing involves altered intercepted checks to change the recipient and the amount. Use secure methods to mail checks and regularly monitor your accounts for unautho...