Skip to main content

Five Questions from Retirement Reformation


In his book, Retirement Reformation, Bruce Bruinsma, poses a number of crucial questions to consider for retirement planning purposes. Here are some of them to think through. 

  • What are you going to do?  Potentially you will have 10, 20, or even 30 years of retirement. Will you design a new lifestyle, establish a new routine, set new goals? 
  • Where are you going to do it?  Many retirees downsize.  Others move closer to family. Some move to a retirement community. Some sell everything and travel in an RV or move to Mexico.
  • Who are you going to do it with? You need other people in your life. The author maintains that "As we grow older, our world shrinks. Friends die, move away or become incapacitated.  Expanding our community, not shrinking it, is a priority for aging."
  • How are you going to finance it? The author notes that "Surveys show that 75% of people in retirement age are anxious about money.  Some are anxious about not having enough.  Others are driven crazy by trying to manage and balance multiple streams of income."
  • What is most important to me in retirement?  "Retirement has given you freedom from many things.  What is retirement giving you the freedom to do, and how will you do it?  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Book Review: How to Retire

 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...
Post a Comment
Read more

Perspectives on Social Interaction, Community, and Friendships

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 ...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Avoid Identity Theft: Tips for Retirees

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...
Post a Comment
Read more