Finding a labor of love

In some ways, a healthy retirement relies on the proper choice of preposition. You want to retire to something – a passion or hobby – rather than from something. Want to retire so you can spend more time with your grandchildren? Great. Can’t wait to retire so you can stop working at a job you find uninspiring? Okay, but then what? Rising life expectancies and opportunities for good health have produced a generation of octogenarians who crave activities and may need some additional resources to fund them. That’s why we often recommend that the best retirements sometimes include work. We certainly condone leaving a job you no longer enjoy if you have the financial resources to do so, but, if you have no other plans, consider part-time work in a related field. Work as a consultant, tutor, freelance writer, receptionist or cashier. The wages you earn will help you avoid dipping into your retirement funds, which will give them a better opportunity to grow. Even if you’re very confident you have set yourself up financially for a successful retirement, you still might crave the opportunity to feel useful. In that case, volunteer as a coach, mentor, docent or usher. The idea is to stay active and productive. Give yourself a reason to leave your house, challenge your brain to keep it sharp and allow yourself opportunities for social connections. If you love your job and enjoy your co-workers don’t retire just because your birthdate says you can. Social Security calculates your monthly payment based on your 35 highest wage earning years. Most people earn much higher wages in their later years of employment than they did in their early years. So, the more years you work earning the higher wages, the more lower-wage years you will replace. This will boost your monthly Social Security payment (up to the highest Social Security benefit amount you can receive , which is $2,788… | Read More »

Seven steps to preserving your independence

How we age depends on so much more than genetics. The good news is that, even though it isn’t always easy, we do have control over most of the factors shaping our golden years. Last year, Northwestern University released a study of “super agers”, people over 80-years old who have maintained excellent cognitive function. The study noted a clear link between brain health and positive relationships. Want to maintain your independence? Call a friend to chat! In addition to cultivating and maintaining social connections, we’ve identified six other key factors that influence how we age and you have some control over them all. You just have to lean in. Physical strength. You don’t have to go to the gym every day, but you do need to remain active. Take a walk, ride a bike, go for a swim, play a little pickle ball, practice yoga. Taking fitness and just plain activity seriously enough to maintain a basic amount of body strength is also very important for fall prevention. Most doctors recommend 30 minutes a day. Home modifications. As physical needs change, people need to adapt their environment to accommodate those changes. Install handrails, clear the floor of any throw rugs, move furniture to ensure a clear path through it. Arrange your cabinets to make things you use every day readily accessible. Add floor mats and guard rails to your tub, check the lighting in your bedroom to make sure you can see at night. You don’t necessarily have to cook your own meals, but you do have to make sure you are consuming nutritious food. Home delivery services make that very easy. Pay attention to what you put in your mouth and make sure you keep healthy snacks in stock. Stock up on freezer containers so you can split one large meal into several smaller and freeze them for later use. Of course, having a driver’s license makes transportation much… | Read More »