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The Don'ts of Retirement
In thinking about all that we have suggested to you to prepare you for your retirement and making it successful, I found myself thinking that I should share some DON’TS.
Advice for Covid-19 Widows and Widowers
Unfortunately, Covid-19 has resulted in an increase of people being unexpectedly widowed. Before we wrote Your Next Chapter, Dr. Donahue and I wrote a book for widows called On Your Own—A widow’s Passage to Emotional & Financial Well-Being, which is now in its fifth edition and available on Amazon. The purpose of that book is to help widows cope better with the dramatic emotional and financial situations that occur in their lives following the loss of their spouses. Just as we explain in Your Next Chapter, we believe that there’s a strong relationship between the women’s financial and psychological reaction to the loss of her spouse. If the widow isn’t financially knowledgeable, that impedes her emotional progress; and if she’s having trouble emotionally, she can’t deal with her financial situation in a competent manner.
How to Downsize Efficiently
Covid 19 has caused many people to move out of the city to the suburbs to houses where they have more room especially if they are able to work from home. However, people who are retiring are often moving in the opposite direction, downsizing to a smaller home. This may be moving from a house to an apartment or even to a retirement community.
We discuss the topic of housing extensively in chapter seven in our book. When working with clients facing this move over the years, I have found that although intellectually they know downsizing is the right thing for them to do, actually doing it is difficult. Letting go of the possessions you have accumulated over the years is hard emotionally as well as physically. In some cases where the person really is having trouble, I suggest they do what they can and if they hit a stumbling block, rent a storage space and then go through everything at your leisure. It has been my experience that they find that whatever they put in storage they find they don’t miss!
Creating a Retirement Vision Board-Part II
Do You Really Need an Estate Plan?
The answer is YES! Many assume only old people need an estate plan. Unfortunately, recent deaths due to Covid 19 have made us all too aware that death can come to anyone at any time. Therefore it isn’t only old people who need to consider what happens to their assets!
Creating a Retirement Vision Board
Update on Your Next Chapter
We got the idea for “Your Next Chapter” when we were having lunch together and discussing why neither of us had retired at the age when most people plan to retire—at age 65. The answer was both of us loved our jobs and were fortunate because our professions as a psychologist and a financial planner allowed us to keep working—and so we did. However, in our discussion and subsequent research, we realized there was a void and a need for a book for women like us. Most books about retirement give general advice. They focus only on the financial aspects of retirement and ignore the emotional aspects. We thought there was a need for a book which would help educated women with assets and a meaningful career make decisions which would result in a more satisfying retirement.
How Does a Children’s Book Relate to Retirement?
Has the Coronavirus forced you to think about retirement sooner than planned?
Does the Pandemic Have You Suddenly Considering an Early Retirement?
As a result of the impact of the Corona Virus, many people that had not given much thought to retiring are rethinking that decision. Based on my personal experience following the death of my husband, I cannot sufficiently stress how important it is for all women to understand where you are in life relative to your retirement - before you might feel that you have to make a decision of that magnitude. Previously, you may have thought that there was no need to focus on this issue because you had plenty of time to do so when you were ready to retire. I can assure you that you never know what life might throw at you. There is no substitute for knowledge
How the Pandemic has Affected Housing Choices for Retirees
Housing is one of the major expenses everyone has. Prior to retirement, most people commuted to and from work and were in their homes only in the evenings and on weekends. All this changed with the coronavirus. No more going to work every day. Instead, you probably were in your house all day and night. In many cases, you weren’t alone, and you had full time company--your spouse, your children, grandchildren, parents—a lot of togetherness.
What Do Cooking & Retirement Have in Common?
One of the unexpected benefits of spending so much time at home as a result of the Corona virus pandemic is that I am spending much more time in my kitchen. For years I have saved recipes to try – “one day when I have more time”. I have recipe folders categorized by titles such as appetizers, entrees, salads etc. The recipes in them are sort of an extravagance of riches. My dilemma became where to begin; and which recipes did I want to try first?
As I thought about it, I realized that in a way this is similar to what we feel when confronted by thoughts of retirement. When we think about retiring, we go through many, many thoughts and feelings and suddenly we don’t know where to begin. Although, retirement has much greater ramifications than what recipe to try first, the process is really the same and it begins with the question, “where do I start?”
8 Questions You Should Ask Before You Select a Financial Planner
One of the most important things to do when creating the financial plan for Your Next Chapter is to select the financial planner who will be helping you to prepare and implement your long-term financial plan(s). The financial plan is the starting point — a road map, if you will. Financial planning is a lifelong process and your financial planner is your navigator. It’s important you choose the right person to be your financial planner, as this should be a long-term relationship.